Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, and Kwon Young-jin, Mayor of Daegu, say "'New Airport Special Act' Suspension is an Act That Drives Regional Conflict"

The photo shows Daegu Mayor (left) and Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo (right) visiting the National Assembly on the 17th and taking a commemorative photo after meeting with Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. On that day, Mayor Kwon and Governor Lee requested cooperation for the enactment of the special law for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk integrated new airport. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, and Kwon Young-jin, Mayor of Daegu, issued a joint statement on the morning of the 23rd at the National Assembly Communication Hall, strongly urging the prompt enactment of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport Special Act. At the press conference, Kwak Sang-do and Lee Man-hee, chairmen of the People Power Party's city and provincial committees, also participated.

In front of the National Assembly main building, Jang Sang-soo, Chairman of the Daegu City Council, and Go Woo-hyun, Chairman of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council, along with Ahn Kyung-eun and Hong Jeong-geun, chairpersons of the city and provincial council airport special committees, expressed strong regret over the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's decision on the 19th to postpone the 'Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport Special Act' and joined in the statement announcement.

In their joint statement, Mayor Kwon and Governor Lee said, "The recent decision by the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee not only divides public opinion but also drives the region into repeated, long-standing conflicts," emphasizing, "The Yeongnam New Airport is an airport for all 13 million Yeongnam residents, dreamed of and embraced together by five cities and provinces."

They continued, "Although it was agreed to build an airport to be used jointly, if an airport like Gadeokdo Airport is built solely for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, it is only natural and logical to promise to build a civilian airport that Daegu and Gyeongbuk can also use well."

Governor Lee Cheol-woo stated, "The Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport is the first national project to relocate both a military airport and a civilian airport together, and a separate special law is absolutely necessary to establish grounds for financial support and other measures so that the civilian airport can be promoted simultaneously with the military airport." He added, "We will not give up because of this result; we will continue to request steadily from the region and make efforts to ensure the bill is passed."

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