Kim Kyung-soo: "Negative and Distorted Reporting on Gadeok New Airport Special Act Reflects Seoul-Centric Mindset"

Point-by-Point Refutation of Facts Regarding Preferential Treatment Controversy

Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, spoke out against negative and distorted reports on the 'Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act.'

On the 3rd, during the opening remarks at the 'Monthly Strategy Meeting' held at the provincial office, Governor Kim stated, "Negative reports on the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act reflect a typical Seoul-centric mindset that completely disregards the demands of the region and the economic situation."

He continued, "The Gimhae New Airport was unable to meet the regional economic sector's demand for establishing a Northeast Asia logistics hub platform, which led to the promotion of the Gadeok New Airport. There are various reasons, but since the coverage has been centered around central government departments and the National Assembly, these points have not received sufficient attention," he said.

He added, "During the 2016 decision process to expand Gimhae Airport, issues such as safety were not reviewed, and it was confirmed that the decision was political to resolve conflicts between regions, which is why the Gadeok New Airport was subsequently promoted."

Governor Kim explained the facts regarding airport demand, project costs, and controversy over special favors, systematically refuting recent reports.

"Some reports simply compared Gimhae Airport with other local airports, making it seem as if a new airport with no demand was being built. However, in 2015, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport predicted a demand of 8 million international passengers and 16 million total passengers this year in its (5th Mid-to-Long-Term Airport Development Plan), but by 2017, that number had already been exceeded," he said.

In fact, separate from the promotion of the Gimhae New Airport, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had established and was implementing plans to expand the international terminal at Gimhae Airport to accommodate the increasing demand.

Continuing, Governor Kim said, "Regarding the claim that the new airport project costs are absurdly inflated, the controversy over excessive special favors in the (Special Act) involves provisions that generally consider permits as granted in typical development-related laws and allow exemption from preliminary feasibility studies, while all other procedures are followed."

The 28 trillion won project cost reported by some media outlets is a unilateral estimate by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport based on the assumption of constructing two runways and relocating all military facilities at Gimhae Airport.

Criticism of excessive special favors citing 31 regulatory exemptions is relatively minor compared to the 39 exemptions under the Free Economic Zones Act and 34 under the Industrial Site Development Act. Furthermore, exemption from preliminary feasibility studies can be approved not only by law but also by a Cabinet meeting resolution.

On the 25th, after reporting the 'Southeast Mega City Economic Community Establishment Strategy' to President Moon Jae-in, Governor Kim said, "Momentum has been gained in establishing the Southeast Wide-area Special Union," and instructed, "Please coordinate well with relevant ministries regarding mega city financial support measures, special local administrative agencies, and the relationship with existing innovation cities."

Governor Kim also raised the same points concretely at the 'National Balanced Development and Ultra-wide Cooperation Implementation Strategy Forum' held at the Gyeongnam Research Institute just before the Monthly Strategy Meeting.