Ex-Changwon mayor named Incheon Airport CEO

Park Wan-su

By Lee Kyung-min

Park Wan-su, a former Changwon mayor considered to be an ally of President Park Geun-hye, has been appointed Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) CEO.

The native of Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, will succeed Chung Chang-soo, who resigned in March to run in the gubernatorial election for Gangwon Province. The airport post has been vacant almost seven months.

The company’s board of directors met on Wednesday and approved Park, 59, as CEO. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the IIAC’s majority shareholder, said an inauguration ceremony was scheduled on Monday.

Park’s first official mission as IIAC CEO will be to host the 27th TIACA (The International Air Cargo Association) Air Cargo Forum & Exposition, which runs Oct. 7-9 at the COEX in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul.

According to the nomination committee, Park was short-listed for the position along with Choi Joo-hyeon, a Samsung Everland former CEO.

Park was Changwon mayor from 2004 until last January. In April, he ran in a Saenuri Party primary for candidacy in the South Gyeongsang gubernatorial election, but lost to Hong Joon-pyo, who eventually became governor.

A faction close to President Park supported Park.