Head of Incheon Airport refuses to resign despite pressure

In a direct hit against the Transport Ministry‘s move to oust him, Koo Bon-hwan, CEO of the state-run Incheon International Airport, on Wednesday refused to step down for “ungrounded” reasons. “During a meeting with a senior official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport earlier this month, I was asked to resign on my own. I was told a dismissal would be recommended if I don‘t leave immediately,” he said. His comments come following reports that the Transport Ministry is moving to remove him from his position, having recommended his dismissal to the Ministry of Economy and Finance after launching an investigation into several accusations against the CEO, which are yet to be confirmed. The rare move by the ministry has been stoking multiple speculations, including how it may be seeking a way out of its permanent job transition debacle by having Koo take the fall. “I expressed my intention that I can’t leave the post immediately without being given a good reason to do so,” he added. He also said his offer to quit sometime next year had been rejected. Koo is accused of misusing a corporate credit card as well as dismissing a staff member for formally questioning a human resources decision. Koo argues these accusations don’t amount to grounds for dismissal.<br/>