Proposal for Meeting with Yeongnam Region Governors
Confrontation Does Not Help Each Other... Cooperation Needed
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] As conflicts between Daegu-Gyeongbuk and the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam regions have intensified recently over the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, Gyeongbuk Province has stepped in as a mediator.
Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, sent direct text messages on the 2nd to the governors of Daegu and Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, expressing regret over the recent conflict in the Yeongnam region related to the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport and proposed holding a separate meeting for consultation after the Central-Local Cooperation Meeting scheduled at the Jeonbuk Provincial Office on the 10th.
As the enactment of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport Special Act has become visible recently, the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region has been increasingly opposing the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport.
Choi In-ho (Democratic Party of Korea, Busan Saha-gu Gap), a member of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, pointed out certain provisions as special privileges, such as expressions like "a replacement airport for Incheon International Airport," "a central airport for the mid-southern region," and runways capable of accommodating the takeoff and landing of the largest weight aircraft, as well as national treasury support for the shortfall in project costs between donations and grants. He ultimately stated, “If the various special privilege provisions contained in the TK New Airport Special Act are not amended or deleted, we will unite to block it.”
In response, Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, publicly criticized Assemblyman Choi In-ho as a “stakeholder in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport Special Act,” showing signs that the conflict may escalate into a regional dispute.
Gyeongbuk Province holds the position that such conflict patterns are detrimental not only to the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport but also to the Gadeokdo New Airport.
The crisis of local extinction due to concentration in the metropolitan area is not a problem exclusive to Daegu and Gyeongbuk.
Both Daegu-Gyeongbuk and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam need airports suited to their respective industrial environments and conditions, and for both airports to be constructed at sufficient scale with government support, cooperation rather than competition is necessary.
Concerns about the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport Special Act are also factually inaccurate.
Text message sent by Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, to the governors of the Yeongnam region.
The “Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act” initially included expressions such as “gateway airport for the southern region” and “replacement for Incheon Airport,” but these were amended during the National Assembly standing committee review process.
Some expressions in the bill can be resolved through mutual consultation among lawmakers during the standing committee review process.
National treasury support is intended to disperse risks associated with donation-for-grant projects to facilitate private sector participation and to provide support if project costs fall short; it does not mean that the Gadeokdo New Airport will be constructed entirely with national funds.
Even if support is needed, it would be after the completion of the previous site development in 2032, which differs from the Gadeokdo New Airport, targeted for completion in 2030, so the government’s fiscal capacity will not be a significant issue.
Governor Lee has demonstrated political skills as a “conflict resolution expert,” mediating many conflicts during the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport promotion process, including negotiations on the Ministry of National Defense-Daegu city relocation project costs, decisions on relocation site selection criteria, and objections to the results of the resident referendum in Gunwi County.
Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, stated, “To break the monopoly of the metropolitan area and open the era of local regions, unity among local governments is necessary,” and added, “I will meet not only with the governors of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam but also with members of the National Assembly to seek cooperation for the passage of the Special Act.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
