New airport plan throws parties into disarray

Lawmakers from the ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, based in Busan, participate in a rally, held in the port city, supporting Gadeok Island’s bid to establish a new airport, June 14. They claim that an airport on the island could be operated around the clock and expanded if necessary. / Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo

The government’s plan to choose the site for a new airport in the southeastern part of the country is producing tensions inside the rival parties.

The two candidate sites are Gadeok Island near the southern port city of Busan and the inland town of Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province.

Busan is backing Gadeok Island — not far from the existing Gimhae International Airport, claiming that it could be operated around the clock and expanded if necessary, while Daegu, Ulsan and North and South Gyeongsang provinces are favoring Miryang, citing better accessibility and economic feasibility.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Tuesday, ADPI, a French company specialized in airport architecture and engineering, is slated to unveil the location of the new airport before June 24, ending a decade-long political and regional conflict.

At the ruling Saenuri Party, the long-running thorny issue is especially driving a wedge between lawmakers based in Busan and those representing Daegu — both of which have served as traditional political strongholds for the party — raising fears within the governing camp that any result will split its political bastions ahead of next year’s presidential election.

North Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kwan-yong speaks during a press conference in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, June 14, together with, from left, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo, Kim, and Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon in favor of Miryang as the best fit for a new airport, citing better accessibility and economic feasibility. / Korea Times file

On the other hand, an unlikely feud related with the site selection is stretching into the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) that has received less support from the regions, as its two presidential hopefuls — Moon Jae-in and Kim Boo-kyum — are squaring off against each other over the issue.

Rumors are rampant that the government has already decided on Miryang for the new airport site because Daegu is the hometown of President Park Geun-hye. Also, Saenuri Party lawmaker Cho Won-jin whose district is in the town said in March that the head of state was preparing “gift packages for Daegu.”

In response to the escalating speculation, Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo, regarded as a loyalist to President Park, has declared that he would not agree with the selection, should evidence in the selection process be found to be “unfair.”

“I cannot help having doubts that the selection may be made politically by an invisible hand because a number of officials from Daegu belong to the land ministry’s decision-making office,” Suh said in a radio interview, June 8, vowing to step down if Busan fails to win the project.

Earlier this month, some Saenuri Party lawmakers from Busan and a civic group visited ruling party floor leader Chung Jin-suk and stressed that Gadeok Island is a better fit for the new airport. One day later, a similar delegation from Daegu also met with Chung asking him to urge politicians to stay away from the issue.

Lawmakers from Daegu, who had remained reserved on the issue, have begun to raise their voice against the port city.

“It is not a responsible behavior for a local governor to mention possible disobedience to an unannounced result,” said Rep. Kang Seok-ho from a constituency in North Gyeongsang Province.

North Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kwan-yong also said, “The government should sternly deal with those who split public opinion and instigate regional conflict.”

Despite pledging to build a new airport during his presidential campaign in 2007, the Lee Myung-bak government scrapped the plan because of the intense regional rivalry.

However, President Park brought it back as a presidential campaign pledge.

The new airport issue is re-emerging as the Saenuri Party sees its popularity in Busan waning, as evidenced in the April 13 general election, in which the ruling party lost six out of 18 parliamentary seats up for grabs in the city — five to the MPK and one to an independent candidate.

“Should Miryang be picked for the site, the Saenuri Party will face the toughest backlash yet from people in Busan, which will eventually lead them to withdraw their support for the party ahead of next year’s presidential election,” said a Saenuri Party lawmaker.

MPK plagued by airport selection

Former MPK Chairman Moon, who is from Busan, visited Gadeok Island, June 9, and called for the government to resolve suspicions that the city is claiming — a move seen as his endorsement for the island.

“Based on objective and international standards, the decision on the site for the new airport would be the same as Busan people want,” Moon said.

“It is not proper to express my position, but what matters is that Busan citizens are questioning the objectivity, fairness and transparency of the selection process.”

Along with Moon, five MPK lawmakers elected in the port city are also campaigning to bring the project to Busan.

On the other hand, Kim Boo-kyun, who became the first opposition Assemblyman in Daegu in 31 years, slammed Moon for politicizing the national project.

“While the selection process is still underway, a politician, who is unprofessional, is raising a conspiracy theory to deepen the conflict. A political leader should behave with prudence in this kind of situation,” said Kim, who backs Miryang.

Kim also criticized Saenuri Party lawmakers representing Daegu, saying that they are passively responding to Busan’s “unreadable arguments.”

Amid the emerging feud between Moon and Kim, the MPK leadership is sitting on the fence out of concern that it may expand to the whole party.