Joo Ho-young Faces 'Severe Reprimand' Over Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act... Widening Rift Within People Power Party

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Despite internal opposition within the People Power Party, the Busan-Gyeongnam (PK) lawmakers have sparked intense internal conflict by proposing a special law for the Gadeokdo New Airport. Floor leader Joo Ho-young reprimanded the PK lawmakers who proposed the special law and clearly expressed his intention to audit the cancellation of the Gimhae New Airport.

After the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th, Floor Leader Joo told reporters, "I strongly reprimanded the PK lawmakers for submitting (the special airport law) without discussing it with the leadership."

He said, "First, the chairman of the verification committee officially stated that 'the Gimhae New Airport has never been canceled,'" adding, "Then, we need to examine whether the process was proper and reach a conclusion before proposing (the special law)." This was a reference to Kim Soo-sam, chairman of the Gimhae New Airport Verification Committee, who clarified in a media interview that the announcement of the results was not intended as a cancellation.

Floor Leader Joo said, "We must not get caught up in an issue thrown by the administration and the Democratic Party for the Busan mayoral election without considering the country," and added, "The ruling and opposition parties will request an audit on the Gimhae New Airport in the standing committee." Even if the Democratic Party does not agree, they plan to request an audit by other means.

On the morning of the same day, the People Power Party lawmakers from Busan proposed the 'Busan Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act.' Representative Park Soo-young took the lead in proposing the bill, with all Busan lawmakers, including Ha Tae-kyung, chairman of the People Power Party Busan City Party, jointly sponsoring it. This was a faster move than the Democratic Party, which is still preparing the bill. Whether the PK lawmakers will continue to resist following Floor Leader Joo's reprimand is a point to watch.

The bill includes provisions to apply the results of past preliminary feasibility studies if conducted, conduct supplementary investigations to simplify procedures, exempt preliminary feasibility studies, and allow initial construction work to begin before the completion of detailed design.

Lawmaker Ha said, "To swiftly and efficiently construct the Gadeokdo New Airport, which is the aspiration of 8 million residents of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong), we propose the Busan Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act as the official stance of the People Power Party Busan City Party," adding, "We should no longer subject the citizens of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam to false hope and must help President Moon Jae-in officially promote and expedite the Gadeokdo New Airport project."

Lawmaker Park explained, "The special law includes provisions specifying that the airport to be relocated from Gimhae Airport and newly constructed will be located in Gadeokdo," adding, "It is intended to put an end to further political and wasteful debates regarding the Southeast region new airport."

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