"Gunwi and Uiseong, Find a Common Ground for the Integrated New Airport" ... Voices of Gyeongbuk Residents Growing Louder

Market and County Association·Daegu Citizens' Promotion Group and Organizations Issue Consecutive Urging Statements

On the 25th, the Gyeongbuk Youth Delegation is seen issuing a statement urging the relocation of the integrated new airport at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] As the Ministry of National Defense's final site selection schedule approaches, concerns are rising over the possible cancellation of the candidate site due to conflicts between Gunwi-gun and Uiseong-gun, the planned relocation candidates. In this context, voices from various sectors in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region are increasingly urging the two local governments to reach an agreement.

The relocation candidate site for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport will be finally decided on June 26 by the Ministry of National Defense Site Selection Working Committee (Chair: Vice Minister of National Defense) and on July 3 by the Site Selection Committee (Chair: Minister of National Defense). However, the two local governments have differing interests regarding the joint candidate site (Uiseong Bian and Gunwi Sobo), which was decided by a residents' referendum last January, and have yet to narrow their differences.

The 'Gyeongsangbuk-do Mayors and Governors Council' held a meeting at the provincial office on the 7th, urging the prompt selection of the relocation site and active cooperation from Gunwi and Uiseong counties. On the 12th, the 'Daegu Citizens Promotion Group' also demanded the swift advancement of the site selection.

Furthermore, on the 17th, the 'Let's Run Again! Gyeongbuk Pan-Citizen Promotion Committee,' which encompasses over 300 local organizations and groups, adopted a statement urging the prompt site selection. On the 23rd, the Gumi City Council delivered a resolution urging the selection of the integrated new airport relocation site to the province, reflecting the earnest hopes and aspirations of various sectors in the region.

On the 25th, representatives of about 20 members from five youth organizations in the province visited the provincial office, issued a statement, and then visited Gunwi and Uiseong counties in succession to request a "prompt decision on the relocation site." The participating youth organizations included Gyeongbuk District JC, Gyeongbuk 4-H Federation, Gyeongbuk Youth CEO Association, Gyeongbuk Youth Volunteer Corps, and Gyeongbuk Youth Cooperative Federation.

At the Gyeongbuk provincial level, a total war has already been declared on the 10th, with everything at stake. Governor Lee Cheol-woo expressed a strong will during an emergency video conference on the 23rd, attended by all senior officials and heads of affiliated and funded institutions, stating, "This is a wartime situation. Whether Daegu-Gyeongbuk lives or dies depends on the construction of the integrated new airport. We will mobilize all administrative power to push forward the integrated new airport at all costs."

Currently, it is known that key local institution heads and organization representatives, including former Minister of Industry Lee Hee-beom, are taking action by directly visiting the sites in Gunwi and Uiseong and meeting with the two county heads, drawing attention to the outcome.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense plans to review and approve the final proposal at the Site Selection Committee meeting on July 3, reflecting the discussions of the Working Committee on June 26. However, if disagreements between local governments are not resolved and the application itself is not submitted, it is expected that the Ministry will have no choice but to seek a third candidate site.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.