Governor Kim Kyung-soo: "Gimhae New Airport is a Political Airport, Gadeok Airport is an Economic Airport"

"Port-Air Cargo Multimodal Transport and Institutional Improvements for Revitalizing the Logistics Processing Industry to be Promoted Together"

Gyeong-su Kim, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (left), is participating in the 'Democratic Party of Korea Southeast New Airport Promotion Team - Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam Meeting' held via video conference on the morning of the 1st. (Photo by Gyeongnam Province)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] On the morning of the 1st, Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, said in the 'Democratic Party of Korea Southeast Region New Airport Promotion Team - Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam Meeting' held via video conference, "The Gimhae New Airport and Gimhae Airport expansion plan were political airports decided by political decisions, but Gaduk New Airport is an economic airport based on the needs and requests of our regional economy."

Lee Nak-yeon, who attended the meeting, stated in his opening remarks, "The increasingly distorted reality where the metropolitan area is becoming oversized and non-metropolitan areas are weakening can no longer be neglected," and argued, "Gaduk New Airport, which has a large economic ripple effect, is necessary not only for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam but also for the future of the Republic of Korea."

Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader, said, "We have wasted the past 17 years due to conflicts related to the Southeast region new airport," and added, "We express our determination to promote Gaduk New Airport as an irreversible national project."

Governor Kim, who spoke next, emphasized, "Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam must develop a Northeast Asia logistics platform and high value-added logistics processing industry to revive the regional economy and become a new growth engine for the national economy," and added, "For that, an airport that allows integrated cargo transportation by sea and air and operates 24 hours is essential."

Gimhae Airport, adjacent to residential areas, has a curfew time from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., during which operations are suspended. As a result, cargo planes that mainly operate during late-night hours do not operate, limiting cargo transport to the use of passenger aircraft cargo holds. As of 2019, Incheon Airport accounted for 98% of international air cargo volume (2.664 million tons), while Gimhae Airport accounted for less than 1%.

Regarding a recent sarcastic remark by an opposition party lawmaker calling it a "pepper-drying airport," Governor Kim pointed out, "International passengers already reached 10 million in 2018," and said, "To talk as if another airport is being built where there is no passenger demand shows a complete lack of understanding of the local situation."

In the subsequent closed-door discussion, Governor Kim explained that the Southeast region new airport issue is not a matter for regional conflict. "Building a safe and 24-hour operational airport that can replace Incheon Airport was a promise made by President Moon Jae-in during his candidacy," and added, "Creating a safe Gaduk New Airport that operates 24 hours also helps ensure the safety of metropolitan area residents and alleviates congestion caused by concentrated logistics."

Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, which held the meeting with the Democratic Party of Korea that day, plan to propose the rapid promotion of Gaduk New Airport through consultations with the government as soon as possible.

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