“We’re devoting ourselves to rallying behind Korea’s bid during the days before the ICAO Assembly session in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In particular, a Korean delegation, headed by Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Suh Seoung-hwan, will go there for the voting,” he said in a recent written interview with NewsWorld. The following are excerpts of the interview in which he spoke of government policies, including steps to ensure air safety.

Answer: The Republic of Korea is briskly seeking to be elected to be one of the ICAO council member states for a fifth consecutive time at the 38th Session of the ICAO Assembly in order to assume responsibility and roles corresponding to those of the world’s seventh largest aviation powerhouse. 

I believe that it is important to have such infrastructure as aviation transportation capacity and the world’s top rankings in safety oversight audits, as well as having Incheon International Airport recognized for offering the best services by winning the Best Airport Worldwide Award for an eighth consecutive year to earn the nation the status of an ICAO council member state. What’s more important is our country’s record of having supported 191 ICAO member countries and our determination to make contributions to them in the years to come.

Korea has been distributing free aviation safety-related software, developed through its own advanced IT, to Asian and African countries and is expanding programs to educate aviation safety experts from developing countries free of charge. 

We’re devoting ourselves to mustering votes for Korea’s bid during the days before the ICAO Assembly session in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In particular, a Korean delegation, headed by Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Suh Seoung-hwan, will go there for the voting.

A:  Representatives of ICAO council member states, including Nigeria, Uganda, and Columbia, Boubacar Djibo, Director of the Air Transport Bureau at ICAO, and Deputy Assistant Administrator Victoria Reeder of the Transportation Security Administration of the United States, were invited to the 4th Conference on International Air Transport Cooperation that took place at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul from May 6-8. About 690 people, including aviation experts and foreign ambassadors in Korea, participated in the conference. 

One of the achievements Korea made during the conference is the spreading of support for Korea’s bid to be elected as an ICAO council member, as Minister Suh had meetings with representatives of ICAO council member states and agreed to strengthen their mutual cooperation.

The latest conference reviewed international air transportation projections for the next decade, which were reached at the Sixth Worldwide Air Transport Conference at the ICAO headquarters from March 19-22, and suggested means of implementation for international organizations, governments, airlines, and airport authorities. 

It took an in-depth look at the latest aviation security policies as well as related technology and equipment to cope with aircraft terrors that are evolving into diverse types. It was very significant for the 4th Conference on International Air Transport Cooperation to serve as an opportunity to forecast the future direction of the international air transport system and shed new light on the pending issues such as aviation safety, security and international cooperation.

A:  There are Korea’s advanced hub airports, which post profits on a constant basis like Incheon International Airport, which have been gaining recognition for offering best services, whereas regional airports have difficulties due to lack of competitiveness, exacerbated by the advancement of inland transportation means such as the high-speed railroad KTX and expressways. 

Here is a look at the government’s policies to ensure air safety. 

We strive to settle an aerodrome certification system that made its debut in Korea in 2013 while working out and implementing steps to cope with the vulnerabilities after analyzing and evaluating the outcomes of air safety audits made during the past 10 years. Emergency drills are made on a regular basis against possible glitches of key airport equipment and machinery caused by computer interruptions and fires, while we plan to ramp up preventive activities to minimize damages caused by bird strikes on aircraft.

A:  Korea has established an air safety assessment response system to ensure world-class air safety trustworthiness in accordance with the trends of the international air community’s reinforcing responsibilities of state, and the nation has a scientific air safety management system in place to translate it into action. 

Government inspectors offer consulting on safety to low cost carriers, while airlines are told to enhance their safety capabilities by sharing information on safety and by promoting mutual cooperation among air carriers. 

We plan to put into practice a future navigation plan for ensuring the efficient and safe operation of aircraft within limited airspace. 

National flag-carriers are asked to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions on a voluntary basis to address global warming, while they are advised and under surveillance to enhance aircraft energy efficiency to world-class standards. 

Recognizing the need for nurturing next generation aviation experts to ensure air safety preparedness without a hitch, the ministry has been focusing on an aviation professional development project, which was launched in 2009, which not only calls for creating quality jobs for youth, but also nourishing next-generation gifted aviation experts.