[Column] An Era That Needs Principles More Than Speed

On the 24th, at Gimpo International Airport's domestic terminal, most flights departed late due to delays in checked baggage screening. There were many group tourists traveling on that Wednesday. Among them, flammable items such as sprays and aerosols were found in the luggage of students going on a school trip, leading to baggage being opened and inspected through manual searches.

The baggage inspection room was in chaos at the time. The conveyor belt stopped due to delayed baggage checks. Additionally, checked luggage was lined up in front of the airline ticket counters. Although Korea Airports Corporation hurriedly deployed internal staff and added inspection equipment, the congestion continued. As a result, 142 out of 169 domestic flights were delayed. This even led to situations where passengers departed first and their luggage was delivered separately later.

Such an incident would not have happened to this extent in the past. However, this occurred because Korea Airports Corporation strengthened security and screening measures. In other words, problems arose as soon as the principles and rules were strictly followed. It can also be seen as prioritizing safety through principles and rules rather than increasing efficiency through faster processing.

Korea prefers a "ppalli-ppalli" (hurry-hurry) culture. People want to handle everything quickly and see results fast. They also believe this is efficient?if there are no problems. But we have already experienced too many side effects of the hurry-hurry culture. The 1970 Wow Apartment collapse, the 1993 Seohae ferry sinking, the 1994 Seongsu Bridge collapse, and the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster all happened while trying to maximize efficiency through hurry-hurry.

The side effects of hurry-hurry are still ongoing. Even recently, there have been deaths of delivery riders risking their lives for fast deliveries, and incidents like the Hwajeong I-Park collapse. Traffic congestion caused by tailgating is a well-known issue.

However, it may be time for change. We live in a country where leaving laptops or wallets in cafes rarely results in theft. Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people voluntarily participated well in social distancing. This shows the growth of civic consciousness. Now, even if it takes a little longer, we hope to become a country that strengthens all fields by adhering to principles and rules.