SAN MIGUEL-LED Recent NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has appointed Jong Hoon “John” Kim, a longtime executive from Incheon International Airport, as its chief operating officer (COO) as the corporate pushes ahead with the modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In an announcement on Wednesday, NNIC said Mr. Kim would oversee the day-to-day operations of the country’s primary gateway, replacing Okay Chul “Paul” Shin, who will move to a different task.
“His experience at Incheon is directly relevant to the work ahead as we proceed improving the airport’s systems, facilities and passenger experience,” NNIC General Manager Angelito A. Alvarez said.
The corporate said the appointment forms a part of a broader effort to bring Incheon Airport’s operational expertise to Manila because it seeks to enhance passenger flow, security, cargo operations, facility management and airport systems.
Incheon International Airport, South Korea’s primary international gateway, has capability for 106 million passengers and 6.3 million tons of cargo annually.
Before joining NNIC, Mr. Kim served as director of airport security management at Incheon Airport, where he led the rollout of biometric access controls, artificial intelligence-assisted CCTV systems and expanded security inspection programs.
He also handled operational readiness planning for the airport’s fourth-phase expansion and oversaw initiatives involving cargo, logistics and free trade zone development, NNIC said.
Outside South Korea, Mr. Kim served for 2 years as director of operations and facility management at Kuwait Airport Terminal 4 and worked as an operational readiness consultant for Erbil International Airport.
Mr. Kim is a licensed senior electrical engineer and a licensed project management skilled. He earned his electrical engineering degree from Jeju National University and previously worked on aviation safety standards with Airports Council International. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera