"Now It's 'Gadeok New Airport'! Requesting Fast-Track Opening by 2028"

Busan Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Prime Minister's Office Decision to Scrap Gimhae Airport Expansion Plan
No Location Disputes Among Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam Residents; Urges Decisive Action on Gadeok New Airport
Administrative Procedures Should

Partial content of the statement regarding the 'Ineligibility of Gimhae New Airport' decision issued by the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] “We welcome the conclusion that Gimhae New Airport is unsuitable and urge the prompt construction of Gadeok New Airport.”

On the afternoon of the 17th, the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Heo Yong-do) issued a statement on behalf of the local business community welcoming the Prime Minister's Office's decision declaring the ‘Gimhae Airport Expansion Plan’ unsuitable.

In the statement, Busan Chamber of Commerce said, “Along with the regional balanced New Deal policy, the decision that the Gimhae Airport expansion plan is unsuitable appears to reflect the government's strong will to bridge the gap between the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas and achieve national balanced development led by local regions.”

Heo Yong-do, chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce, stated in the statement, “There have been many concerns about the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's insistence on the Gimhae Airport expansion plan, but we sincerely welcome the government's reasonable decision. Now, all efforts should be focused on expediting the related procedures so that Gadeok New Airport can open normally by 2028.”

The statement said, “For the government's policy will to bear fruit, it is necessary to promptly build a proper gateway airport for the future of the Southeast region, which will become a new growth axis of the national economy, in response to the increasingly oversized metropolitan area.”

It also said, “Thanks to the efforts of the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) business community, local governments, and civic groups, all residents support Gadeok New Airport, so there is no disagreement about the location as in the past. Rather, it is an excellent situation if the government confirms the construction of Gadeok New Airport at a time when discussions on building the Southeast Mega City, an extension of the regional balanced New Deal, are beginning.”

It emphasized that “the core of building the Mega City starts with linking Bu-Ul-Gyeong into one living zone, and for this, a dense metropolitan transportation network like that of the metropolitan area is essential, with Gadeok New Airport at its center.”

It added that with the existence of the 24-hour operable Gadeok New Airport, Bu-Ul-Gyeong will not only be able to attract the lacking advanced industries but also leap forward as a competitive Northeast Asia complex logistics hub. It also predicted that it would be a golden opportunity for the 2030 Busan World Expo bid.

At the end of the statement, requests to the government were included. Since there is no disagreement about the location of the new airport within the region, it asked to put the alternative site selection process for the new airport on the fast track to promptly confirm Gadeok New Airport. Additionally, according to related guidelines, it requested support to exempt the preliminary feasibility study, which can take up to two years, for Gadeok New Airport promoted as a national balanced development project, so that it can open normally in 2028.

It also expressed the local business community’s determination, saying, “We will not be satisfied with just overcoming one hurdle but will do our best until the moment the construction of Gadeok New Airport is confirmed.”

The statement released today is scheduled to be delivered to five places: the Blue House, the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Democratic Party of Korea, and the People Power Party to expedite the confirmation of Gadeok New Airport construction.

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