"A Genius at Exploiting the System"... Booked First-Class, Used the Lounge, Then Canceled—Deception by a Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Official

[Financial News] A civil servant in his 40s received a suspended prison sentence after repeatedly booking and canceling first-class tickets dozens of times to access airport first-class lounges.

According to legal sources on the 25th, Judge Hong Jun-seo of the Incheon District Court sentenced Mr. A, a 43-year-old official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence for fraud and obstruction of business.
The court also ordered Mr. A to complete 240 hours of community service.
Mr. A was prosecuted for booking first-class tickets 33 times between January 19, 2018, and November 8, 2023, using only the lounge and then canceling the tickets, thereby disrupting airline operations.
Since 2001, Mr. A had taken flights 464 times and exploited the policy that allowed ticket cancellations within 24 hours without any fee.
Investigations revealed that Mr. A would pass through immigration with a ticket he actually intended to use and then purchase a first-class ticket in the duty-free area.
He would then present the first-class ticket to access the lounge, enjoy food and receive souvenirs, and later cancel the ticket for a full refund. As a result, the affected airline introduced new rules for first-class ticket cancellation fees and a penalty fee for lounge misuse, up to 500,000 won.

During the trial, Mr. A argued that the airline violated the Personal Information Protection Act by checking his personal data and providing it to investigative authorities, claiming the evidence was unlawfully obtained.
However, the court rejected Mr. A's argument, stating that the airline was permitted to access and provide personal information under the Personal Information Protection Act for the purpose of reporting a crime.
The court pointed out, "The defendant committed implicit deception constituting fraud and obstruction of business by presenting a premium ticket to gain lounge access without any intention of actually boarding the flight."
The court further explained, "The defendant is a first-time offender and the amount of damage was not specified," adding, "The sentencing took into account the motive for the crime and subsequent circumstances."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter