A South Korean tourist who was allegedly molested by an airport staffer in Bengaluru said the incident should not be seen as a reflection of India's safety, even though she flagged the "power imbalance" at airports as a serious concern. In an interview with media, Kim Sung Kyung, who visited Bengaluru to meet her friend, narrated her ordeal at the Kempegowda International Airport.
Kim consented to reveal her identity while speaking to media about the incident. The incident occurred on January 19. The Korean national had completed her immigration formalities when she was approached by an airport staffer, Afan Ahmed, to inspect her baggage.
Kim said the accused claimed a "beeping" sound was coming from her luggage during security clearance.
"He said my check-in luggage was making some beeping sound during check. It made me worried that I may be in a terror situation or something serious. So, I was willing to go for a personal security check," she said.
The unsuspecting Korean tourist said she agreed to comply as she believed it was a legitimate security procedure. "He spoke in a professional and accusing tone, which made me think it was an emergency," she said.
The staffer then took her to a men's washroom and instructed her to stand in a 'T' position. He then groped her under the guise of a security check. The accused touched her chest and private parts repeatedly, and also hugged her from behind.
"I knew it was totally wrong, but I remained calm to escape the situation safely and stepped right away," she further said, her voice trembling.
She later approached the police with assistance from airline staff. "The Singapore Airlines staff helped me and guided me to the police station. The airport security personnel were also supportive," she said.
The Korean woman said even though the incident was traumatic, it did not leave a bad impression on India. "He does not represent the whole country. India is safe enough," she said.
However, she voiced concern over the "power imbalance" in high-security zones like airports, stressing the need for stronger safeguards. "It is a one-off incident, but there's a power imbalance at airports. Airports need to be safer for women, with a clear and proper process for checks," Kim said.
After Lim lodged her complaint, the accused airport staffer was arrested in 20 minutes.
Source: India Today