Eonju Lee "Welcome to the Re-promotion of Gadeokdo New Airport... Busan Citizens Should Not Be Deceived by 'Exemption from Preliminary Feasibility Study'"

Former Future United Party lawmaker Eonju Lee [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgi Kim] As the Verification Committee under the Prime Minister's Office announced the policy to scrap the 'Gimhae New Airport,' and the Democratic Party of Korea declared its intention to re-promote the 'Gadeokdo New Airport,' former Future United Party lawmaker (currently People Power Party) Eonju Lee agreed on the 19th, stating, "The project is not feasible due to various issues such as safety and expansion potential."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, former lawmaker Lee said, "Considering the scale and status of South Korea's economy, is it acceptable to have only one international hub airport in the metropolitan area?"

He added, "Is it acceptable that it cannot operate 24 hours and cannot be further expanded even if demand increases in the future? Naturally, it should be built on the sea, such as Gadeok, where there are no operational restrictions on the airport."

Former lawmaker Lee stated, "This announcement only includes the scrapping of the Gimhae New Airport, but there is not a single word about the establishment of the Gadeok New Airport," and argued, "The announcement by the Gimhae New Airport Verification Committee to scrap the Gimhae New Airport should not be the end; the direction of the Southeast region's new airport by the Prime Minister's Office must be guaranteed through at least minimally binding procedures toward the Gadeok New Airport."

He continued, "They should remove the uncertainty surrounding the promotion of the Gadeok New Airport by announcing a 'preliminary feasibility study exemption' or similar measures," raising his voice, "There should be no more exploitation of the hopes of Busan citizens as bait for elections." The 'preliminary feasibility study' refers to the preliminary feasibility investigation, and on the 18th, the Democratic Party announced that they would specify administrative procedure simplifications such as 'exemption from the preliminary feasibility study' in a special law for early construction.

Former lawmaker Lee emphasized, "They should announce at least the 'preliminary feasibility study exemption' for the Gadeok New Airport to settle the matter. If not, Busan will proceed independently through private and foreign investment attraction and development models, so just approve the international hub airport and step back," adding, "All Busan citizens are watching. Do not be mistaken in thinking that Busan citizens will naively believe everything is resolved just because the Gimhae New Airport is scrapped and rejoice."

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