President Lee Publicly Reprimands Incheon Airport Chief Lee Hakjae
"Are You Off Playing Somewhere Else?", "You Know Nothing"
Lee Junseok: "Forcing an Impossible Task Like Filling a Bottomless Jar"
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, criticized President Lee Jae-myung's attitude during the ministry work report, saying, "The behavior of stigmatizing and harassing is an abuse of power that even Patjwi's mother would cry over." During the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th, Lee Jun-seok said, "Watching the farce that unfolded while the President was receiving the work report, I felt a sense of d?j? vu. It was exactly like Patjwi's mother." He continued, "Just as Patjwi's mother forced Kongjwi to endlessly pour water into a bottomless jar, President Lee asked Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, questions that were not even within his scope of work and did not wait for a proper answer."
Lee Jae-myung, the President, was criticized by Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform New Party, for his attitude during the ministry work report, saying, "The behavior of stigmatizing and harassing is an abuse of power that even Patjwi's mother would cry over." Photo by The Asia Business Daily Database
Lee Jun-seok added, "In blended families in our society, many parents raise their stepchildren with love, but to point out the wrong behaviors of a few and show children what is right, we tell them the story of Kongjwi and Patjwi. In this work report, President Lee embodied the very image of Patjwi's mother, whom we were taught never to emulate as children." Lee Hak-jae was appointed during the administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
He continued, "Even in private companies, when older generations try to discipline younger employees by asking questions outside their scope of work and criticize them for not knowing the answers, it immediately becomes an issue in the media and online communities. I offer this advice to the President: In the film 'Hi Dharma,' the impossible task of 'filling a bottomless jar with water' is used as a metaphor for the Buddha's teachings. I sincerely hope the President will demonstrate such wisdom as well."
President Lee Jae-myung publicly reprimanded Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, during a ministry briefing on the 12th. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung publicly reprimanded President Lee Hak-jae during the ministry work report on the 12th. At the time, President Lee asked, "Are you properly screening for illegal foreign currency outflows? How are you handling it?" He continued, "It seems that illegally exported dollars are mainly used for gambling or criminal activities. I heard that if you hide dollars in a book as a bookmark, they are not detected. I can't understand that." President Lee Hak-jae was unable to provide a clear answer.
President Lee Jae-myung then remarked, "I asked how you are handling illegal foreign currency outflows. I am asking whether detection is possible or not, but you keep avoiding the question." At one point, he raised his voice and said, "Are you off playing somewhere else right now?" Regarding the Egypt airport development project, President Lee further criticized, "It seems you know nothing except what is written in the report," and "You do not seem to have a grasp of your work."
On the 14th, Lee Hak-jae responded via his social media, saying that the 'bookmark dollar screening' mentioned by the President is something even employees who have worked at Incheon Airport for 30 years would not know unless they are in the security screening field. He added, "What is concerning is that the idea that 'hiding dollars in a bookmark will evade screening' has now become widely known." He also argued, "If we implement the 100% baggage opening inspection suggested by the President as a solution, the airport will be paralyzed." Regarding the Egypt airport development project, he said, "The project has not even gone to tender yet, and I have not received a report on it. Once the announcement is made, we will allocate the budget and thoroughly prepare for the bid, so if it is feasible, we will pursue the contract."
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