President Lee Jae-myung on the 17th, at a ministry briefing, said about the recent controversy over "smuggling out foreign currency in bookmarks," "There are people who make remarks at a briefing and then go elsewhere and say something different." Emphasizing a sense of responsibility for public officials, he added, "Enjoying the honor and benefits that come with the position while refusing to fulfill the responsibility is the mindset of a world-class thief." When Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) President Lee Hak-jae argued that "the president's remarks publicized the smuggling method to the whole world," Lee publicly refuted him and reprimanded him again.
Before receiving briefings from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Intellectual Property Office at the Government Sejong Complex on the morning of the same day, the president, in opening remarks, took issue with public officials' manner of answering, saying, "Maybe they are too steeped in politics, but there are people whose words change from one minute to the next or who make remarks at a briefing and then go elsewhere and say something different." He also said, "It is hard to say this is the problem of a particular individual; it is a matter of culture," adding, "Administration is different from politics, and this place is for doing administration. Public officials must fear the people and the public."
He then cited, as a direct example, President Lee's answers about the "smuggling out foreign currency" issue at the briefing on the 12th. The president said, "At first the airport corporation chief said it was their work, and later said it was the customs office's job," adding, "But in the comments under related articles, I saw that because the Korea Customs Service and the airport corporation signed an MOU, it is correct that the airport corporation is in charge. I learned (who is in charge) by reading the article comments. In the end, the public already knows everything."
In particular, regarding criticism from the opposition bloc that this was a "political attack on a president of IIAC who came from the People Power Party," he countered, "Have I ever criticized or disadvantaged anyone based on political color? If someone is competent, I use them regardless of where they came from." He continued, "Some even said (about the remarks on the 12th) that the president taught crime, but this was an issue the government had previously put out in a press release. Are they saying we should hush up crimes and give people opportunities? Does 'Love and War' teach people how to cheat?"
Emphasizing the attitude required of public officials that day, he said, "Evading and distorting with lies within an administrative organization is truly bad," adding, "One may not know (the policy details). If you don't know, you can study, make efforts, and make up for it, but you must take responsibility for not knowing. Nothing in this world is free, and responsibility is commensurate with the size of one's authority." He added, "Enjoying all the honor and benefits that come with the position while refusing to fulfill the responsibility is the mindset of a world-class thief."
President Lee, a three-term former lawmaker from the People Power Party, was sharply reprimanded during the briefing on the 12th by the president, who said things like, "You know nothing beyond what's written in the materials," "You're long-winded," "You know even less than I do," and "It seems you haven't even properly grasped your duties." Lee then wrote on social networking services (SNS), "Because of that (the president's mention), the fact that 'if you hide dollars in a bookmark, they won't be detected' became known to the whole world." He also rebutted the president's criticism in media interviews and even held a separate news conference.