President Lee Jae-myung publicly rebuked Lee Hak-jae, CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, during a government briefing on Monday after the airport chief failed to properly answer questions about cash smuggling prevention and the corporation's overseas expansion projects.
Lee Hak-jae is a former three-term lawmaker from the Saenuri Party who was appointed to the position in 2023.
"You know even less than I do," President Lee said at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport briefing held at Sejong Convention Center on Monday. "You've been airport corporation CEO for three years now, but I get the feeling you haven't properly grasped your duties."
Earlier in the briefing, President Lee had asked about measures to prevent illegal currency smuggling, citing a tip that tens of thousands of dollars in foreign currency were being smuggled out by hiding cash between book pages like bookmarks. The CEO failed to provide a clear answer.
"I asked how you're handling illegal foreign currency smuggling. I'm asking whether detection is possible, whether you're doing it or not, but you keep dodging the question," President Lee said. As the CEO continued to hesitate, President Lee raised his voice, asking, "Are you off somewhere else right now?"
President Lee also criticized the CEO's level of operational knowledge. When Lee Hak-jae failed to explain the outlook, demand projections and overall bidding plans for overseas airport projects including the Hurghada airport project in Egypt, President Lee said, "You submitted these materials yourselves, didn't you? You should naturally be aware of the actual progress."
"You don't know anything beyond what's written here. That's enough," President Lee said, ending the briefing.
Lee Hak-jae served three terms in the National Assembly (18th through 20th) as a senior lawmaker for the Saenuri Party. He assumed the position of Incheon International Airport Corporation CEO in June 2023. He is reportedly being considered as a potential People Power Party candidate for Incheon mayor in next year's local elections.
