Commencement of Pre-Feasibility Study for Gadeokdo New Airport... Conducted by Aviation University Consortium

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Hold Kick-off Meeting on 28th... 10-Month Service Project to Proceed

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has officially launched a preliminary feasibility study for the construction of Gadeokdo New Airport.

On the 28th, the Ministry announced that it held a kickoff meeting for the preliminary feasibility study to establish the basic plan for the Gadeokdo New Airport project at the Sejong Government Complex.

At the meeting, officials from the Ministry, the consulting team, and local government officials from Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam attended and shared various opinions regarding the project implementation plan. In particular, an advisory group composed of experts in fields such as demand and logistics, aviation and maritime safety, ground conditions, environment and noise, and airport construction and operation also participated, enabling more in-depth discussions.

The study will be conducted over the next 10 months by a consortium led by the Korea Aerospace University. The contract amount is 1.79 billion KRW. The consortium, consisting of Korea Aerospace University, Yushin Co., Ltd., and Korea Engineering Consultants Corp., will divide roles between academic and technical fields. Given that Korea Aerospace University specializes in aviation and the two technical consulting firms have expertise in airport design, the Ministry expects a thorough and detailed review during the 10-month period.

The Ministry plans to develop the optimal plan based on scientific investigation and technical analysis through this study.

For aviation demand forecasting, the study will primarily apply demand forecasting methodologies (e.g., econometric models) suggested in relevant regulations such as preliminary feasibility study guidelines and transportation facility investment evaluation guidelines, comprehensively considering actual domestic and international flight demand as well as the impact of COVID-19 on aviation demand projections.

Ground investigations will be conducted at a level analyzed during the basic planning stage, covering both land and marine ground conditions. In particular, marine ground surveys will include elastic wave exploration and marine drilling within a certain range near Gadeokdo, with plans to begin the investigation as early as June.

The runway will be proposed with the optimal direction and location that sufficiently ensures aviation safety and capacity, taking into account aircraft operations at nearby airports and shipping routes. Additionally, rapid on-site inspections will be conducted to assess the status of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, ecology, and vegetation, and based on this, the environmental impact of the new airport construction will be reviewed to devise measures to minimize environmental damage.

A Ministry official stated, "We will carry out the preliminary feasibility study, the first step of the new airport project, without any setbacks and make every effort to ensure the smooth progress of the Gadeokdo New Airport project."

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