Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport Site Virtually Decided as 'Uiseong-Gunwi'... Gunwi County Opposes

Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport Bird's-eye View (Photo by Uiseong-gun)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] The joint candidate sites for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk integrated new airport relocation have been confirmed as Uiseong Bian and Gunwi Sobo.

On the 29th, the Ministry of National Defense stated, "In accordance with the law and the agreement of the local community, we will faithfully carry out the necessary measures to select the Daegu-Gyeongbuk integrated new airport relocation site as the joint candidate sites of Uiseong Bian and Gunwi Sobo, reflecting the established selection criteria and procedures and the results of the residents' vote."

After the residents' vote, confusion continued as Gunwi County applied to host the sole candidate site, while Uiseong County applied for the joint candidate site, effectively bringing the relocation site decision to a close.

Following the Ministry of National Defense's stance, only the deliberation and resolution procedures of the selection committee remain for deciding the Daegu Integrated Airport relocation site.

Residents who voted in favor of the joint candidate sites, including Uiseong and Gunwi, welcomed the Ministry of National Defense's decision, but Gunwi County opposed it, calling it "the Ministry of National Defense's unilateral position."

A representative of Gunwi County Airport Promotion Team said, "The Ministry of National Defense unilaterally announced its position without coordination or consultation with our county, which applied to host the sole candidate site, Gunwi Ubo," and claimed, "Nothing has been decided yet."

He added, "The selection of the airport relocation site must follow procedures," and pointed out, "The decision must be made by holding the Daegu Military Airport Relocation Site Selection Committee to have legal effect."

He stated, "Based only on the Ministry of National Defense's statement, we have no grounds for legal action," and said, "We will observe the official administrative procedures such as the selection committee's decision."

Meanwhile, some predict that despite the Ministry of National Defense's announcement, the controversy over hosting the integrated new airport will not be easily resolved unless Kim Young-man, Gunwi County Governor, gives up on applying for the sole candidate site Ubo.