Super Junior member Choi Si-won is drawing attention after stepping in to stop a foreign tourist from smoking in front of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, a moment that highlighted the singer's commitment to protecting Korea's cultural heritage.

The encounter was captured in a video titled "A Tour of the Palace on a Rainy Day: Gyeongbok Palace," which was uploaded to Choi's YouTube channel on Tuesday. Choi debuted with Super Junior in 2005 as part of one of K-pop's defining second-generation groups, and has since built a parallel career as an actor and TV personality with one of the largest social media followings among Korean celebrities.

In the video, Choi tours the palace alongside Yang In-eok, a volunteer guide who works as a palace guardian. Choi said he had been following Yang on social media and had long admired him. Volunteer guardians such as Yang are part of public efforts to watch over South Korea's palaces and other historic sites.

"I wanted to meet you because your love for Korean culture has been a great inspiration to me," Choi said.

After learning about the history and significance of the palace, Choi expressed his gratitude to those who dedicate themselves to preserving the historic site. First built in 1395 as the main royal palace of the newly founded Joseon Dynasty, Gyeongbok Palace was destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly over the centuries, and a state-led restoration has been under way since the 1990s to return the complex to its 19th-century form.

"I believe Gyeongbok Palace exists today because there are people who devote themselves to protecting it," he said, expressing his respect for their efforts.

The incident occurred before the tour began. As Yang was explaining the "seosu" — stone guardian animals traditionally placed around Korean palaces — near the entrance to Gyeongbok Palace, a foreign tourist nearby was seen taking out a cigarette.

Noticing the situation, Choi asked, "Is it okay to smoke here?"

When Yang replied that smoking was not allowed, Choi immediately approached the tourist and said, "Excuse me," followed by "Please," asking the visitor to refrain from smoking. Smoking is prohibited on the palace grounds, and Seoul has in recent years expanded designated non-smoking zones — covering parks, major streets and cultural sites — where violations can carry fines.

The tourist appeared to understand and put the cigarette away. Choi then thanked the visitor, saying, "Thank you," and the situation ended peacefully.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.