Seoul: The head of the operator of South Korea's Incheon International Airport, Lee Hag-jae, has stepped down from his position just months after a contentious interaction with President Lee Jae Myung. The resignation comes ahead of his planned candidacy for Incheon mayor in the upcoming June local elections.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the incident that precipitated Lee Hag-jae's resignation occurred during a policy briefing last December. President Lee Jae Myung confronted Lee Hag-jae regarding the airport's measures to prevent illegal export of U.S. dollars, specifically questioning the practice of concealing $100 bills between book pages. The airport chief's evasive response led to a public scolding by the president.
Lee Hag-jae's tenure as president of Incheon International Airport Corp. was set to conclude in mid-June. He was originally appointed to the position by former President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier in 2023. His resignation is seen as a strategic move to position himself as a candidate for the main opposition People Power Party in the upcoming local elections.
The Incheon International Airport Corp. has announced a farewell ceremony for Lee Hag-jae, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday. As the airport transitions to new leadership, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the change might impact the airport's operations and its handling of security protocols.