A post on an online anonymous community said the poster would carry out a "suicide bombing" at Gimpo Airport, prompting police to launch an investigation.
According to the aviation industry on the 19th, police received a report that morning that a person presumed to be an aircraft captain posted Gimpo Airport's coordinates and a message hinting at a suicide bombing on Blind, an anonymous community for office workers.
Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) said it had been briefed on the incident and was checking the details. The Gimpo Airport Police also are investigating whether the poster is an actual captain or an airline employee.
The poster reportedly wrote the message out of dissatisfaction with the corporate consolidation (merger) process of Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines.
The incident draws attention as it coincides with conflicts arising during the organizational integration after Korean Air Lines acquired Asiana Airlines. In Dec. last year, Korean Air Lines acquired about 131,57 million new shares of Asiana Airlines (63.9% equity), bringing Asiana Airlines in as a subsidiary. Since then, it has accelerated integration preparations by appointing executives across key areas such as safety, personnel, finance, flight operations and maintenance.
However, with the launch of the integrated airline approaching, internal conflicts continue over personnel assignments and office space. With the organization restructuring centered on Korean Air Lines, most key roles have gone to people from Korean Air Lines, and many Asiana Airlines employees have moved to administrative work.
In response, employees at Korean Air Lines use the phrase "Mang-siana living in a rented room," while employees at Asiana Airlines say, "To be honest, it's scary, and it's hard to come to work," reflecting rising tensions.
The two companies are integrating service manuals and operating standards with the goal of launching the integrated airline next year. But managing the organization and defusing internal conflicts have emerged as key tasks in the integration process.
A Korean Air Lines union official said, "We are asking management to ensure fair opportunities for Asiana Airlines employees while minimizing the relative sense of deprivation among Korean Air Lines employees even after integration."