Why ex-police officials keep taking charge of Korea Airports Corp.

Korea Airports Corp. has again appointed a former police official as president, with Kim Won-joon taking the job on Wednesday in a move that has revived debate over security-first leadership. Industry officials say airports are treated as national security facilities, but critics argue the company needs stronger aviation and business expertise. The appointment comes as KAC faces financial pressure, restructuring uncertainty and scrutiny after the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport.

Kim Won-joon, former chief of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, became KAC's 14th president on Wednesday.

He is the fifth KAC president with a police background since the corporation was reorganized into its current structure in 2002.

KAC operates 14 airports across the country, including Gimpo International Airport and Jeju International Airport, but excluding Incheon International Airport.

KAC recorded an operating loss of 22.3 billion won last year.

Kim said at his inauguration that safety would be the corporation's absolute standard and set a target of 1 trillion won in annual sales.

Published Sep 3, 2026 2:36 pm KST

Airports' operations directly linked to national security

The headquarters of Korea Airports Corp. in Seoul / Yonhap

Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) has repeatedly turned to former police officials to lead the state-run airport operator, with security concerns taking precedence over aviation and management expertise in selecting its top executives, industry officials said Thursday.

The appointment of Kim Won-joon, former chief of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, as KAC's 14th president on Wednesday has revived questions over why the airport operator continues to favor security officials for its top job.

Kim is the fifth KAC president with a police background since the airport operator was reorganized into its current structure in 2002. A former military general and a former intelligence official have also served as KAC president.

An aviation industry official said the pattern stems largely from the special nature of airports.

“Airports are not simply places for aviation operations,” an official from the industry said. “They are facilities closely linked to national security, which is why police officials with expertise in security have frequently been selected as leaders for the organization.”

Airports are considered critical national infrastructure in Korea, with operations involving access control, counterterrorism measures, emergency response and protection against security threats.

Kim Won-joon, president and CEO at Korea Airports Corp., delivers his inaugural speech at its headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Korea Airports Corp.

These responsibilities have traditionally made senior police officials, particularly those with experience in large-scale organizations and crisis management, attractive candidates for KAC's leadership.

The pattern, however, has also fueled criticism that security expertise has been prioritized over aviation and business experience.

The criticism is becoming more pointed, as KAC faces mounting financial and structural challenges.

The corporation operates 14 airports across the country, including Gimpo International Airport and Jeju International Airport, but excluding Incheon International Airport.

While some major airports generate profits, many regional airports continue to struggle with weak passenger demand and chronic losses. KAC recorded an operating loss of 22.3 billion won ($16.4 million) last year.

The company is also facing doubts over the sustainability of Korea's regional airport network.

Government officials and industry experts had discussed integrating KAC with Incheon International Airport Corp. and the Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Authority, as part of a restructuring of state-run airport operators — though the government decided Thursday not to immediately merge the two airport operators.

Against this backdrop, critics argue that KAC needs a president with expertise not only in security and crisis management, but also in airport operations, profitability and long-term business strategy.

Kim, however, has pledged to address both sides of the challenge.

At his inauguration, he said safety would be the corporation's “absolute standard,” while promising to overhaul its management system and strengthen its financial structure.

He also set a target of generating 1 trillion won in annual sales and returning the company to profitability through expanded commercial facilities, tourism-related products and new growth initiatives.

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His appointment comes as KAC seeks to recover from a prolonged leadership vacuum and navigate the aftermath of a Jeju Air crash in December 2024 at Muan International Airport, which killed 179 people on board. Police are also investigating the roles of KAC and other agencies in the disaster.

“With KAC under growing financial and operational pressure, the new leadership will face a test of whether security-oriented experience can translate into stronger airport management and sustainable growth,” another official from the industry said.

