Political calculations behind ditched airport plan

Citizens watch the government’s announcement on the decision to scrap its plan to build a new airport in the country’s southeastern region, at Seoul Station, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo

The Park Geun-hye administration’s decision, Tuesday, to scrap a plan to build a new airport in the southeastern part of the country was a political consideration to avoid a split of traditional strongholds of Park and the ruling Saenuri Party, analysts said.

However, Cheong Wa Dae is expected to face a backlash given that Park failed to keep her presidential election pledge.

The bidding war between Gadeok Island and Miryang for a new airport has emerged as a hot-button issue as both sites are situated in the southeastern region, the Saenuri Party’s traditional support base. Busan backed Gaedeok Island, while Daegu favored Miryang.

In addition, the ruling side has long been concerned that the regional rivalry over the airport site could cause a rift in its political stronghold ahead of next year’s presidential election.

“The decision can ease the intensifying regional conflict between the Saenuri’s two support bases,” said Hwang Tae-soon, a senior analyst at the Wisdom Center.

En route to the announcement, lawmakers from both regions said that they would not agree with a tertiary option, or for expanding Gimhae International Airport.

Saenuri lawmaker Kim Do-eup whose constituency is in Busan complained of the announcement, saying that it is the wrong decision.

“Even now, Gimhae Airport has a serious noise problem and the expansion will worsen the situation, with more people suffering from it,” Kim told reporters.

However, political watchers say that such negative responses will not grow in number.

“Staying away from any political influence, the decision was made by a foreign company, believed to have conducted the feasibility survey objectively and scientifically, so I think there will be just small-scale resistance against the decision,” Hwang said.

Saenuri Party floor leader Chung Jin-suk also said, “As the government made a tough decision, we must accept it, while trying to minimize the aftereffects.”

He added: “Relevant local governors and mayors are also required to persuade residents to accept the government’s decision.

Minjoo Party of Korea interim leader Kim Chong-in also said, “The government seems to have made the decision to resolve conflict that the issue could cause.”

During the previous Lee Myung-bak administration, the government had taken up the new airport project as the president’s campaign pledge, but put off the decision due to overheated regional confrontations in 2011.

However, President Park, who criticized her predecessor for the postponement, brought the issue back as a presidential campaign pledge.

Analysts predicted that President Park would be in hot water for failing to keep her pledge.

“President Park said that to build a new airport is a must, so critics will point to the failure,” said Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University.