'Security is everyone's responsibility': Korean Air, Asiana hold first joint security culture workshop

Aviation security officers from Korean Air and Asiana Airlines gathered for the first time to discuss how to build a unified security culture for the merged carrier.

Korean Air announced Tuesday that it recently held the first "Building Security Culture Together" workshop at its headquarters in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The event marked the first official joint workshop for about 40 aviation security officers from both airlines, ahead of the integrated Korean Air's scheduled launch on Dec. 17.

The workshop went beyond simply reviewing security regulations and procedures, focusing instead on fostering a culture in which employees proactively practice security on the ground. Aviation security touches not only external threat response but also day-to-day operations — including procedural compliance, on-site judgment and cross-departmental coordination — making it a key challenge during the integration process.

The session opened with an overview of the latest aviation security threats, followed by discussions on the concept of security culture and how to embed it within an organization, as well as training on human factors and their application to aviation security. Participants then held group discussions based on real security violation scenarios, jointly examining potential risk factors and response measures that could arise in the field.

Participants focused particularly on analyzing the human-factor causes behind security risks and shared cases and expertise from their respective divisions. They also discussed improvement measures that could be applied directly in the field.

The workshop closed with a security culture pledge and a joint signing ceremony. Participants signed a declaration affirming the core value that "security is the responsibility of all of us."

Bennett Alan Walsh, Korean Air's head of aviation safety and security, said security is "the most fundamental value that all employees must practice together, regardless of rank or role." He added that "a sense of ownership — proactively recognizing and responding to risk factors from one's own position — is the key to maintaining Korean Air's high security standards," and pledged to work continuously to ensure that principle takes root as part of the integrated carrier's new organizational culture.

Korean Air plans to continue identifying aviation security culture initiatives across its business sites and to select outstanding cases for recognition through its best safety and security branch award program. Through these efforts, the airline aims to spread a voluntary, participation-driven security culture both before and after the integrated carrier's launch.