It was revealed on the 24th that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has actually expressed its intention to oppose the Special Law of Gaduk New Airport. This is through the document’Gadeok Airport Report’ submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport to the National Assembly Commission on Land and Land earlier this month. The report raised a technical issue with Gaduk New Airport and opposed the special law with legal and procedural reasons.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, listing reasons why Gadeok New Airport is not allowed
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Byeon Chang-heum attends a general meeting of the National Land Transportation Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 22nd to answer questions of lawmakers. News 1
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport first refuted Busan City’s concept of multiple airports that only international flights will be opened at Gadeok New Airport, and Gimhae Airport will perform domestic flights. “Airports such as Tokyo and Montreal, where only international flights were moved to the outskirts of the city center, eventually switched to integrated operation due to operational failure. If the transfer system is poor, the status as a gateway airport will deteriorate,” the Ministry of Land’s claim. It is said that it is difficult for Gadeok New Airport to function as a proper’Southeastern gateway airport’ unless all domestic and military facilities at Gimhae Airport are moved.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport predicted that an additional budget of about 20 trillion won would have to be invested in the construction of Gadeok New Airport, rather than the original budget of Busan (7.5 trillion won). ① It is estimated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that it would cost 1.58 trillion won for relocation of military facilities and international and domestic flights. As the Busan city argued, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport estimated that if only ③ international flights are relocated, an additional cost of 5.3 trillion won (total construction cost of 12.8 trillion won) will be incurred compared to the proposed plan of Busan. This is the reason that Busan City has omitted several trillion won in construction costs, site creation costs, and access transportation network construction costs.
In addition, the report said, “Since Gadeokdo Island is located in the open sea, it is expected that more than six years of difficult work is expected for offshore reclamation work.” Some of Gadeokdo Islands are designated as protected areas, tangible cultural festivals, and monuments, and construction may be restricted.” He also pointed out the difficulties in the construction process. The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs also mentioned the problems that arise after the airport construction, such as, “The risk of aviation safety accidents increases due to the overlapping of Jinhae Airfield and airspace.”
“If you don’t disagree, you are concerned about leaving your job.”
1st Gadeokdo, Gangseo-gu, Busan. Recently, Nak-yeon Lee, President of the Democratic Party, and Jong-in Kim, Chairman of the People’s Power Emergency Response Committee, announced their intention to promote the construction of a new airport here. yunhap news
In the Gaduk New Airport Special Act,’legal obligations of public officials’ were discussed. “If you are aware of a procedural problem and do not object to the Gaduk New Airport Special Act, it may be a violation of Article 122 of the Criminal Act.” In addition, he said, “In 2016, when we recognized the problems of Gaduk New Airport through prior feasibility, there are concerns about violating our duty of integrity as a public official (Article 56 of the National Public Officials Act) when accepting the special law.” In fact, he is against the special law.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 19th that it opposes the special law in the process of examining the special law at Gaduk New Airport. In a review report submitted by an expert member of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to the subcommittee on legislation, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said, “It is common for airports to enact special laws after determining their location after reviewing possible alternatives. There is a risk of violating due process and equality principles.”
It is unusual for government officials to continuously express their opposition to the special law that the ruling party actively promotes. Accordingly, some observers say that the new airport project is lit up in red, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a report that “if a special law is promoted by the National Assembly through an agreement between the opposition parties, it will play a role of the government according to legal procedures.” On the 19th, Minister Byeon Chang-heum also said, “If you pass a special law, it will be enforced.” The Gaduk New Airport Special Act, which was passed by the National Assembly Committee on the 21st, has left only the resolutions of the Judiciary Committee (25th) and the plenary session (26th).
Reporter Han Young-ik [email protected]
