▲ This undated Yonhap file photo shows South Korean entertainer Park Soo-hong. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Aug. 27 (Yonhap) -- Broadcaster Park Soo-hong, 56, apologized for causing a delay in a flight's departure with his family, saying he was "truly sorry" for the inconvenience.

 

Park wrote on his social media on Wednesday that a flight had recently been delayed because of his family, saying they had caused "great inconvenience by taking away many people's valuable time" and had also caused difficulties for airline staff.

 

Regarding the incident in which he initially said he wanted to get off the plane before reversing his decision, Park explained that he "made an immature judgment in a moment of panic because the child was crying so much immediately after boarding that it was difficult to even take a seat."

 

He said he initially told the cabin crew that he wanted to get off because he feared the child's crying during the long flight would cause greater inconvenience to other passengers.

 

He later said the child stopped crying while they were waiting inside the cabin, prompting him to express his intention to reboard, but acknowledged that he had failed to realize this could significantly delay the process due to security checks and other procedures.

 

"It happened entirely because of my lack of knowledge about aviation procedures, and there is no excuse whatsoever," he said, apologizing.

 

Earlier, an account from a passenger claiming to have witnessed the incident circulated online, saying Park's family boarded a flight to Guam at Incheon International Airport on Aug. 23 but caused a roughly one-hour delay after saying they wanted to get off because their child was crying and then changing their minds.

 

According to the account, the airline checked Park's family's checked baggage and removed it from the aircraft after they requested to get off. Their subsequent decision to reboard reportedly required the baggage to be loaded again, delaying the departure.

 

The flight carrying Park's family was in fact delayed by about an hour. According to flight information on Incheon International Airport's website, the aircraft was scheduled to depart at 10:05 a.m. but took off at 11:15 a.m.

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