From flightaware, it was shown as an A380 flight. As such, the PIC was certainly a local Korean captain. Well, it would be very difficult for a local Korean captain to defy a company VP.
Even a Canuck captain with a cargo fire warning did not dare to defy the OC ( Korean Air Operations Control ) and agreed with company " experts " to continue flying to YVR. It was eventually determined to be a false warning, but there was no absolute way to ascertain so...the checklist hence called for landing ASAP at the nearest suitable airport.
So it is not easy defy company orders despite all the hollow display of armchair bravado by some.
