Gadeokdo Special Act Passes Land Transport Committee.. Democratic Party "Airport to Open Before Expo"

Democratic Party of Korea's Busan mayoral primary candidates Kim Young-choon, Park In-young, and Byun Sung-wan, along with lawmakers from the Busan and Gyeongnam regions, held a joint press conference in front of the National Assembly main building on the 19th to advocate for the passage of the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea welcomes the passage of the 'Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act' at the full meeting of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and repeatedly emphasizes its determination to pass the bill.

Party leader Lee Nak-yeon mentioned on Facebook on the 20th, "The history of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) is changing. The Gadeokdo New Airport has finally come into view." In particular, Lee said, "(The special act) stipulates exemption from preliminary feasibility studies and simplification of pre-feasibility investigations," adding, "We will open the airport before the 2030 Busan Expo. I thank President Moon Jae-in and everyone who helped."

Choi In-ho, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party and representative of Busan Saha-gap district, said in an oral statement, "We welcome the Land Committee's magnanimous resolution," and added, "We will gather the wishes of Bu-Ul-Gyeong and do our best without letting our guard down until it passes the plenary session on the 26th."

Kim Young-chun, a candidate for the Busan mayoral primary, wrote on Facebook, "The Gadeokdo New Airport has finally started to break out of its shell," adding, "We lost a full 10 years under the People Power Party government. Now, we will make it a 'year of recovery'." In particular, Kim emphasized, "We protected the core issues that Busan citizens were worried about. It includes exemption from preliminary feasibility studies, the establishment of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'New Airport Construction Promotion Team,' and even a practical 'declaration to scrap the Gimhae New Airport,'" adding, "We will end the history of false hope and revive Busan's dream."

Jin Sung-jun, a Democratic Party member of the Land Committee, also wrote on Facebook, "Under the goal of national balanced development and the revival of Bu-Ul-Gyeong, we conducted detailed reviews and intense discussions," adding, "It is the legislative decision of the National Assembly that ended the exhausting conflicts and controversies."