Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon is inspecting the planned site of Gadukdo New Airport at Daehang Observatory in Gangseo-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 21st. [Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the Gadeokdo Daehang Observatory on the 21st and said, "The special law for Gadeok New Airport must be passed within the session of the February extraordinary National Assembly."
According to Yonhap News, Lee, who stopped by here to support the April mayoral by-election, emphasized, "For the success of the mega-city promoted by Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, Gadeok New Airport is necessary," adding, "If the subway connects Noksan Industrial Complex to Gadeok, Jinhae, and Changwon, it will be a big step closer to completing the mega-city."
He then attended a policy expo event held by the Democratic Research Institute together with the Busan City Party and clearly expressed his will for early groundbreaking and completion by saying, "Now, the only thing left is the airport." This is the second time Lee has visited Busan since taking office; he also emphasized early construction of the new airport during his visit in November last year.
Regarding the recent fluctuations in approval ratings with the opposition party, he said, "I am grateful that it gave us hope that we can gain the trust of more citizens through our efforts."
The Democratic Party's candidates for the Busan mayoral by-election are former National Assembly Secretary-General Kim Young-choon, Acting Mayor of Busan Byun Sung-wan, and Busan City Council member Park In-young. On the opposition side, Dong-A University professor Park Hyung-joon and former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju are running. Kim Young-choon, who accompanied Lee, said, "To successfully hold the expo, construction must be completed within eight years, which is very tight," adding, "If an opposition party mayor is elected, rapid progress will be difficult."
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