Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, announced his resignation on February 25th, stating he would not run in the June 3rd local elections. [Photo = Yonhap News]

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, announced his resignation, stating he would not run in the June 3rd local elections.

At a press conference held at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport on the 25th, Lee stated regarding rumors of his candidacy for Incheon Mayor, “I am not considering running in the local elections at all. I want to make it clear that my resignation as president is unrelated to any election candidacy.”

Regarding the timing of his resignation, he explained, “I believed that resigning now would be my last act as President of Incheon International Airport Corporation for the airport and its employees.”

Lee claimed, “An absurd situation, like a storm, has hit the organization because of me. Although I initially thought little of the pressure to resign last November, it has intensified, and employees are actually suffering the consequences.”

Lee, who announced his resignation on the 20th, was appointed by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration in 2023. A former three-term lawmaker, he had recently been in a tense confrontation with the Lee Jae-myung administration over issues such as airport security screening and personnel authority.

During a performance report to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in December of last year, he was publicly criticized by the President for the crackdown on “acts of smuggling dollars tucked into bookmarks.”

In response, Lee criticized, “Incheon Airport is only responsible for security checks based on the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). The President received incorrect information. However, no one is taking responsibility.”

He also argued that Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Secretary to the President,’s directive to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for a special audit regarding the reorganization of Incheon International Airport’s valet parking service after the December performance report was a clear overreach of authority.

He emphatically stated, “The Chief Secretary to the President is an aide to the President, so how can an aide direct the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to conduct a special audit? This is an unacceptable overreach and abuse of power.”

Lee added, “Regular personnel appointments are the most valuable reward for employees and the exclusive authority of the Corporation President. Despite this, the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have exerted pressure approximately 20 times, saying things like ‘Do it when the new president comes,’ ‘Only for positions below Grade 3,’ and ‘Do it after approval from the Presidential Office.’”

Lee’s farewell ceremony will be held on the 26th at 10 AM in the main auditorium of the Corporation’s headquarters.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee