Lee Jun-seok: "President Lee Stigmatized and Harassed Lee Hak-jae... Abuse of Power Worse Than Patjwi's Mother"

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 stated, "Watching the farce that unfolded as the President received the work report gave me a sense of d?j? vu. It was exactly like Patjwi's mother." He added, "Just as Patjwi's mother forced Kongjwi to pour water into a bottomless jar, the President questioned Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, about matters outside his scope of work and did not even 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 continued, "In blended families in our society, many parents raise their stepchildren with love, but we tell the story of Kongjwi and Patjwi to point out the wrongdoings of a few and to show children what is right." He added, "During this work report, President Lee embodied the very image of Patjwi's mother, whom we were taught as children never to emulate." Lee Hak-jae was appointed during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

He went on, "Even in private companies, when older generations try to discipline younger employees by asking questions outside their responsibilities and then criticize them for not knowing the answers, such incidents are immediately reported to the media and become issues in online communities." He advised the President, "In the film 'Hi! Dharma,' the impossible task of filling a bottomless jar with water is used as a metaphor for the teachings of Buddha. 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

Previously, on the 12th, President Lee publicly reprimanded Lee Hak-jae during the ministry work report. At the time, President Lee asked, "Are you properly inspecting 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, but if someone hides them in a book as a bookmark, they are not detected. I don't understand how that is possible." Lee Hak-jae was unable to provide a clear answer.

President Lee then pointed out, "I asked how you are handling illegal foreign currency outflows. I am asking whether it is possible to detect them or not, but you keep avoiding the question." At one point, he raised his voice, saying, "Are you playing somewhere else right now?" Regarding the Egypt airport development project, President Lee also criticized, "It seems you know nothing beyond 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 on his social media, saying, "Even employees who have worked at Incheon Airport for 30 years would not know about the bookmark dollar inspection unless they are in the security screening field. What is concerning is that the President's remarks have now made it widely known that 'dollars hidden in bookmarks are not detected.'" He added, "If we were to implement the 100% baggage inspection proposed by the President as a solution, the airport would be paralyzed." Regarding the Egypt airport development project, he explained, "The project has not even gone out for bidding yet, and I have not received any reports. Once the announcement is made, we will allocate the budget and thoroughly prepare for the bid so that, if feasible, we can win the contract."