Choi Jae-hyung: "The Gadeokdo New Airport Act is a Ticketing Law... I Will Reconsider and Publicize the Review"

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, a presidential candidate of the People Power Party, announced a pledge to fully reconsider the new airport in Gadukdo, Busan, at the election campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] Choi Jae-hyung, former head of the Board of Audit and Inspection and a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, criticized the Busan Gadukdo New Airport construction plan, saying, "It was promoted without properly investigating public consensus, economic feasibility, or even the opinions of surrounding citizens." He is considering a full review if he becomes president.

On the 23rd, Choi held a second policy announcement press conference titled "Policies Everyone Agrees On But No One Talks About" at his Yeouido campaign office in Seoul, stating, "I will be a president who values the people's money. I will be a president who does not waste the nation's assets entangled in ideology or vested interests."

Choi said, "The existing Gimhae New Airport budget was estimated at around 4 to 6 trillion won. However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's estimated budget for Gadukdo New Airport ranges from 12 trillion won to a maximum of 29 trillion won. This is more than the budget for the controversial Four Major Rivers Project," adding, "However, the change to Gadukdo, which will require tens of trillions more of taxpayers' money, was hastily carried out without any procedural legitimacy."

He continued, "The political circles, ahead of the Busan mayoral by-election, even created a special law for Gadukdo New Airport," and criticized, "Just because problems were found in one plan, it should not be decided to switch to another plan that has not even been verified. This can only be interpreted as a rush to gain votes before the by-election."

Choi also emphasized, "This is just a shift of issues before the election from the sexual harassment problems of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don to Gadukdo New Airport, a vote-buying legislation to win favor with local residents," and added, "The only people who directly benefit from Gadukdo New Airport are probably the family of former Mayor Oh Keo-don."

He further raised his voice, saying, "The Gadukdo New Airport Special Act explicitly states that 'this law is made to expedite the process as following the Airport Facilities Act procedures would take a long time.' This is tantamount to admitting that the law was passed hastily without procedural legitimacy," and warned, "The damage from such a rushed plan will fall squarely on the people."

After the press conference, when asked by reporters whether he meant to completely scrap the Gadukdo New Airport, Choi replied, "I will formally publicize the issue after (my) inauguration."