Post on Facebook After President's Public Rebuke
"If We Implement 100% Baggage Inspection, the Airport Will Come to a Standstill"
Lee Hakjae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, commented on December 14 regarding President Lee Jaemyung’s criticism during a work report about the “bookmark dollar screening.” He stated, “Even employees who have worked at Incheon Airport for 30 years would not know about this unless they are involved in security screening.”
On his Facebook account that day, President Lee wrote, “Since last Friday, I have received countless messages from acquaintances over the weekend,” and began his post by saying, “To those acquaintances who witnessed President Lee Jaemyung’s criticism of me, it may have come across as a suggestion that I should step down.” He continued, “The world’s top aviation experts are working diligently at Incheon Airport, but due to last Friday’s commotion, I hesitated to post this out of concern that the public might mistakenly view Incheon Airport as an incompetent organization.”
On October 27th, at the large conference room of Incheon International Airport Corporation in Jung-gu, Incheon, during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit of Incheon International Airport Corporation and others, Lee Hakjae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation (right), is responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Airport Photographers Group photo@yna.co.kr (End)
President Lee clarified, “The prevention of illegal foreign currency outflow is the responsibility of customs, while Incheon International Airport Corporation’s screening work focuses on dangerous items such as knives, awls, firearms, lighters, and liquids.” He further explained, “If illegal foreign currency outflow is discovered during the screening process for dangerous items at Incheon Airport, it is handed over to customs.” He added, “From what I have confirmed, even employees who have worked at Incheon Airport Corporation for 30 years are unaware of the bookmark dollar screening unless they work in the security screening field.” He pointed out, “What is concerning is that the incident has now made it widely known that ‘if you hide dollars in a book as a bookmark, they will not be detected during screening.’” He also stated, “If we implement 100% baggage inspection as the President suggested, the airport would come to a standstill.” President Lee concluded his explanation by saying, “We will consult with customs to find a better solution.”
During a work report to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and others on December 12, President Lee Jaemyung asked, “Is it true that if you hide tens of thousands of dollars in $100 bills in a book like a bookmark and take it abroad, it won’t be detected?” When President Lee Hakjae failed to provide a proper answer, President Lee Jaemyung publicly rebuked him, asking, “How long is your term?”, “You really have a way with words,” and “Are you off enjoying yourself somewhere else right now?”
President Lee Hakjae is a former three-term member of the National Assembly and was appointed President of Incheon International Airport Corporation in June 2023 during the administration of President Yoon Sukyeol.
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