Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday denied that it broke a presidential pledge by scrapping plans to build a new southeastern airport, amid growing backlash from disgruntled constituents.
“Expanding Gimhae International Airport is actually (equivalent to) building a new airport,” presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk told the press. “It is not a break of the pledge.”

The government on Tuesday announced that it would not pursue a plan to build a new airport in the region that has been heavily embroiled in rivaling campaigns among two potential locations.

Building a new airport to alleviate overflowing traffic at Gimpo International Airport had been one of President Park Geun-hye’s key pledges for her voter stronghold.

“I believe that it is the optimum conclusion that was made upon comprehensive consideration of various conditions,” Jung said. “The expansion of Gimhae airport is in fact a new airport. The new Gimhae airport is in fact the new southeastern airport.”

His comments were seen to be aimed at quelling local organizations and business interest groups of the two potential locations, especially those that had supported the site in Miryang that was considered a more likely choice.
The two sites had been evaluated by French airport engineering company ADPi under the commission of the Land and Transport Ministry. They included Miryang, supported by constituents of Daegu, Ulsan and Gyeongsang provinces, and Gadeokdo Island supported by Busan residents.

“While it has been a difficult problem, I believe that on our part, we have kept the (presidential) pledge,” Jung added.

Park had pledged to push for the construction of a new airport during her 2012 presidential campaign, criticizing the previous government’s decision to scrap the plan that had been viewed as a political reward for the long-standing stronghold of the Saenuri Party.

Her predecessor President Lee Myung-back, also from the conservative party, had issued a public apology after deciding to forego the costly project in 2011 saying it was “an inevitable choice for the people.”

The new airport plan, floated since 10 years ago, had quickly become politicized as neighboring regions vied for the project. One of the initial choices of building more runways and expanding the existing Gimhae airport situated between Daegu and Busan was quickly overshadowed by the more voter-enticing option of building a brand new one that would be accompanied with vast business investment. The opponents to expanding Gimhae airport had cited the need to relocate the adjacent Air Force base.

Cheong Wa Dae’s commentary, however, seemed to do little to calm the anger among locals that had campaigned to bring in the new airport, calling the decision a stopgap measure.

“I am dumbfounded to hear (the government) say that it was the optimum alternative, after having said all these years that extending Gimhae Airport was impossible,” said Rep. Yoo Seong-min who represents a Daegu constituency. He recently rejoined the Saenuri Party after defecting upon fallout with Cheong Wa Dae over a parliamentary revision act.

The opposition parties also chimed in with criticism.

“Upon this case, the government and politicians should avoid making promises or election pledges that prompt conflict among regions,” said The Minjoo Party of Korea chief Rep. Kim Chong-in.

The aftermath of the government’s latest decision is expected to persist as Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo, who had staked his seat to bring the new airport to the city, continues to protest.

Municipalities of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province said they will gather opinions of residents to decide whether to fight the government’s decision.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)