The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Children, pregnant women executed, tortured in North Korea: report

  • 3

    INTERVIEWForeign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry

  • 5

    College students turn to 1,000 won breakfast to beat inflation

  • 7

    Rare Joseon-era map returns home from Japan

  • 9

    Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won takes his business skills to next level with 'The Genius Paik'

  • 11

    Carmakers unveil latest models at Seoul Mobility Show

  • 13

    Japanese top visitors to Korea in 2023 as tourism rebounds

  • 15

    BLACKPINK, TXT, Stray Kids: K-pop stars headline international music festivals

  • 17

    Hyundai, BMW and Ford to recall over 12,000 vehicles over faulty parts

  • 19

    Gwangju's popular Alleyway restaurant resurrects

  • 2

    IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream'

  • 4

    Korea to scrap customs form for travelers without dutiable goods

  • 6

    NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience

  • 8

    Korean aesthetics, spirit live on at Gyeongbok Palace

  • 10

    South Korea nominates new ambassador to US

  • 12

    Seventeen to drop new EP next month

  • 14

    INTERVIEWSouth Korea needs to make decision on sending lethal aid to Ukraine : CNAS CEO

  • 16

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to visit May 18 National Cemetery

  • 18

    Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime

  • 20

    Law denying fathers birth registration of extramarital children ruled unconstitutional

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, April 1, 2023 | 03:11
Concerns rising over hasty legislation of special law for new airport in Busan
Posted : 2021-02-25 16:09
Updated : 2021-02-26 00:23
Jun Ji-hye
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
President Moon Jae-in listens to a report from Acting Busan Mayor Lee Byung-Jin about a plan to build a new international airport on Busan's Gadeok Island, during his inspection of the site, Thursday. Yonhap
President Moon Jae-in listens to a report from Acting Busan Mayor Lee Byung-Jin about a plan to build a new international airport on Busan's Gadeok Island, during his inspection of the site, Thursday. Yonhap

President visits planned site for airport to support project

By Jun Ji-hye

Both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) are facing criticism for collaborating in the hasty passage of a special bill aimed at constructing a new international airport on Busan's Gadeok Island.

If the bill is passed at a National Assembly plenary session scheduled for Friday, it would open the way for the construction ― which would require trillions of won ― to proceed without a feasibility study.

The bill also calls for the new airport to be built at government expense.

Critics said the parties are pushing ahead with the large-scale national project without a sufficient review and apparently based on populism to woo voters ahead of the April 7 mayoral by-elections that include one in the port city, as well as the presidential election slated for March 2022.

A feasibility study is supposed to be conducted for any state infrastructure project that costs 50 billion won ($45 million) or more, including at least 30 billion won from state coffers.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance that is in charge of such feasibility studies stated in its report submitted to the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, "A feasibility study is a process to see if a project is economically viable in order not to waste taxpayers' money. Thus, such a study is necessary."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has also expressed its opposition to the new airport project.

In a report submitted by the land ministry to the Assembly committee, the ministry brought up safety and environmental problems, as the new airport that will be built on the island requires large-scale land reclamation from the sea.

"In addition, there are great dangers of aviation accidents due to complicated air traffic control with nearby Gimhae International Airport and Jinhae Airport," the ministry said in the report.

To develop the new airport into a "gateway to the southeastern part of Korea," as claimed by the DPK, the construction would require up to 28.7 trillion won, the ministry added. This is in stark contrast to the 7.5 trillion won calculated by the Busan Metropolitan Government.

The ministry even added, "If we don't oppose the new airport plan despite being aware of procedural problems, this would amount to dereliction of duty."

President Moon Jae-in listens to a report from Acting Busan Mayor Lee Byung-Jin about a plan to build a new international airport on Busan's Gadeok Island, during his inspection of the site, Thursday. Yonhap
A computer-generated image of a new airport on Busan's Gadeok Island / Korea Times file
Amid the controversy, President Moon Jae-in took a boat tour around Gadeok Island, Thursday, during his visit to Busan to inspect the region's "mega city" project, which is aimed at developing Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province together as a larger economic bloc.

"A new airport on Gadeok Island will enable this region to be connected by the air around the clock, and jump to become a global logistics hub, together with the routes by sea and on land," Moon said during his visit. "The political circle is joining forces to pass the special bill. I promise the government will implement the relevant procedures promptly once the bill is passed."

His visit, however, was denounced by the opposition for showing residents in the region that the President was paying attention to the airport construction plan, which they viewed as an "apparent move to buy votes" and "interference in the election."

The new airport project has drawn criticism from some lawmakers as well, including Rep. Cho Eung-cheon of the DPK.

"Nobody knows the details about the new airport such as how long its runway will be," Cho said. "A feasibility study is supposed to decide those details. Exempting it from one is illogical, especially when a very difficult construction is planned to build an airport on the sea."

Kim Sang-hwan, a professor at the department of civil engineering at Hoseo University, said the new airport on Gadeok Island would repeat the same problems of Japan's Kansai International Airport.

"There is greater possibility of the new airport to experience land subsidence and the collapse of facilities due to tsunamis, as Kansai International Airport has seen," he said.

The two parties' push for the project is also leading other lawmakers to ask for another special bill to build a new airport at government expense in their constituencies including Daegu.

President Moon Jae-in listens to a report from Acting Busan Mayor Lee Byung-Jin about a plan to build a new international airport on Busan's Gadeok Island, during his inspection of the site, Thursday. Yonhap
Environmental activities hold a news conference in front of the National Assembly, Seoul, Thursday, calling for a special bill to build a new international airport on Busan's Gadeok Island to be voted down as the Assembly is scheduled to put the bill to a vote Friday. Yonhap
Emailjjh@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Gwangju's popular Alleyway restaurant resurrectsGwangju's popular Alleyway restaurant resurrects
2Chun Woo-won apologizes to Gwangju victims, calls grandfather 'criminal' Chun Woo-won apologizes to Gwangju victims, calls grandfather 'criminal'
3[INTERVIEW] North Korean defectors bear brunt of remittance scams INTERVIEWNorth Korean defectors bear brunt of remittance scams
4Koreans warned against making inappropriate videos in ThailandKoreans warned against making inappropriate videos in Thailand
5Ambassador offers taste of Ghana to Korea Ambassador offers taste of Ghana to Korea
6Korea ready to greet BIE inspection team Korea ready to greet BIE inspection team
7Gimpo airport to launch care service for dogs Gimpo airport to launch care service for dogs
8Yoon gov't disputes Japanese media's claims about summit Yoon gov't disputes Japanese media's claims about summit
9Mirae Asset, SK Telecom team up for security token businessMirae Asset, SK Telecom team up for security token business
10Regulators urge financial groups to minimize interest rate hikesRegulators urge financial groups to minimize interest rate hikes
Top 5 Entertainment News
1IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream' IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream'
2[INTERVIEW] Foreign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry INTERVIEWForeign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry
3NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience
4Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won takes his business skills to next level with 'The Genius Paik' Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won takes his business skills to next level with 'The Genius Paik'
5BLACKPINK, TXT, Stray Kids: K-pop stars headline international music festivals BLACKPINK, TXT, Stray Kids: K-pop stars headline international music festivals
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group