Busan City Designates Entire Gadeokdo as Restricted Area for Development Permits

Busan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Trainee Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Busan City plans to restrict development activity permits across the entire Gadeokdo Island to promote the Gadeokdo New Airport project.

Starting from the 22nd, Busan City will conduct a two-week public notice for residents as a preliminary administrative procedure to restrict development activity permits throughout Gadeokdo Island.

The area subject to development activity permit restrictions is expected to designate the entire Gadeokdo Island, considering the Gadeokdo New Airport and the Gadeokdo New Airport Air City development.

To minimize infringement on residents' property rights, exceptions will be made for ▲ reconstruction, rebuilding, major repairs, changes in building designation ▲ community facilities for residents falling under Article 3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Building Act ▲ reporting of temporary construction buildings for construction use (conditionally permitted) ▲ reporting of temporary construction buildings related to storage and processing of agricultural and marine products (conditionally permitted) ▲ landform changes for cultivation including cuts and fills less than 50cm ▲ development activities carried out by public institutions such as the state and local governments for public purposes in prior consultation with Busan City.

In November, Busan City held meetings with related agencies to respond to concerns about real estate speculation due to the construction of the Gadeokdo New Airport.

As a follow-up response, the city promoted restrictions on development activity permits in consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Gangseo District based on the discussions held in the meetings.

Busan City plans to designate the restricted development activity permit area after conducting a two-week public notice for residents and undergoing review by the local urban planning committee scheduled for January 2022.

Shim Jae-min, head of Busan City's New Airport Promotion Headquarters, stated, “We will make every effort to minimize infringement on residents' property rights and ensure that the construction of the new airport and Air City development proceed smoothly.”