The presidential office said on the 22nd that it would review whether the selection process for the operator was appropriate in connection with the overhaul of Incheon International Airport's (hereinafter Incheon Airport) valet parking service. Incheon Airport decided to change the way valet parking is operated starting Jan. 1 next year, but criticism has grown that, under the pretext of a "premium service," it is charging double the existing expense while inconveniencing users even more.
Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the president, presided over a senior secretaries' meeting that day and, citing media reports that the overhaul of Incheon Airport's valet parking service would increase user inconvenience, said, "In consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, thoroughly inspect and report whether Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) is carrying out tasks such as selecting the valet operator and changing the service fairly and transparently in accordance with procedures, and whether anything falls short of public expectations."
In particular, Kang said there was a lack of public consensus on the change of service locations, the introduction of the "premium service," and the operator selection process, and the presidential office said he repeatedly ordered a strong government-level review.
At present, at Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport, vehicles are received and returned at the transportation center's basement first floor and at the short-term parking lot on the third floor. Starting next year, it will change to the long-term parking lot near the Club 72 golf course. The problem is that the distance from the passenger terminal makes it difficult to walk. While the fee will double, users will have to take a shuttle bus that runs every 10 minutes. At Terminal 2 as well, vehicles will have to be returned at a long-term parking lot about 5 kilometers away.
As it changes the way valet parking is operated, 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. It involves unloading luggage from the vehicle and placing it on a cart, or laying plastic on the driver's floor before driving. The airport 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 Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) during a government ministry work report. Earlier, on the second day of the work report, on the 12th, Lee pointed out that screenings of Incheon Airport's departing passengers for "illegal foreign currency outflows" were not being carried out properly. During this process, when CEO 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 other than what's written in the materials," and "It's been three years since you took office; have you still not accurately grasped your duties?"