Overview
- On December 12, President Lee Jae-myung instructed officials to "go through all the books" at Incheon International Airport.
- He pressed for 100% manual bag searches so security staff could identify books and open them to look for hidden currency.
- Incheon Airport president Lee Hag-jae warned the proposed blanket inspections "would paralyze the airport" and emphasized that currency smuggling falls under customs.
- Authorities have not announced any systemwide rollout, and coverage notes the searches could cause major delays if imposed.
- Some analysis points to political undertones, noting the airport chief was appointed under a previous administration.