Gordon Ramsay’s request for extra security on Seoul subway causes stir
Celebrity British chef Gordon Ramsey’s demeanor during his three-day visit in Seoul from Nov. 9 to 11 for the opening of his signature restaurant created a stir that continued even after he left the country.
This time, he was at the center of controversy for his request to add security to his subway commute on Thursday.
It was an unprecedented security request made by a celebrity regarding public transport, which came following the Itaewon disaster that claimed 157 lives in a deadly crowd crush on Oct. 29.
News reports on the request triggered public outrage over the use of public resources to protect a foreign celebrity.
Gordon Ramsay Korea filed a request with police for one hour of “safety cooperation” during the British chef’s planned subway trip from 11 a.m. Thursday.
The company’s request did not mention stationing officers, but expressed concerns that the appearance of a foreign celebrity could lead to large crowds gathering in public spaces, officials from Seoul Metro and Seoul Subway Police told The Korea Times, Sunday.
Both parties confirmed that the company’s request was forwarded to Seoul Metro and Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), which are the organizations in charge of the subway lines that Ramsay took on Thursday.
The chef and Gordon Ramsay Korea officials took subway line number 2 from Jamsil Station in southern Seoul, transferred to Shin-Bundang line at Seolleung Station and arrived at Seoul Forest Station. The itinerary was eight stations long and took about 23 minutes. Seoul’s subway line number 2 is under Seoul Metro’s jurisdiction, while KORAIL covers the latter subway line.
Seoul Metro encouraged Gordon Ramsay Korea to take an alternative mode of transportation such as a personal vehicle, considering that the chef’s subway ride could have drawn big crowds and caused congestion.
Seoul Metro stationed five officials including officers and station staff at Jamsil Station, considering that the company may not have complied with its suggestion and taken the subway regardless. It was “not for Gordon Ramsay, but as a precautionary measure against a possible crowd gathering,” the official said.
KORAIL also placed some of its station officials on safety patrols. Its enforced safety measures were not for the celebrity, its official said.
A Seoul Subway Police official confirmed that no subway police personnel were stationed upon the company’s request on Thursday.
Instead, Seoul Subway Police replied to Gordon Ramsay Korea that it would respond to an emergency report in the event of any incident resulting from a crowd gathering caused by the celebrity’s appearance. The department also notified the situation rooms at the Seoul Metropolitan Police and three police stations located near the subway stations that were along Ramsay’s itinerary — Songpa Police station at Jamsil Station, Gangnam Police Station at Seolleung Station, and Seongdong Police Station at Seoul Forest Station.
Ramsay’s subway trip caused no incidents and no safety issues was reported that day, both parties confirmed.
When asked why Ramsay took the subway instead of a personal vehicle and whether the company had requested the police to station safety personnel around Ramsay’s itinerary, Gordon Ramsay Korea said that the company is having internal discussions to prepare a statement.