Lee Hak-jae, president of Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), stated his position on recently being rebuked by President Lee Jae-myung during a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport briefing.
On the 14th, through a Facebook post, Lee said of the president's mention of "whether dollar bills hidden as bookmarks can be detected," "Even employees who have worked at Incheon Airport for 30 years would not know this unless they work in security screening."
Earlier, at a briefing of public institutions under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) held on the 12th, Lee failed to give a specific answer to the president's question about measures to prevent outflows of foreign currency. The president said, "Do not just read what was written for you," and appeared enraged, saying, "You are failing to grasp the core."
In particular, Lee could not give an immediate answer to the president's question, "Can a $100 bill hidden in a bookmark be detected during security screening?"
Lee said, "I hesitated but am posting this for fear the public might mistakenly see Incheon Airport as an incompetent group," adding, "What is worrisome is that the incident has made it known to the whole world that 'if you hide dollars in a bookmark, they won't be detected.'"
He added, "If we conduct 100% baggage opening and inspection, the solution suggested by the president, the airport will be paralyzed," and said, "We will consult with Customs on whether there is a good approach."
He also said, "I received countless messages from acquaintances over the weekend," adding, "To acquaintances who watched President Lee Jae-myung's reproach of me, it seems to have been read as an intent to say, 'Just step down.'"
Lee is a former three-term lawmaker and was appointed in June 2023 during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.