Park was already intoxicated when he boarded Korean Air KE1104 bound for Gimpo Airport from Gimhae at 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Gimhae International Airport officials said. He was sitting in his business-class seat with the backrest lowered. Asked by a flight attendant to put it in the upright position for takeoff, Park verbally abused the attendant several times. The flight attendant asked Park to sit up straight five times, without success. The attendant then handed him a printed warning of legal consequences for passengers who fail to comply with the directions of flight attendants. Park tore it up.

He proceeded to ignore a warning from the captain over the intercom that unless he stopped making trouble he would be removed from the plane, and found himself on the apron shortly after. But the disturbance meant the plane had to spend 30 minutes replenishing fuel to make up for the amount consumed taxiing to the runway and back to the apron, delaying the flight for more than an hour. It eventually took off Park-less at 09:47 a.m.

On disembarking, Park was guided by airport protocol staff to a VIP room in the office, where he rested for two hours before leaving by car around noon. He was apparently entitled to use the VIP room because he is a publicity ambassador for Gimhae International Airport.

(englishnews@chosun.com )