Meeting with Deputy Minister of Land, Ha Daeseong, Deputy Governor of Gyeongbuk Province: "Build the Integrated New Airport as an 'Asia Hub'"

Proposal Reflecting Future Air Travel Demand in the 6th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-ho] Gyeongbuk Province announced that on the 3rd, Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs Ha Daeseong met with Hwang Seong-gyu, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), to request the reflection of future air travel demand in the 6th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan and the inclusion of the new airport-linked metropolitan transportation network in the national plan.

On this day, Deputy Governor Ha Daeseong met with the MOLIT 2nd Vice Minister as well as officials from the ministry’s airport, railway, road, and budget departments, requesting support to ensure that Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport can smoothly perform its central role in the regional economy and logistics.

Considering the increasing future air travel demand at Daegu Airport and the runway expansion plans of other hub airports, Gyeongbuk Province hopes that the construction of a runway capable of mid- to long-distance flights must inevitably follow.

In the 5th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan, the number of Daegu Airport users was predicted to be 2.35 million in 2019, but the actual number reached 4.67 million, nearly double. Meanwhile, Cheongju Airport’s runway is being extended from 2,744m to 3,200m, and Muan Airport is rushing to expand its runway from 2,800m to 3,200m.

Furthermore, the province requested government support and consideration to reflect the national plan for the linked metropolitan transportation network (the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan and the 2nd Expressway Construction Plan), which is essential for the new airport to function properly, and to improve the airport access network in line with the simultaneous opening of military and civilian airports.

Additionally, regarding the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Line (Seodaegu-New Airport-Uiseong), which was reviewed for inclusion as a metropolitan railway in the public hearing for the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan on the 22nd of last month, the province strongly requested an expansion of national funding support to ease the local government’s financial burden, as difficulties in local funding are anticipated. For metropolitan railways, local governments must bear 30% of construction costs as well as operating expenses.

Deputy Governor Ha Daeseong stated, "By reflecting various national plans for the construction of Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, we will do our best to make our airport bigger, faster, and smarter so that Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport can become an Asian hub airport supporting the new economy of Gyeongbuk."

Meanwhile, the relocation site for Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport was decided as Gunwi Sobo and Uiseong Bian (15.3㎢) last August, following the government’s announcement of the integrated relocation plan for Daegu Airport in July 2016, through deliberative citizen surveys and resident voting.

The integrated new airport is a grand project involving more than 10 trillion won for the construction of military and civilian airports and 12 trillion won for the establishment of the new airport-linked transportation network, aiming for opening in 2028.

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