First Joint Statement on the 'New Airport' by the Three Economic Organizations of Bu-Ul-Gyeong

Serious Safety Issues: Ministry of Land Firmly Opposes Gimhae Airport Expansion Plan
Let's Also Change the Name 'Southeast Region' to 'Bu-Ul-Gyeong' New Airport

The Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam Chambers of Commerce and Industry issued a joint statement on the 22nd urging the early construction of the new airport.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Gyeongnam Chamber of Commerce Council jointly issued a statement on the 22nd urging the prompt construction of the ‘Bu-Ul-Gyeong New Airport’ for the first time. These three economic organizations also agreed to specify the new airport's name from the Southeastern region to Bu-Ul-Gyeong.

These three economic organizations jointly voiced opposition to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s (MOLIT) Gimhae Airport expansion plan and announced a statement urging the early construction of the new airport on the 22nd.

Since the Southeastern New Airport construction project began in 2006, this is the first time that the chairpersons of the chambers representing the economies of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam have officially gathered to share opinions on the Bu-Ul-Gyeong New Airport.

The opposition from residents in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam areas to MOLIT’s Gimhae Airport expansion plan has increased, and public opinion centered on the regional economy is rising in favor of constructing the Bu-Ul-Gyeong New Airport.

In their joint statement, the three economic organizations stated that through the efforts of residents in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, the Prime Minister’s Office conducted a final verification, and since MOLIT’s Gimhae Airport expansion plan has issues in key areas such as safety and environment, they are confident that the final verification by the Prime Minister’s Office will yield results that the residents desire.

They emphasized that considering the saturation level of Gimhae Airport before the COVID-19 pandemic, swift preparations are necessary to accommodate the increase in future air travel demand after the pandemic ends.

They also expressed strong support for changing the name to Bu-Ul-Gyeong New Airport, reflecting the residents’ desire to build an airport they want, rather than using the symbolic term ‘Southeastern Gateway Airport.’

They noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that ‘efficient decentralization’ rather than ‘excessive concentration’ is more effective for the development of our society, and thus the Bu-Ul-Gyeong New Airport can serve as a substitute for Incheon Airport in emergencies from the perspective of national balanced development.

They further argued that the new airport should be constructed on a scale large enough to transform the Southeastern region into a Northeast Asia integrated logistics hub in connection with Busan New Port.

Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Heo Yong-do said in his greeting, “Since the problems with the Gimhae Airport expansion plan have already passed the stage where they can be corrected through modifications, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s attempt to forcibly submit a revised plan for re-verification despite the opposition of the Bu-Ul-Gyeong verification team must be immediately stopped.”

“Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam have already formed a consensus on ways to coexist beyond past site selection controversies, so this time, with the announcement of the verification results, it will be possible to select a single site for the new airport that is safe 24 hours a day and capable of future expansion without any controversy.”

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