Incheon Airport CEO Koo Bon-hwan Dismissed Over 220,000 Won 'Corporate Card' Use, Announces Legal Action

[Asia Economy Reporters Inho Yoo and Jehun Yoo] The dismissal of Koo Bon-hwan, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, is showing signs of escalating into a legal battle.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 25th, President Koo stated, regarding the dismissal resolution by the Public Institution Management Committee (PIMC) under the Ministry of Strategy and Finance the previous day, "If the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport proceeds with the dismissal process, I will file a lawsuit."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to complete the dismissal procedure before the Chuseok holiday following the PIMC's resolution to dismiss President Koo. A senior official from the ministry explained, "Although we have not yet received the official notification of the PIMC meeting results, we will submit the dismissal proposal to the Blue House and obtain the president's approval."

Earlier, the PIMC held a meeting at the Government Complex Seoul in the afternoon, chaired by An Il-hwan, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and resolved to approve the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's proposal to dismiss President Koo.

President Koo opposes the PIMC's decision and intends to take legal action. In a phone interview with Asia Economy on the same day, he stated, "There was no violation of relevant regulations such as the crisis response manual," and "At that time, Incheon Airport had already moved out of the typhoon's influence zone, weather warnings were lifted, and no damage occurred, so I instructed to maintain the standby system."

President Koo also claimed that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conducted an unauthorized house search during the audit process. He said, "A warrant is required to conduct a house search. However, during the audit, the ministry, without consent or a warrant, accompanied the manager of the Yeongjongdo official residence, obtained the password, and searched the house." He added, "This is a clear case of illegal trespassing, and I will legally contest it," and "If the ministry proceeds with the approval process by the appointing authority, I have no choice but to respond legally."

President Koo is scheduled to announce this position at a press conference in the afternoon. The government initiated the dismissal procedure after it was revealed that on October 2 last year, during a National Assembly audit, he left the audit session citing typhoon preparedness but used a corporate card worth 228,000 KRW at a restaurant near Indeokwon in Anyang City, Gyeonggi Province, far from Incheon Airport.

However, some interpret this dismissal resolution as scapegoating aimed at quelling public backlash arising from unfairness controversies during the process of directly employing non-regular workers at the corporation.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport intends to expedite the appointment of a successor regardless of whether President Koo pursues legal action. Given the crisis phase, with expected losses exceeding 430 billion KRW this year alone due to the impact of COVID-19, and the lack of progress in the controversial direct employment process for security screening personnel, they have no choice but to hasten the selection of a successor.

The successor will be selected through a process where Incheon International Airport Corporation forms an executive recommendation committee, conducts a public recruitment procedure to shortlist candidates, and recommends them to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's PIMC. After deliberation, the president will make the final appointment.

An airport official stated, "It will take at least one to two months from the public recruitment to the final appointment after several stages."

In this regard, sources from the government and industry report that candidates are being discussed mainly among those from political circles and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.