{
  "id": 2483641,
  "title": "Choi Si-won stops tourist from smoking in front of Gyeongbok Palace",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/choi-si-won-stops-tourist-from-smoking-in-front-of-gyeongbok-palace",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T03:17:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260822/choi-si-won-stops-tourist-from-smoking-in-front-of-gyeongbok-palace"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Super Junior member Choi Si-won intervened to prevent a foreign visitor from smoking near Gyeongbok Palace, showcasing his dedication to safeguarding Korea's cultural legacy. Choi shared his experience in a video titled \"A Tour of the Palace on a Rainy Day: Gyeongbok Palace\" uploaded to his YouTube channel on Tuesday. He toured the palace with Yang In-eok, a volunteer guide and palace guardian. Choi revealed that he had been following Yang on social media and admired his passion for Korean culture. Choi expressed his admiration, saying, \"I wanted to meet you because your love for Korean culture has been a great inspiration to me.\" After gaining knowledge about the palace's history and importance, Choi thanked those who commit themselves to preserving the historic site. \"I believe Gyeongbok Palace exists today because there are people who devote themselves to protecting it,\" Choi remarked, demonstrating his appreciation for their efforts. Before commencing the tour, Yang discussed the seosu — stone guardian animals traditionally positioned around Korean palaces near the entrance.",
  "summary": "Super Junior member Choi Si-won has drawn attention for stepping in to stop a foreign tourist from smoking in front of Gyeongbok Palace, demonstrating his commitment to protecting Korea’s cultural heritage. A video titled “A Tour of the Palace on a Rainy Day: Gyeongbok Palace” was uploaded to Choi’s YouTube channel on Tuesday. In the video, Choi toured Gyeongbok Palace with Yang In-eok, a…",
  "key_points": [
    "Choi Si-won stopped a tourist from smoking near Gyeongbok Palace.",
    "He shared his experience in a YouTube video titled \"A Tour of the Palace on a Rainy Day\".",
    "Choi expressed admiration for the palace guardian's dedication to Korean culture."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Choi Si-won's actions reflect his respect for Korea's cultural heritage and appreciation for those who work to preserve it, aligning with his admiration for passionate cultural advocates.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Choi Si-won stops tourist from smoking in front of Gyeongbok Palace",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/choi-si-won-stops-tourist-from-smoking-in-front-of-gyeongbok-palace-2485510",
        "published": "2026-08-22T03:22:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}