On the 26th, the National Assembly plenary meeting was passed through the’Special Act on Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Act’ (Gadeokdo Special Act), which confirms the location of the new airport in the southeast region on Gadeokdo, Busan. On this day, the Gadeokdo Special Law was passed with 181 people in favor of the 229 attendees. There were 33 opposition and 15 abstentions. Three ministries, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and the Ministry of Justice, all opposed the preliminary feasibility study (preliminary evaluation) exemption and construction costs of 28 trillion won, but they crossed the threshold of the National Assembly with overwhelming support from the opposition parties. As a result, the controversy surrounding the location of the new airport in the southeastern region ended with’Gadeokdo New Airport’. It has been 16 years since discussions began under the direction of former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2006.
The process of dealing with the Special Law on Gadeokdo by the opposition parties ahead of the 4·7 Busan mayor’s by-election was close to being’quick’ and’flying’. The period for examining the special law was only three days, and various preliminary procedures required for the construction of the new airport were all omitted, leading to controversy over the’illegal law’. In addition, it made it possible to waive preliminary assessment of the new airport’s economic feasibility if necessary, and left a’precedent’ that allowed the politicians to bypass the patronymic development project with a special law at each future election. In the political world, criticism was poured out as “The Moon Jae-in government’s four major river projects” and “Right and opposition legislative Nongdan”.
‘Tok-Tok’ in 3 days … Special law examination reminiscent of speed battle
President Moon Jae-in attends the Southeastern Mega City construction strategy report held in Busan on the afternoon of the 25th, and after completing an inspection on board the planned site of Gadeok Island, he is moving to the Ocean University training ship located at the multipurpose pier of Busan New Port. News 1
On the 3rd, the Special Law on Gadeokdo Island, which passed the plenary session on this day, was submitted to the general meeting of the National Assembly’s National Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. After that, after a public hearing on the 9th and discussions on the subcommittee on the 17th and 19th, it crossed the threshold of the plenary session on that day. The screening of a large-sized national project with a state budget of tens of trillions of won was completed in three days. In the so-called congress held on the 19th, Congressman Kim Sang-hoon said, “As you all know, aren’t you doing this in a hurry for the Busan mayoral election?” In fact, even at the plenary meeting immediately after the so-called “first-in, first-out” rule, the ruling and opposition parties decided on a special law.
Gadeokdo is located in Gadeokdo without any prior investigation. “Unprecedented”
Lee Nak-yeon (center), along with Democratic Party leader, Democratic Party leadership, and candidates for the Busan Mayor, clapping hands after a press conference in the party’s conference room right after the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act was passed at the National Assembly plenary session on the 26th. News 1
‘The principle of due process’ was also ignored. It is common for airports to review various sites to determine their location, and then enact special laws to simplify administrative procedures required for construction. Incheon International Airport also confirmed Yeongjong Island as the final site in 1989 after a feasibility study on two locations, Yeongjong Island and Sihwa District, and began construction in 1991 in accordance with the enactment of the’Seoul Metropolitan Area New Airport Construction Promotion Act’. However, the ruling and opposition parties nailed the location of the new airport to Gadeok-do under a special law without any separate administrative procedures. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Byun Chang-heum also said, “I do not know (the precedent that established the location by special law).”
It also collided with the’Gimhae New Airport Plan’, which expands Gimhae Airport. This project passed Yeta and was included in the ‘5th Comprehensive National Territory Plan’, the highest national land development plan in 2019. Billions of dollars of finance have already been put in. In November of last year, the verification committee under the Prime Minister’s Office also recommended a’fundamental review’ for this project, but did not mention stopping it. In this situation, if the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport agrees to a special law that has procedural problems, it may be considered a’reservation of duty’ under the criminal law. An official from the National Assembly said, “In the first place, it is correct to go through the procedure of’Stop Gimhae New Airport → Select Alternative Site → Special Law’. “Park Ki” he pointed out.
The first’preliminary exemption’ of special laws
Kim Jong-in (middle of the front row) visits the Gadeok Island Counter Observation Deck in Gangseo-gu, Busan on the 1st to sign a sign that says Gadeokdo New Airport with prospective candidates for the Busan Mayor and take a commemorative photo. Busan = Yonhap News
The Yesta system, which acts as a “gatekeeper” of finances, has also been virtually disabled. This is a system that considers business feasibility when constructing roads and railroads with more than 30 billion won in finance. However, this Special Law on Gadukdo Island contains a special provision that exempts pre-tapping if necessary for the construction of a new airport. This is the first time an exemption has been stipulated in individual laws after a new clause in the National Finance Act in 2014 stating that projects that need to be promoted by national policy can be exempted from preliminary rules. The Democratic Party, which has strongly criticized the Lee Myung-bak administration’s exemption from preliminary preliminary programs, has changed its position. Rep. Yoon Hee-suk said, “Now, if Daegu and other regions are exempted from preliminary exceptions under special laws, there is no way to stop them.” An opposition official said, “A project that has gone through’previousness → non-business → exemption’ still leaves evidence of the total cost of the project and why the economy is insufficient. I said.
“The Four Rivers of the Wen Government”, “Special Act on Ticketing Airports”
Justice Party lawmaker Shim Sang-jeong is debating against the vote of the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Law at the National Assembly plenary session on the 26th. Above is Kim Sang-hee, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly. News 1
Justice Party lawmaker Shim Sang-jeong, a member of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, criticized the opposition parties by requesting a debate just before a special law vote at the plenary session. He pointed out that President Moon Jae-in said, “My heart is beating,” looking for a new airport in Busan’s Gadeok Island the day before, and criticized “Is this country going like a country?” he criticized. It was also called “The Moon Jae-in government’s four major river projects” and “legislative nongdan led by the Democratic Party and carried out by the 1st opposition party.” The Citizens’ Alliance for Economic Justice also said on the day that “the airport construction must be carried out in the centuries, without procedures, standards, or justifications, and there is only begging for tickets.” “We strongly oppose the special airport law for ticketing’Moon Jae-in government tickets’.”
Joonseok Park reporter [email protected]
Jo So-jin reporter [email protected]
News directly edited by the Hankook Ilbo can also be viewed on Naver.