韩国机场公社再次任命前警官金元俊为社长，他于周三正式上任。此举再次引发了关于“安全至上”领导层的争议。业内人士表示，机场被视为国家安全设施，但批评人士则认为该公司需要更强大的航空和商业专业知识。此次任命正值韩国机场公社面临财务压力、重组不确定性以及济州航空在务安国际机场坠机事故后受到密切关注之际。

前京畿南部地方警察厅厅长金元俊于周三成为韩国文化协会第14任会长。

自 2002 年 KAC 公司重组为目前的组织结构以来，他是第五位具有警察背景的 KAC 总裁。

韩国航空集团（KAC）在全国运营 14 个机场，包括金浦国际机场和济州国际机场，但不包括仁川国际机场。

韩国空气化工股份有限公司（KAC）去年录得营业亏损223亿韩元。

金在就职演说中表示，安全将是公司的绝对标准，并设定了年销售额达到1万亿韩元的目标。

发布于2026年9月3日下午2:36（韩国标准时间）

机场的运营与国家安全直接相关

韩国机场公社总部位于首尔 / 韩联社

韩国机场公社（KAC）多次聘请前警官担任国营机场运营商的领导职务，业内人士周四表示，在选择高管时，安全问题优先于航空和管理方面的专业知识。

周三，京畿南部地方警察厅前厅长金元俊被任命为韩国机场公司第14任总裁，这再次引发了人们对机场运营商为何继续偏爱安保官员担任最高职位的质疑。

自2002年机场运营商重组为目前架构以来，金是第五位具有警察背景的韩国机场公司总裁。此前，一位前陆军将领和一位前情报官员也曾担任过韩国机场公司总裁。

一位航空业官员表示，这种现象主要源于机场的特殊性质。

一位业内人士表示：“机场不仅仅是航空运营场所，它们还是与国家安全密切相关的设施，因此，具有安保专业知识的警​​务官员经常被选为机场组织的领导者。”

在韩国，机场被视为重要的国家基础设施，其运营涉及出入控制、反恐措施、应急响应和抵御安全威胁。

韩国机场公社社长兼首席执行官金元俊周三在首尔总部发表就职演说。图片由韩国机场公社提供。

这些职责历来使得高级警官，特别是那些在大型组织和危机管理方面有经验的警官，成为 KAC 领导层的理想人选。

然而，这种模式也引发了批评，认为安全专业知识被置于航空和商业经验之上。

随着KAC面临日益严峻的财务和结构性挑战，批评之声也愈发尖锐。

该公司在全国运营 14 个机场，包括金浦国际机场和济州国际机场，但不包括仁川国际机场。

尽管一些大型机场实现了盈利，但许多地区性机场仍然面临客运需求疲软和长期亏损的困境。大韩航空去年录得223亿韩元（约合1640万美元）的运营亏损。

该公司还对韩国区域机场网络的可持续性表示怀疑。

政府官员和行业专家曾讨论过将韩国机场公司与仁川国际机场公司和格德岛新机场建设管理局整合，作为国营机场运营商重组的一部分——尽管政府周四决定暂不立即合并这两家机场运营商。

在此背景下，批评人士认为，KAC 需要一位不仅在安全和危机管理方面拥有专业知识，而且在机场运营、盈利能力和长期商业战略方面也拥有专业知识的总裁。

然而，金正恩承诺将应对挑战的双方。

在就职演说中，他表示安全将是公司的“绝对标准”，并承诺彻底改革其管理体系，加强其财务结构。

他还设定了目标，即通过扩大商业设施、开发旅游相关产品和推出新的增长计划，实现年销售额 1 万亿韩元，并使公司扭亏为盈。

韩国机场公司任命新任首席执行官

要求整合仁川机场和不盈利的地区机场运营商的呼声日益高涨。

此次任命正值韩国航空理事会（KAC）努力摆脱长期领导真空，并应对2024年12月济州航空在务安国际机场发生的空难（造成机上179人遇难）的后续影响之际。警方也在调查韩国航空理事会和其他机构在此次灾难中的角色。

“随着KAC面临越来越大的财务和运营压力，新领导层将面临考验，即以安全为导向的经验能否转化为更强大的机场管理和可持续增长，”另一位业内人士表示。