The South Korean Ministry of Land has released an audit criticizing the Incheon International Airport's valet parking service changes as rushed and lacking in consideration for public convenience. The ministry’s findings, issued on the 11th, stated that the overhaul of the airport's parking service was inadequately planned and could negatively affect users. Previously, the airport announced a restructuring of valet services into 'regular' and 'premium' categories, where the regular valet service would now require users to park 4 kilometers away from the terminal, while the premium service's fees would double from 20,000 won to 40,000 won.

The decision to change the parking service was rationalized by the airport as a means to reduce congestion at the first terminal. However, the Ministry of Land pointed out that this reasoning was flawed, especially given that the usage rate at the first terminal decreased following the transfer of Asiana Airlines to the second terminal. As a result of the changes, regular service users would be forced to use a shuttle bus for a longer commute to the terminal, while premium customers would be charged more for a service that now requires parking outdoors instead of indoors. Critics of the service overhaul have labeled it a deceptive price increase that aggravates inconvenience for passengers.

Additionally, the auditing revealed deficiencies in the selection process for valet service operators. There was a miscalculation of necessary expenses for the service, leading to an offer significantly below the required rental rate. Moreover, the shuttle bus contractor for the regular service was chosen without the necessary transport license. The Ministry of Land has emphasized that the reform should prioritize customer convenience, which has evidently not been the case based on the issued audit report.