[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Lee Man-hee, a member of the People Power Party and chairman of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee, stated on the 26th, "Looking at the president's visit to Busan yesterday, it is really too much ahead of the election," and announced that he would vote against the Gadeok New Airport Special Act.
On the same day, Lee appeared on MBC Radio's Kim Jong-bae's Focus and said, "In the situation where the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport Special Act is on hold, it is difficult to simply support the Gadeok New Airport Special Act as a Daegu-Gyeongbuk lawmaker."
When asked if the party leadership's official stance was not opposition, he replied, "However, looking at the decision-making process this time, I think the leadership was overwhelmed by the political logic of the Busan mayoral by-election and made an unavoidable choice for election victory." The passage of the Gadeok New Airport Special Act will be decided at the National Assembly plenary session that day. This law allows exemption from preliminary feasibility studies and simplification of pre-feasibility studies if necessary for the rapid promotion of the project.
Regarding President Moon Jae-in's visit to Busan the previous day, he pointed out, "It was a blatant and excessive election intervention." Lee said, "In the past, the Democratic Party had a statement calling for the immediate suspension of local tours by the president that could cause controversy over election interference," adding, "It was a statement about President Park Geun-hye visiting the Creative Economy Center during the 20th National Assembly."
He continued, "Although the government is said to have normalized double standards, their words and actions are too different."
Lee criticized, "Moreover, the special airport law has not even passed the National Assembly yet, but the president went to that place and said the air route must be opened, and even strongly reprimanded the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport officials to have a responsible attitude and will."
He said, "Regarding the promotion of the construction of Gadeokdo New Airport, a conclusion was already reached in 2016," and added, "Regarding the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, I thought that a proper Yeongnam central region airport should be created through thorough government financial support and various administrative procedures."
He continued, "The logic that Gadeokdo is allowed but the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, which is in the same situation in the Yeongnam central region, is not allowed is almost sophistry from the Democratic Party," and pointed out, "It is truly unfair to say as if the hopes of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk people for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport do not exist."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
