Sim Sang-jung, Justice Party Member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee
Special Act on Gadeokdo Passed in Plenary Session on the 26th
"Ruling Party-led Opposition Party Collusion 'Legislative Manipulation'" Criticism
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The 'Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act,' which significantly simplifies preliminary feasibility and pre-feasibility studies, passed the plenary session on the 26th. Despite opposition debates by Shim Sang-jung of the Justice Party and Kwak Sang-do of the People Power Party, it was insufficient to block the bill.
Shim Sang-jung, who spoke in opposition, criticized the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act before the plenary vote, saying, "Can you say this is not like the Moon Jae-in administration's Four Major Rivers Project?" He called it "a legislative manipulation led by the ruling party and colluded with the main opposition party."
Shim pointed out, "During the Lee Myung-bak administration's Four Major Rivers Project, tricks were used to undermine the pre-feasibility study system, and this special act will completely sever the lifeline of the pre-feasibility system." He then questioned, "Can we say this project is not like the Moon Jae-in administration's Four Major Rivers Project?" He added, "If opposing opinions dominate within a government led by the president, the ruling party leadership should have legislated cautiously under the president's guidance. That would be responsible behavior as the head of the executive branch."
Regarding President Moon's comment that his "heart races" while touring the new airport site, Shim said, "My heart sank," criticizing, "He pressured preemptive legislation by going all the way to Gadeokdo and invited controversy over pre-election campaigning." Shim said that to build the Gadeokdo airport, "three mountains must be submerged into the sea," describing it as "a project where the mountains go into the sea, not the ship going to the mountain."
Shim also said that a convincing answer must be given to the public on "Why Gadeokdo?" He stated, "According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, one runway costs 12 trillion won, two runways 18 trillion won, and if Gimhae Airport is closed and focus is shifted to Gadeokdo, it is expected to cost 28.6 trillion won. Which of these does the Gadeokdo New Airport mentioned in this law refer to? Skipping procedures and legislating site selection without knowing what kind of airport it is is unprecedented in legislative history."
He concluded, "If this law passes today, it will be recorded as legislative manipulation carried out by the ruling party leading and the main opposition party colluding."
Kwack Sang-do of the People Power Party also expressed opposition before the vote. Kwak argued, "Gadeokdo is an island, so building an airport requires land reclamation," and "It lacks economic feasibility and raises safety concerns." He added, "Many experts say that, like Japan's Kansai Airport, there is a high possibility of subsidence due to geotechnical issues and difficulties in airport use caused by typhoons and tsunamis," emphasizing, "For these reasons, Gadeokdo received a failing score in the 2016 Southeast region new airport survey."
He continued, "This is a mega national project estimated to cost up to 28.6 trillion won, but the bill includes a special provision exempting the pre-feasibility study," and "This overturns the conclusion of the relevant standing committee to shorten the pre-feasibility study as much as possible, which is evidence that even the Moon Jae-in administration and the ruling party know the business feasibility of the Gadeokdo New Airport will be very low."
However, the Gadeokdo Special Act was passed with 181 votes in favor, 33 against, and 15 abstentions out of 229 members present.
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