[2020 National Audit] Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Incheon Airport Corporation Incident: "Order from Blue House" vs "Fake News"

Minister Lee Jae-gap of Labor Ministry: "Security Guards at Sejong Government Complex Also Secured Employment as Civilian Police Officers"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 8th, during the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over whether the Blue House intervened in the decision to directly employ security screening personnel at Incheon International Airport Corporation (In-gukgong) as security guards.

Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out, "Problems and chaos arose because the Blue House intervened," adding, "The Blue House wanted to directly employ personnel at In-gukgong at all costs."

Kim said, "The Blue House requested to amend the Corporation Act, but all ministries said no. It could have proceeded as is, but the Blue House stepped in again and gave the order to directly employ them as security guards, which was the worst move," and added, "It was legally reviewed that employing them as security guards was not possible, but suddenly it was overturned."

Yoon Joon-byung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, explained that In-gukgong initially pursued regularization of non-regular workers based on direct employment, but security screening personnel were blocked by the Security Services Act, so it was tentatively agreed to hire them through a subsidiary until the legal issues were resolved. He stated, "It was judged that the issue could be resolved through the Security Guards Act, so they switched to implementing the originally agreed direct employment."

Yoon rebutted, "It is regrettable that it appears the Blue House intervened and distorted the entire situation," adding, "It was a joint meeting between ministries to move in a rational direction, not an instruction to distort things." Regarding the opposition party’s allegations of Blue House intervention, he added, "Fake news is rampant."

Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "As I understand it, the Blue House meeting was held to discuss legal issues." He said, "The security guard plan did not suddenly appear; there was the same issue with security guards at the Government Sejong Complex regarding regularization, and as a solution, employment was stabilized by employing them as security guards. I understand there was discussion among related ministries about employing them as security guards."