Cooperation between Incheon International Airport Corporation and Incheon Airport Headquarters Customs was the key driving force behind this achievement. In the past, the two organizations insisted on their own areas of work and fought over responsibility, but they finally established a solid cooperation system in the face of the common threat of illegal foreign currency smuggling. The corporation did not spare any support for infrastructure and equipment at security screening sites, and Customs maximized its expertise in response by establishing a department dedicated to foreign currency inspection last March. This organic connection is completed by a ‘double blocking system’ that first detects abnormalities at the security screening stage and conducts a secondary detailed verification through X-ray reading at customs. As a result, the effectiveness of crackdowns has improved dramatically, with the number of fines and investigation requests rapidly increasing by more than 40-70% compared to the previous year.

It is also worth noting that the strengthening of crackdowns was not aimed solely at punishment. The authorities did not stop at forcible detection, but also launched a ‘volunteer reporting campaign’ to encourage travelers to recognize the importance of reporting foreign currency. As a result of continuous guidance on the reporting process through electronic boards and broadcasts throughout the airport, positive changes were brought about with the number of voluntary reports increasing by more than 16% compared to the same period last year. This is an example that shows how effective it is to encourage compliance with laws by providing correct information rather than vague fears or regulations in establishing actual order. The combination of punishment and guidance has become a key strategy for eliciting citizen cooperation in security settings.

The advancement of security is now going beyond the human eye and entering the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). Incheon Airport is planning to introduce an ‘AI banknote automatic detection algorithm’ that will identify wads of banknotes in bags in real time. This is an attempt to break away from the existing method of relying on the intuition of skilled search agents and dramatically increase the accuracy and speed of reading through data-based precision detection. In addition, the Corporation's determination to kill both human resources and technical infrastructure is evident by systematically training the expertise of security agents through the recently opened training institute for new special security guards. These investments will serve as a foundation for minimizing security gaps and solidifying our status as a global hub airport.

Meanwhile, behind the advancement of airport security systems, complex challenges such as refugee and human rights issues still remain. As the special space called the airport becomes the front line where national sovereignty and human rights collide, the controversy over illegal detention and the reality of those who are in the blind spot of legal protection pose another question to our society. If strengthening security is an essential measure for national safety, minimizing the possibility of human rights violations that occur in the process is also a quality of security that an advanced country must have. Just as Incheon Airport successfully blocked the real threat of foreign currency smuggling, it is time to consider an inclusive security model that harmonizes airport safety and human rights from a broader perspective.