President Koo Bon-hwan: "More severe door rejection than plant CEOs... Requesting minimal work"

Office, secretarial staff, work vehicles, access cards, etc. required
"Any department, large or small, that can be distinguished by work type is acceptable"

Former Incheon International Airport Corporation President Koo Bon-hwan is answering reporters' questions at a business center located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 23rd.

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] After winning the first trial in the dismissal cancellation lawsuit, Gu Bon-hwan, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, has demanded the minimum necessary duties that will not interfere with management during the remaining term until April next year. He clearly expressed his intention to participate in management to some extent under a co-CEO system with the current President Kim Kyung-wook during the remaining term.

On the afternoon of the 23rd, President Gu said at a press conference held at a business center located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, “Respecting the judiciary’s judgment, I should be given basic, minimum duties that can provide me with legitimacy as a co-CEO,” adding, “In fact, I am being treated worse than a figurehead CEO.”

He argued that operating the corporation under a 'co-CEO' system with the current President Kim Kyung-wook would not disrupt management. Since he returned to his duties by court ruling, President Gu requested the corporation to provide him with an office located in Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do, secretarial staff, a company vehicle, airport access pass, and intranet access rights. He also asked for the restoration of his name, which was removed from the corporation’s registry, to resolve legal inconsistencies.

President Gu emphasized, “Considering the difficult management conditions due to COVID-19, I will minimize my CEO role,” and added, “It would be good if President Kim Kyung-wook handles major tasks such as overseas projects, and I am fine with a department where tasks can be divided, whether large or small.”

He also expressed his feelings about the ‘Incheon International Airport Corporation (In-guk-gong) incident’ at this occasion. President Gu said, “People say I lost leadership because of the In-guk-gong incident, but I handled the incident and took all the blame,” and “I want to restore my honor and clear my name.”

Previously, in September last year, Gu was dismissed from the position of President of Incheon International Airport Corporation due to violations of duties such as poor response to typhoon crises, false reporting of activities, and undermining fairness in personnel management. During this process, speculation arose that the real reason for his dismissal was taking responsibility for the In-guk-gong incident.

However, it is uncertain whether former President Gu can effectively return to work. Both the corporation’s management and the labor union have expressed opposition to his return.

The In-guk-gong management issued a statement the day before, saying, “While we are relieved that his honor has been restored by winning the first trial, the organization must not fall into confusion again because of this,” and emphasized, “We want to make it clear that airport operations and corporation management will continue centered on the current President Kim Kyung-wook.”

The labor union also raised its voice through a statement, saying, “(Former President Gu) unfairly dismissed 47 irregular workers during the hasty direct employment process,” and “No workers welcome his return.”

President Bon-hwan sent a message to the corporation’s management the night before, saying, “Considering the difficult internal and external management conditions the corporation faces, I feel heavy-hearted,” but added, "Collective thinking or actions alone cannot solve this. I hope we do not go further into distrust and division.”

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