The presidential office said on the 22nd that it would review whether the selection process for operators was appropriate in connection with the overhaul of the valet parking service at Incheon International Airport (hereafter Incheon Airport). Incheon Airport decided to change the way valet parking is run starting Jan. 1 next year, but criticism has grown because, under the banner of a "premium service," it doubled the existing expense while inconveniencing users even more.
Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the president, presided over a senior aides meeting that day and, citing media reports that the Incheon Airport valet parking service would be revamped in a way that increases user inconvenience, said, "In consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, thoroughly inspect and report on whether the Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) is carrying out tasks such as selecting the valet parking operator and changing services fairly and transparently in accordance with procedures, and whether there are any shortcomings compared with public expectations."
In particular, Kang said there was a lack of public consensus on changing the location of use, introducing a "premium service," and the operator selection process, and the presidential office said Kang had repeatedly ordered a strong, government-level review.
Currently, at Incheon Airport's Terminal 1, vehicles are received and returned at the transportation center's basement level 1 and the short-term parking lot on the third floor. Starting next year, it will be changed to a long-term parking lot near the Club 72 golf course. The problem is that it is far from the passenger terminal, making it difficult to walk. While the fee will double, users will have to take a shuttle bus running every 10 minutes. For Terminal 2 as well, vehicles must be returned at a long-term parking lot about 5 kilometers away.
In changing the valet parking operation, Incheon Airport said it would introduce a "premium service" by raising the valet parking expense, which is separate from the parking fee, 100% from 20,000 won to 40,000 won. Staff would unload luggage from the car and place it on a cart, or lay plastic on the driver's side floor before driving. The airport side said this would also ease congestion in the parking lots. In reality, however, users are effectively being forced to accept a "more expensive and more inconvenient" service.
The presidential office's order to investigate came 10 days after President Lee Jae-myung publicly rebuked the Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) during a government ministry work report. On the second day of the work report, on the 12th, Lee pointed out that screening of departing passengers at Incheon Airport for "illegal foreign currency outflows" was not being conducted properly. During the process, when President Lee Hak-jae gave an answer that strayed from the intent of the question, Lee said, "It seems you know even less than I do," "You don't know anything beyond what's written in the materials," and "It's been three years since you took office—have you still not grasped the work accurately?"