Lee Hak-jae, president of Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), publicly raised allegations on the 20th that the presidential office intervened in personnel matters. Holding a news conference at the National Assembly, he said, "Illegal personnel intervention by the presidential office in Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), a key national facility, is going too far," adding, "Don't harass working-level staff; just dismiss me, the president."
Lee said pressure continued through the Blue House and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport over the regular personnel reshuffle. He said, "Illegal pressure from the Blue House continues, using the regular personnel reshuffle as a means to force the president's resignation and urging that the exercise of personnel authority, such as promotions and reassignments, be delayed until after a new chief takes office."
He also said, "Since mid-November last year, there has been sustained pressure through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) not to carry out personnel moves until a new chief arrives, citing 'the will of the presidential office.'" When he stuck to the plan to proceed, he said specific directives were handed down, including "implement only for grade 3 and below junior staff," "switch to acting arrangements when a managerial post is vacant," and "implement after prior reporting to and approval by the presidential office."
Lee said, "Even so, when we proceeded with necessary personnel actions, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) conveyed a blunt displeasure that 'the presidential office is very uncomfortable.'" He added, "By blocking the retirement of a vice president who, as of Dec. 31 last year, was to retire and take up the post of head of our Kuwait overseas business unit, the local head's return has been derailed, causing setbacks in overseas operations," adding, "This is also abuse of authority and obstruction of business."
The challenge to the presidential office also extended to an audit issue. He said, "After a business briefing, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik abruptly ordered MOLIT to conduct an audit of the 'Incheon International Airport valet parking service improvement plan,' and the presidential office Spokesperson unusually even held a press briefing about it." He added, "As a result, the airport is now undergoing an unprecedented special audit for the first time in 10 years. Is the presidential office so idle?"
At the end of the news conference, Lee said, "If you really dislike the president, don't harass the employees; just dismiss the president."
When meeting with reporters, he was asked about a possible run for Incheon mayor and said, "As long as I am serving as the sitting Incheon airport president, I don't think it is appropriate to express a view on a potential run."
Lee is a three-term lawmaker from the Incheon area who belonged to the Saenuri Party (the predecessor to the People Power Party). In December last year, he was publicly reprimanded by President Lee Jae-myung during a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport briefing. At the time, as the president asked about the response to illegal foreign currency outflows and Lee failed to give a clear answer, the president said, "I'm asking whether you are doing it properly; why do you keep going off on a tangent?" He went on to say, "You seem uninterested," and that "it's been a while since you took office, but your grasp of the work is lacking."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) refuted Lee Hak-jae's claim that it engaged in improper personnel intervention regarding the Incheon International Airport president, saying it was "different from the facts."
Through an explanatory note, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "We only expressed the view that a cautious approach was needed regarding the retirement plans of some executives, taking into account vacancies in the corporation's leadership."
Regarding the ongoing audit of the valet parking service overhaul, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "It is being conducted because many media outlets have raised concerns about potential inconvenience to airport users and issues in the process of pursuing the overhaul."