Goo Bon-hwan, President: "Senior Official of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Demanded Voluntary Resignation" (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyewon and Yoo Jehun] Gu Bonhwan, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, revealed that the government is proceeding with a dismissal recommendation process after he refused a voluntary resignation request from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

On the 16th, Gu held a press conference at the main auditorium of the Government Complex in Jung-gu, Incheon, stating, "In early September this year, during a meeting with a senior official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, I was suddenly asked to voluntarily resign," adding, "When I said I could not leave immediately, they said they would proceed with a dismissal recommendation as they are doing now."

Gu said, "When I asked what grounds there were for dismissal, they mentioned audit issues," and added, "The only matters were the response to a typhoon a year ago and the suspension of an employee's position in February, so I was taken aback that they would use those as reasons for dismissal."

He continued, "I had no choice left," explaining, "I could not understand why I had to leave so urgently, so I proposed a compromise plan to establish a framework regarding the complex direct employment issue, the Sky72 issue, and the airport ecosystem affected by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), aiming to resolve these by the first half of next year."

According to Gu, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's response to his counterproposal was 'No.' He said, "Voluntary resignation is out of the question for me, and since they even said 'No' to that, things have come to this point," adding, "Everything took only about a week." He also stated, "I do not know the reason why I should quit," and added, "I believe I do not meet the legal conditions for dismissal."