"ICAO Starts Firsthand Evaluation of South Korea's Aviation Security"

Tuesday, November 2, 2004

ICAO Starts Firsthand Evaluation of South Korea's Aviation Security
The Korea Times


The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Monday launched a
10-day inspection of South Korea's aviation security.

The ICAO will examine the nation's security status under the Universal
Security Audit Program (USAP) by visiting Incheon International Airport,
related authorities and aviation companies.

The inspection is being conducted according to an agreement made in February
2002 when the ICAO decided to conduct an audit to confirm whether its 188
member countries abide by international standards for aviation security.

The inspection team will examine the nation's air security laws and
regulations, the system of cooperation with other countries, airport
security, procedures for monitoring dangerous items, baggage examination and
measures against illegal activities.

The organization will put each nation's security status into one of three
categories after the audit is completed.

As all documents and materials relating to the inspection are confidential,
the result will only be reported to the countries concerned and related
authorities. The process of the audit will be reported everyday to the
presidential office of Chong Wa Dae, the office of the prime minister and
the Construction and Transportation Ministry during the audit period.

Countries will be able to share the results in accordance with bilateral or
multilateral treaties.

Each nation is required to improve defective security measures according to
reports from the ICAO, and the organization ensures improvements are carried
out by conducting another inspection one or two years later.

The Korean government and air authorities are reportedly very sensitive
about the audit, as even though the result will not directly affect the
nation's aviation condition or policy, the result will reflect South Korea's
aviation security status.

In 2001, South Korea had difficulties in increasing routes for overseas
flights after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classified
Korea as a second-grade country where air security is regarded as not safe
by the FAA and the ICAO's standards.

``While the ICAO just points out defects in air security conditions, the
audit is very important because nations assess other countries' aviation
security levels and decide future aviation exchanges based on the results of
the inspection,'' Yoo Kwang-eui, professor of Hankuk Aviation University,
said.


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