"Who Will Bear the Cost of Lost Time?"... Uiseong County Council Directly Raises National Responsibility for New Airport

Two Years Adrift Amid Funding Gaps
A Warning: Address the Lives of Residents Restricted by Regulations First

The Uiseong County Council has defined the prolonged delay of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport project as a "failure of national responsibility" and is urging the government to make a prompt decision.

In a statement released on January 7, the Uiseong County Council strongly criticized the current situation, saying, "A national project that should symbolize balanced regional development has come to a standstill without even securing basic funding."

National projects without funding are empty promises. The Seonggun Council urges national responsibility for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport. The lack of funds for relocating the military airport causes prolonged delays, directly impacting the residents involved, who warn that the damage is ongoing.

The council emphasized that the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport is not simply a regional social overhead capital (SOC) project, but a strategic infrastructure initiative that will reshape the industrial landscape of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province and enhance the nation's logistics competitiveness. Nevertheless, due to the lack of essential project funding-including for the military airport relocation-the start date for construction remains uncertain. The council pointed out, "A national project without funding ultimately leads to greater social costs and national burdens."

In particular, the council made it clear that the damage to residents in the incorporated areas is already an ongoing issue. Due to various regulations, such as the designation of land transaction permission zones and restrictions on development activities, residents are unable to exercise their property rights or conduct their daily lives freely, yet compensation and relocation measures remain uncertain.

The council stressed, "If this is a national project, the state must protect residents' lives in a responsible manner and, at the very least, provide a predictable schedule and procedures."

The future vision for the new airport was also clearly presented. The Uiseong County Council stated that the new airport should be developed not only as a passenger hub but also as a logistics-specialized gateway airport.

The council believes that only when the airport city is practically revitalized by linking the aviation industry ecosystem-including air logistics and aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO)-can the new airport truly become an engine for regional growth.

Assemblyman Kim Wonsuk, who represented the statement, said, "Uiseong County, a region facing the risk of extinction, made a major decision to secure the new airport for its future. Now, the nation must respond with responsibility and urgency that matches that decision." He added, "The Uiseong County Council will continue to demand responsible action until the new airport becomes a symbol of hope for the region and a driving force for national growth."

Through this statement, the Uiseong County Council strongly called on the government to: ▲ promptly secure the essential project funding for the military airport relocation and new airport construction as a national responsibility; ▲ prepare compensation, relocation, and livelihood measures for residents in the incorporated areas affected by project delays, and provide a clear schedule; and ▲ promote national-level industrial and infrastructure package support to foster the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport as a logistics-specialized gateway airport.