The government announced Wednesday it will proceed with construction of a naval base on the southern island of Jeju as scheduled, overriding objections from opposition parties and civic groups that the base will harm the island and cause security tensions in the region.
The project, which was launched in 2007 during the previous administration of late President Roh Moo-hyun, has been one of the most contentious issues in South Korea recently as opposition parties, environmental groups and other activists staged strong protests against it.
Construction began last year in Gangjeong Village on the southern tip of the resort island for a harbor that will accommodate around 20 naval vessels, and is now about 17 percent complete, with the government planning to complete construction by 2015.
Officials said not only naval vessels, but large civilian cruise ships will be able to use the port.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kim Hwang-shik presided over a state policy coordination meeting that decided to push ahead with the project as scheduled. The meeting came a week after President Lee Myung-bak expressed his strong commitment to the project during a press conference.
Kim said during the meeting it was time for South Korea to put an end to "unnecessary political controversy and wasteful social discord" and unite to build an excellent naval base and further develop Jeju.
"If the project is delayed, it will waste a large part of the budget. We will start full-fledged construction soon," a government official said. "We will try to accommodate constructive opinions of the local residents, but will deal sternly with illegal attempts to obstruct the construction."
The government also decided to provide 578.7 billion won ($517 million) in the state budget for a 1.77 trillion won project to develop areas around the planned base. (Yonhap)