Incheon Airport CEO Pushes Back Against President Lee's Public Rebuke

Lee Hak-jae, CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, has pushed back against President Lee Jae-myung's public criticism during a policy briefing on January 12 regarding customs detection of cash hidden in books.

"Even employees who have worked at Incheon Airport for 30 years wouldn't know this unless they work in security screening," Lee said in a Facebook post on January 14, adding that he decided to speak out because he was "concerned the public might misperceive Incheon Airport as an incompetent organization."

During a policy briefing with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on January 12, President Lee asked whether tens of thousands of dollars in $100 bills could be smuggled abroad undetected by hiding them like bookmarks in books. When Lee failed to provide a proper answer, the president publicly rebuked him, saying "That's quite something to say" and "Are you off somewhere else having fun?"

Lee, a former three-term National Assembly member, was appointed as Incheon Airport CEO by former President Yoon Suk-yeol in June 2023.

In his Facebook post, Lee expressed concern that "the whole world now knows that hiding dollars in bookmarks won't be detected."

He also warned that "if we implement 100% baggage inspection as the president suggested, the airport would be paralyzed."

Lee clarified the division of responsibilities, stating that "illegal foreign currency smuggling is customs' jurisdiction, while Incheon Airport Corporation's screening duties cover dangerous items such as knives, awls, firearms, lighters, and liquids."

"Incheon Airport hands over cases to customs when illegal foreign currency is discovered during dangerous goods screening," he explained.

Lee noted that he received "countless calls from acquaintances over the weekend," adding that "those who watched President Lee Jae-myung's rebuke of me probably read it as an intention to tell me to resign."