[속보]Gadeok New Airport Special Act, resolution of subcommittee on National Land Commission legislation-Chosunbiz> Current affairs> Politics

Input 2021.02.19 19:56 | Revision 2021.02.19 20:04

‘Can be exempted despite the national finance law’

On the 19th, the ruling and opposition parties held a subcommittee on legislation review of the National Assembly’s National Land, Infrastructure and Transport Commission and agreed to amend the new airport special law on Gadeok Island. Regarding the provision of exemption from preliminary feasibility (preliminary validity) in the special law, the ruling and opposition parties made a statement stating that the Minister of Finance may, if necessary, exempt it from Article 38 (1) (preliminary) of the National Finance Act for quick and smooth (airport) construction. It is known that they have agreed to put it.

Representative Lee Heon-seung, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, met with reporters immediately after the so-called quorum meeting and said, “If the Ministry of Strategy and Finance is necessary, the preliminary rule specified in Article 38, Paragraph 1 of the National Finance Act may be waived for quick and smooth construction.” “I decided to put in a clause,” he said, “(the core clause of the original draft) is almost completely missing. The (environmental impact assessment exemption) clause was included.”

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport decided to hold a plenary meeting immediately and resolve a special law. If this law is passed at the National Assembly plenary session on the 26th, after going through the National Land Commission’s general meeting and the Legislative Judicial Committee, the political power will be promoted without a review of economic performance and safety.

It is argued that it is inappropriate to set a precedent for the large-scale SOC project that governs the country’s finances before elections in the politics world. In this extraordinary National Assembly, the Democratic Party is promoting a special law on the creation of an Asian cultural center in Gwangju, as well as the Gadeok Island New Airport Special Act. This is a bill to support project expenses of over 5 trillion won for the construction of the Gwangju Cultural Center.

There are also concerns that the project cost may increase significantly in the future as Gaduk New Airport decided to promote it without considering economic and safety through a special law. As of now, the construction cost of Gadeokdo new airport has not been accurately estimated. According to the original plan, about 7.6 trillion won is needed, but according to last year’s expert estimates, it was estimated that it would cost about 1.7 trillion won.