Gwangju-Daegu City Councils Urge Enactment and Amendment of Military Airport Relocation Legislation in Joint Statement

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim Yongjip) announced on the 24th that it, together with the Daegu Metropolitan Council (Chairman Jang Sangsoo), issued a joint statement urging the enactment and revision of the "Military Airport Relocation Act."

So far, Gwangju and Daegu have been urging the "revision of the Special Act on Military Airport Relocation" and the "enactment of the Special Act on Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport" as part of the project to expand and relocate the existing civilian airports that also serve as military airports to other regions. However, the bill failed to even pass the standing committee during the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly, and the situation remains stagnant, prompting efforts to find a breakthrough.

In particular, the two councils' joint response was also driven by a consensus that if the military airport relocation proceeds under the existing "donation and concession" method, the financial burden on local governments could reach trillions of won.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Council believes that this active joint response with the Daegu Metropolitan Council will significantly strengthen the revision of the Gwangju Military Airport Special Act.

They analyze that since the central government must bear part of the financial burden, if Gwangju and Daegu unite, they can increase pressure on the political circles and government.

Chairman Kim Yongjip said, "This joint statement urging the enactment and revision of the Military Airport Special Act is the third cooperation attempt of the Dalbit Alliance between Gwangju and Daegu this year, following the urging for the inclusion of the Dalbit Inland Railway in the national railway plan last month and the joint declaration to host the 2038 Asian Games." He added, "The two cities, which have grown through the sacrifices and struggles of Korean democracy, are joining hands for the historic responsibility of East-West harmony. For balanced national development, national security facilities, and securing the global competitiveness of local cities, the special law related to military airport relocation must be passed in this regular session of the National Assembly."

Meanwhile, after issuing the statement urging the revision of the Military Airport Relocation Special Act, the Gwangju and Daegu Metropolitan Councils plan to increase pressure for the early enactment and revision of the special law by jointly visiting central political circles and the government in the future.