The government has decided to realize the concept of ‘compression and connection of space’ for balanced regional development. ‘Compression of space’ means developing provincial cities to create new growth and enhance existing innovation. Space connection means that a dense wide-area transportation network connects each base.
Various method is planned to realize spatial relationships. One of them, the term ‘local base airport’ means the construction of a reasonably large airport that can promptly handle aviation demand in the region.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it aims to build a new airport on Gadeok Island, relocate Daegu Airport, make a second airport on Jeju Island, integrate Muan Gwangju Airport, create a new Saemangeum Airport, and open a small airport in the islands. However, conflicts between residents and politicians continue with the construction of airports by region.
If a new airport opens, local development can be expected through job development. It can also help to form a residential environment and cultural infrastructure. In particular, the construction industry sees the resumption of airport development projects with large projects, an extended project period, and various types of construction as a big boon.
In the case of Gadeok New Airport, there is the Sura mud flat, the last mud flat of Saemangeum. Many endangered species currently inhabit this mud flat, which are class 1 endangered. However, the Sura mud flat might disappear when the airport is opened, and the floodgates are blocked.
State-run projects cannot be judged simply as economic, but economic feasibility is indispensable. Therefore, the issue of economic feasibility compared to input continues to be discussed. In the case of Gadeok New Airport, the preliminary feasibility study of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport also showed that the cost-to-benefit ratio was 0.51 to 0.58. Usually, if the cost-benefit analysis is less than 1, there is a problem with business feasibility. However, the government is pushing to build a new airport.
In addition, the construction of the Jeju second airport faces intensifying opposition from residents due to soaring housing prices, damage to Jejuʼs unique community and culture, and traffic congestion due to further revitalizing already overloaded tourist attractions.
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