Underscoring the political dilemma for a conservative party with its roots in Gyeongsang Province amid intensifying conflict among the bidders, the Korean government decided to kill a key campaign pledge by President Park Geun-hye to build a new gateway airport in southern coastal region. Instead it will expand the existing Gimhae International Airport in the southern port city in Busan.

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport after a year-long feasibility study by ADPi, a French airport engineering company on two candidate sites for the new international airport. The plan of creating a new airport in Yeongnam region comprising of cities of Busan and Daegu and North and South Gyeongsang Province brought out the old rivalry between the southern and northern Gyeongsang regions that produced most conservative presidents. Busan and South Gyeongang pitched for Gadeok Island in Busan as the venue for the new airport. Daegu and North Gyeongsang touted for Milryang in South Gyeongsang.

The study concluded that expanding existing Gimhae Airport was the best option to meet growing air flight demand in the country’s southeastern region, transport minister Kang Ho-in said.

The conclusion was reached after taking into account of all conditions for determining an airport venue, including safety, economy, access and environment, the minister said. Adding a 3,200 km runway in the existing airport would be more reasonable option than building entirely new airport, said Jean-Marie Chevallier, the head of the feasibility study team and chief engineer at ADPi.

The ministry said it will enhance and upgrade the entire infrastructure in and around the Gimhae airport.

But political consideration may have been a bigger reason. Making a choice between the two candidate cities, Busan, and Milyang, a rural town located between Busan and Daegu, posed a major headache for the conservative government and has led to a split among the ruling party members whose traditional voting base is spread out in the Yeongnam region.

By Jeon Jeong-hong

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