Signs of Conflict Between Daegu City and Gyeongbuk Province Over TK New Airport Cargo Terminal Location

Lee Cheol-woo "Scientific Approach Through Experts"

Hong Joon-pyo "Agreement Reached to Go to Gunwi"

Amid a tense standoff between Gunwi County in Daegu and Uiseong County in Gyeongbuk over the location of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport cargo terminal, Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, expressed on the 21st that “the issue should be resolved scientifically through expert discussions.”

Through Facebook on the same day, Governor Lee stated, “The cargo terminal in question should be approached scientifically and with a future-oriented perspective by analyzing global airport trends and holding expert discussions to wisely find a solution.”

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province (left), stopped by Incheon Airport on his way back from a visit to Saudi Arabia to receive an explanation about South Korea's air logistics from President Lee Hak-jae.

On the day, after returning from a visit to Saudi Arabia, Governor Lee stopped by Incheon Airport and met with President Lee Hak-jae, receiving an explanation about the current state of air logistics in South Korea before sharing his views on the controversial location of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport cargo terminal.

Regarding the cargo terminal controversy, Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, held a press conference on the 20th, stating, “The location of the cargo terminal has already been agreed to be in Gunwi. Requesting a re-examination from scratch now is tantamount to saying we should not proceed with the new airport,” firmly ruling out the possibility of building the cargo terminal in Uiseong.

However, residents of Uiseong have held several rallies, raising their voices that “the cargo terminal must come to Uiseong.”

On the morning of the 22nd, about 150 residents from the resettlement area in Bian-myeon, Uiseong County, and residents of areas incorporated into the new airport plan are scheduled to hold a rally at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office to condemn the province’s lack of role and to fight for their right to survive. The committee stated, “Due to Daegu City’s unilateral airport relocation push without consultation and Gyeongbuk Province’s passive attitude and indifference, all the good facilities such as the civil airport terminal, cargo terminal, and off-site official residences have been taken by Gunwi County, leaving only military airport noise behind, with no livelihood measures. How are we supposed to live?” they protested.

Uiseong residents plan to march from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office to the new city area, holding banners and placards reading “Oppose the hollow airport relocation,” “Stop the airport that deprives our right to survive,” while beating drums and gongs, chanting slogans such as “Sacrificing Uiseong residents means no development for Gyeongbuk,” and “Uiseong without a future, Governor take responsibility!”

Kim Seon-dong, Chairman of the Bian-myeon Countermeasures Committee in Uiseong County, said, “Residents of the resettlement area have supported the airport relocation for Uiseong’s development and have endured quietly, but when the lid was opened, Gunwi took all the good parts, there is no promised cargo terminal, and only noise is coming. It is devastating,” adding, “There has been no detailed explanation to residents about livelihood measures, and we are thoroughly marginalized. If this is the case, the governor should take the lead in canceling the airport relocation. We want to live and die on our beloved hometown land,” expressing a strong stance.