Song Young-gil: "Gimpo Airport Relocation Is a Project Over 10 Years... It's Unfair to Talk Without Including KTX Jeju and Incheon Airport"

"Incheon Airport as the base with Cheongju and Wonju Airports offered as options"
"The central government must proceed after gathering opinions from residents of the metropolitan area and provinces"
"KTX Jeju can improve the quality of life for Jeju residents... Cannot proceed without Jeju residents' agreement"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, criticized the controversy over the impact on Jeju Island's tourism industry caused by the relocation of Gimpo Airport as "politics of forced criticism, 억까 politics." Regarding the relocation of Gimpo Airport and the Western Seoul Development project, Song explained, "It is a long-term project that will take more than 10 years," adding, "(Currently) it is in the public discussion process."

On the 30th, Song said at the National Assembly, "Using the announcement of the Western Seoul Development pledge, Lee Jun-seok (People Power Party leader), Oh Se-hoon (People Power Party Seoul mayoral candidate), and others have distorted various facts to attack and held a press conference today," and explained, "To summarize the 'Western Seoul Development' project in one sentence, it is a bold development plan combining the second Gangnam and the second Pangyo in western Seoul and the metropolitan area."

During the last presidential election, the plan remained at the internal discussion stage and was not included in the pledges. Regarding its inclusion as a pledge this time, he said, "From Yeongjong to Gangnam area and Hanam, the GTX-D line?the GTX-D line includes a Y-shaped route passing through Gangdong and Songpa and the E line connecting Incheon to northern Seoul and Namyangju?has been announced, and the E line has been officially promoted as a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport project since last April," adding, "Since a solution has been prepared to improve access to Incheon Airport within 30 minutes from anywhere in Seoul, the 'Western Seoul Development' project has also gained momentum."

Regarding the controversial Jeju tourism issue, he explained, "The plan is to connect the KTX Jeju line via an undersea tunnel, allowing high-speed rail travel from Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, Chang-dong Station, Cheongnyangni Station, or Suseo Station to Jeju within 2 hours," and added, "The KTX Jeju line can also improve the quality of life for Jeju residents."

He also emphasized that this plan is still at the public discussion stage. Song said, "It must be promoted by gathering opinions from residents of the metropolitan area, Chungcheong, Honam, and Jeju regions, and with the cooperation of the central government," and explained, "It cannot proceed without the agreement of Jeju residents."

In a Q&A session with reporters afterward, regarding the burden of relocating Gimpo Airport's functions to Incheon Airport, he explained, "If connected by the KTX undersea tunnel, demand will be dispersed significantly, so if you speak without considering that, such remarks may arise, but if done together, I believe it can be sufficiently resolved." He also criticized, "The mentions of Wonju Airport, Cheongju Airport, and southern Gyeonggi airports are options; the basic plan is to integrate with Incheon Airport for travel to Jeju, and if necessary, these can be considered options, but promoting this as the only way is 억까 politics."

Song explained, "Gimpo and Incheon Airports are about 30 km apart, and with KTX or GTX, it takes less than 10 minutes," adding, "For foreign tourists visiting Jeju, it is much more convenient to transfer to domestic flights at Incheon International Airport than to pick up luggage and transfer at Gimpo Airport."

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