Sim Sang-jung: "Moon, who said 'My heart races' looking at Gadukdo... will be recorded for legislative corruption"

Assemblywoman Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Sim Sang-jung, a member of the Justice Party, raised criticism on the 26th regarding the special law for the construction of the Gadukdo New Airport, saying, "Can we say that the Gadukdo New Airport project is not like the Four Major Rivers Project under the Moon Jae-in administration?"

On the same day, at a debate opposing the special law for the construction of Gadukdo New Airport held in the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, in the afternoon, Sim said, "During the Lee Myung-bak administration's Four Major Rivers Project, they used tricks to undermine the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) system, and this special law will result in completely cutting off the lifeline of the PFS system."

Sim said, "It was not only the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that opposed the Gadukdo New Airport special law, but all related ministries including the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Ministry of Environment expressed opposition and concerns," adding, "If opposing opinions dominate within the government led by the president, the president should have urged the ruling party leadership, who are obsessed with elections, to legislate cautiously."

President Moon Jae-in attended the 'Southeast Mega City Construction Strategy Report' held in Busan on the 25th and toured the planned site of Gadeokdo Airport. Photo by Yonhap News

Sim then referred to President Moon’s remark on the 25th while touring the new airport site, saying "My heart is pounding," and criticized, "Watching the president’s actions, my heart sank wondering if this country is going in the right direction. The president went all the way to Gadukdo to reprimand ministers, pressured for preemptive legislation, and invited controversy over premature election campaigning."

She continued, "Throwing away the 18 years of discussion, skipping procedures, and legislating site selection without even knowing what kind of airport it is is unprecedented," and raised her voice, saying, "If the law passes, it will be recorded as legislative manipulation carried out by the ruling party leading and the main opposition party colluding."

Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed the Gadukdo New Airport special law in the plenary session that day with 181 votes in favor, 33 against, and 15 abstentions.

The bill mainly allows exemption from the preliminary feasibility study and simplification of the pre-feasibility study if necessary for the rapid promotion of the new airport project. However, the environmental impact assessment is not exempted.

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