Incheon Airport Chief Defends Role Amidst Presidential Scrutiny
Seoul, South Korea – In a highly unusual public statement, Lee Hag-jae, president of Incheon International Airport Corporation, has addressed severe criticism he received from President Lee Jae-myung during a recent Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport business report session. Lee Hag-jae took to his Facebook page to clarify his position and express concerns about potential misunderstandings stemming from the presidential reprimand.
The controversy erupted on the 12th during a routine business report. President Lee Jae-myung reportedly became incensed when Lee Hag-jae was unable to provide specific answers concerning measures to prevent the illicit outflow of foreign currency. The president criticized Lee for reading from prepared materials, stating, “Don’t just read what’s been written for you” and asserting that Lee was “not grasping the core” of the issue. The tension further escalated when the president questioned the end date of Lee’s term and, in a pointed query, asked if the airport could detect 100-dollar bills concealed within bookmarks during security screenings.
The public nature of the reprimand and the subsequent personal explanation via social media have been widely noted as an exceptional occurrence within government circles, where the head of a subordinate public institution rarely publicly refutes or clarifies statements made by the president.
Navigating a “Thin Ice” Session: Clarifying Security vs. Customs Roles
In his Facebook post, Lee Hag-jae explained the reasons behind his initial hesitation and inability to provide immediate, definitive answers. He emphasized that the primary responsibility for cracking down on illegal foreign currency smuggling rests with “customs authorities,” not the airport’s security personnel.
Lee elaborated on the specific mandate of Incheon Airport’s security checks. He stated, “Incheon Airport’s security checks focus on identifying hazardous items threatening passenger safety, such as knives, awls, firearms, lighters, and liquids.” He clarified the protocol when currency is discovered: “If a bundle of foreign currency is found during a search, it is handed over to customs, but paper currency itself is not the primary target of security checks.”
He further highlighted the specialized nature of security screening, suggesting that even long-serving airport employees, unless directly involved in security operations, might not be aware of the minutiae of what specific items security personnel are trained to detect. Lee expressed a significant concern that the president’s remarks might inadvertently create a false impression. “I am worried that this incident has inadvertently informed the world that ‘dollars hidden in bookmarks may not be detected during security checks,’” he wrote, fearing this could embolden illicit activities.
Regarding the president’s suggestion of “100% baggage opening inspections,” Lee Hag-jae cautioned about the practical implications. He stated, “Implementing full-opening inspections would paralyze airport operations.” However, he pledged to explore feasible solutions, noting, “We will discuss realistic measures with customs once the bid announcement is made.”
Addressing Airport Bidding Concerns: A Matter of Project Stage
The criticism also touched upon Lee’s perceived lack of understanding regarding the “Egypt Hurghada Airport bid.” Lee Hag-jae addressed this by explaining the project’s current phase. He stated that the president had inquired about the airport’s demand and future prospects, but the project is still in its nascent preparatory stages, with no formal bid announcement having been issued.
“It’s impossible to conduct detailed demand surveys for a project that hasn’t even been publicly bid, and I hadn’t received a report on it yet,” Lee explained. He assured stakeholders that comprehensive preparations would be undertaken once the bidding process commences. “Once the bid is announced, we will thoroughly prepare by investing the budget,” he affirmed, adding a note of confidence in Incheon Airport’s capabilities. He pointed out that “Incheon Airport is a participant with exceptionally high technical scores in overseas airport bid evaluations,” underscoring the corporation’s expertise and strong track record in international airport development projects.
