Wuhan Consul Youngsa "Cho Won-tae, Put a Spoon on It" vs Korean Air "Expression Is Excessive"

Korean Air "Chairman Cho Prepared Onboard for Korean Passengers"

Lee Sang-jin, Director of the Overseas Koreans Consular Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was dispatched as the Rapid Response Team Leader to Wuhan, China, and officials are descending the ramp after arriving at Gimpo Airport on the morning of the 1st via a chartered flight transporting overseas Koreans. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Jung Dawoon, a police consul in charge of supporting the repatriation of Korean residents in Wuhan, China, said on the 1st, "After the last charter flight took off safely with 333 passengers on board, I cried uncontrollably in the car on my way home," adding, "Now I have to take care of the Korean residents remaining here again," sharing her thoughts on returning home.

In a post on her 'WeChat Moments' that day, Consul Jung wrote, "I couldn't even say goodbye to my 9-year-old and 7-year-old little rascals who were flying alone. On the plane, I couldn't get a comfortable seat or even sit with the kids, so I couldn't move. Suddenly, I thought of my wife who must be struggling with the two kids in a cramped two-person isolation room, and I felt so sorry and heartbroken," adding, "Throughout the three years living in Wuhan, I couldn't properly support what she wanted to do, and until the day we left Wuhan, I kept crying because I felt like I was sending her off after making her suffer by marrying the wrong husband."

Consul Jung also expressed gratitude by directly mentioning Vice Consul Lee Kwangho, Consuls Joo Taegil and Lee Choonghee, staff members, Choi Deokgi, president of the Hubei Korean Association, Jung Taeil, secretary-general of the Korean Association, Chinese administrative staff, and shuttle bus volunteers.

On the other hand, Consul Jung expressed regret regarding Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae, who participated in the Korean resident transport operation. She said, "After all the hard work to arrange the charter flight, Chairman Cho of Korean Air boarded the plane with two secretaries trying to get a share," adding, "He neither got off nor left, and I blame the lack of seats. Ultimately, it was my fault for not considering that."

In response, a Korean Air official told JoongAng Ilbo, "Chairman Cho was preparing inside the cabin for the boarding of Korean residents," and "He did not bring any separate secretaries."

The official added, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for the large-scale Korean resident operation in Wuhan, and Chairman Cho and the Korean Air team were on standby inside the cabin handling in-flight duties," and "Chairman Cho greeted the Korean residents in front of the charter flight. Launching the charter flight was a sacrifice even for the company, so saying he tried to get a share is an exaggeration," rebutting the criticism.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.