By Kim Jae-heun
An old plan to build a new airport in the southeastern region of the nation _ scrapped in 2016 _ is being revived by politicians ahead of the forthcoming local elections to carry favor with voters.
Oh Keo-don, a former maritime minister running for Busan mayor in the June 13 elections, has pledged to build an airport on Gadeok Island off the port city, if elected.
His promise has stirred civic groups in Daegu, the other city vying with Busan two year ago, to host the new airport at Miryang, North Gyeongsang Province, calling for the airport to be constructed there
In June 2016, the Park Geun-hye government decided to expand Gimhae International Airport in Busan instead of building a new airport. This was considered a “stopgap measure” to prevent a split in the traditional stronghold of Park and the ruling party.
Kyungpook National University professor Kim Hyung-kee held a press conference at Daegu City Council, Tuesday, stressing the need for the airport in Miryang.
“Oh has promised to build a new airport on Gadeok Island. It's a pledge based on the egotism of Busan when the previous administration already annulled the plan for its inadequacy,” Kim said.
“If construction of another international airport in Busan is realized, Daegu City and the North Gyeongsang provincial government's plan to integrate Daegu Airport and the K-2 Air Base will become useless. Not only will they lose the ability to launch routes to America, but the integrated airport will lose many potential customers.”
Kim also argued the city and provincial governments' airport integration plan should be halted, calling it a failed initiative.
The conflict arose in 2006 when then-President Roh Moo-hyun ordered a review on constructing a new international airport in the southeastern region. The next year, the Ministry of Construction and Transportation confirmed the need for an air traffic hub there.
With Miryang and Gadeok Island picked as candidates for the new airport, they were both evaluated as inadequate in 2011 and the new airport construction initiative was nullified.
However, controversy returned to in 2012 when Park Geun-hye pledged to build an airport in Gyeongsang Province during her presidential election campaign.