[Summary] "The Torture of Hope is Over"... The Democratic Party Celebrates Passage of the 'Gadeokdo Airport Special Act'

Ruling Party: "Gadeokdo New Airport an Irreversible Established Fact"

On the afternoon of the 26th, after the 'Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act' was passed in the National Assembly plenary session, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader, and Busan mayoral candidates Kim Young-choon, Park In-young, and Byun Sung-wan exchanged greetings after finishing a press conference. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The Democratic Party of Korea celebrated the passage of the special law for the construction of Gadeokdo New Airport at the National Assembly plenary session on the 26th, emphasizing their commitment to the development of the Bu-Ul-Gyeong (Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam) region.

On the afternoon of the same day, the National Assembly held a plenary session to vote on the "Special Act on the Construction of Gadeokdo New Airport," which confirmed Gadeokdo in Busan as the site for the Southeast New Airport. Of the 229 members present, 181 voted in favor, 33 against, and 15 abstained, resulting in the bill's passage. The core of the bill allows exemption from preliminary feasibility studies if necessary for the rapid advancement of the project and simplifies the prior feasibility study process.

Following the passage of the special law, the Democratic Party immediately expressed their welcome and celebrated.

Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, at a press conference after the bill's passage, said, "I am the first to report the news of the Gadeokdo New Airport special law to the citizens of Bu-Ul-Gyeong (Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam). The torment of hope is over. The Gadeokdo New Airport has become an irreversible established fact."

He continued, "Now Busan can change its destiny, and South Korea can also design a new future," emphasizing, "With the establishment of Gadeok New Airport, Busan will become a 'tri-port' commanding the sky, land, and sea, emerging as a Northeast Asian logistics hub."

On the afternoon of the 26th, the "Special Act for the Construction of Gadeokdo New Airport" was passed in the National Assembly plenary session with 229 members present, 181 in favor, 33 against, and 15 abstentions.
Photo by Yonhap News

Floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon also stated, "The great transformation to make Gadeokdo the Republic of Korea's second East Asian gateway airport has begun," adding, "The Democratic Party will actively support the Bu-Ul-Gyeong region to fully realize its long-held dreams of regional development."

Chief spokesperson Choi In-ho released a statement saying, "The legislation today effectively finalizes the construction of Gadeok New Airport, a very meaningful historic decision," and added, "It is expected to play a decisive role in securing Busan's status as a world-class maritime complex logistics hub."

Messages of congratulations from ruling party figures also continued on social media (SNS).

Woo Won-sik, chairman of the Democratic Party's National Balanced Development Special Committee, wrote on his Facebook, "The path to a Bu-Ul-Gyeong megacity, which will become another pole for a multipolar system beyond the Seoul metropolitan area’s unipolar system, has been wide open," and emphasized, "As chairman of the National Balanced Development Special Committee, I will do my best to pursue the path of national balanced development, which is not a choice but a necessity for survival."

Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo also issued a statement, saying, "The long-standing conflicts over site selection have come to an end, and Gadeokdo New Airport has taken its first step. The newly built Gadeokdo New Airport is an economic new airport," promising, "to focus on developing the airport and port hinterland cities linked with the existing Busan New Port and the newly constructed Jinhae New Port."

He added, "Now speed is important. We will do our best to cooperate actively with the government, Busan, and Ulsan for the early groundbreaking and completion of Gadeokdo New Airport."