[Comprehensive] Promotion of Uiseong and Gunwi as Joint Candidate Sites for Integrated New Airport Relocation

A fighter jet is flying over Daegu Airport. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] On the 29th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it will proceed with relocating the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport to the joint candidate sites of Uiseong Bian and Gunwi Sobo.

Although Gunwi County filed a request to host the single candidate site Gunwi Ubo, rejecting the results of the residents' referendum, the Ministry of National Defense clearly stated its position to respect the referendum results and proceed with the relocation to the joint candidate sites.

The Ministry of National Defense explained, "In the residents' referendum for selecting the relocation site, Uiseong Bian had the highest participation and approval rates, so 'Uiseong Bian and Gunwi Sobo' (joint candidate sites) were effectively decided as the relocation sites according to the selection criteria." As conflicts within the local community intensified due to Gunwi County's application for the single candidate site, and criticisms arose that the spirit of agreement was broken, the Ministry strongly expressed its intention to proceed with the relocation based on the referendum results.

Previously, in the residents' referendum for selecting the relocation site among 'Uiseong Bian' (joint candidate site), 'Gunwi Sobo' (joint candidate site), and 'Gunwi Ubo' (single candidate site), Uiseong Bian showed the highest participation and approval rates. On the 21st of this month, the combined participation and approval rates were 89.52% for Uiseong Bian, 78.44% for Gunwi Ubo, and 53.20% for Gunwi Sobo. The Ministry of National Defense stated that in November 2019, local government heads agreed to establish selection criteria through a 'deliberative citizen opinion survey' involving direct participation of local residents.

The Ministry of National Defense plans to proceed with the relocation to the joint candidate sites based on the referendum results, even if Gunwi County does not apply for hosting the joint candidate sites. According to the Ministry's site selection procedure, the selection committee reviews applications from local governments and the Minister of National Defense makes the final selection.

The Ministry emphasized, "We will reflect the selection criteria and procedures lawfully established through legal and community consensus, as well as the results of the residents' referendum," and added, "We will faithfully carry out the necessary measures for the relocation site selection committee to select Uiseong Bian and Gunwi Sobo as the relocation sites."