hankyoreh

By Kim Jong-cheol, Senior Staff Writer and Park Young-rule

　Park Geun-hye said Monday that she believes a new airport in the southeastern part of South Korea is “essential infrastructure for national competitiveness” despite the current administration‘s decision to abandon it.

　The chairperson of the Saenuri Party also said she would “unquestionably push for the new airport.”

　The debate over the plan’s feasibility is expected to heat up again after the ruling party‘s presidential front-runner made clear her plans to renew a push for the airport.

　The airport was an election promise by President Lee Myung-bak, who later scrapped the plan, citing the expense involved. The Saenuri Party also attempted to include the building of a new airport in the southern part of the country in their general election platform, but held off after objections from the Busan area.

　Speaking at a Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club debate at Seoul’s Sejong Center on Monday morning, Park said, “The priority now is building and broadening a consensus on the need for a new airport, and it is not desirable to fight over things like a location as though the new airport has already been decided on.”

　“The decision on the site will be entrusted to fair and objective experts,” Park added.

　Observers said that by reaffirming her desire to build the airport, Park is attempting to play up her image as a principled and trustworthy politician who keeps her promises, while also winning over Yeongnam voters ahead of this year‘s general and presidential elections. At the time of Lee’s decision to abandon the project last year, Park said, “It‘s regrettable that he went back on his pledge to the South Korean public. The new airport is something he should continue pursuing.”

　But analysts said the reference to a site decision by experts was a reflection on the conflict dividing the Yeongnam area (the Saenuri Party’s political base) into Busan and Daegu/North Gyeongsang camps. The decision to omit the project from general election pledges fell along the same lines.

　But some observers said Park‘s remarks ring hollow because site selection has been the heart of the issue over the past four years. Noting that experts were divided in the past between Miryang and Gadeok Island, a lawmaker from the Daegu area said, “Whichever way they go, the other side is going to object. I’m not sure why they‘re bringing up the new airport when it’s a dead issue.”

　A Busan lawmaker said, “If it isn‘t in Gadeok Island, people in Busan will be beside themselves no matter what they do with the new airport.”

　Meanwhile, critics said the declaration of plans to revive a state project that was abandoned for lacking cost-effectiveness represents an irresponsible grab for votes in the short term.

　A second-term Saenuri Party lawmaker from the greater Seoul area said, “It’s already been determined that a new airport in the southeast is not economically feasible, since there‘s so little demand among international passengers.”

　“A presidential contender needs to consider the whole governance situation and say some unpopular things sometimes,” the lawmaker added. “It’s disappointing.”

　A government official said, “There are concerns that by bringing up something where a conclusion was already reached based on long examination and investigation, they will waste national strength and deepen divisions.”

　In a March 2011 opinion poll by the Hankyoreh and the Korea Society Opinion Institute, the percentage of respondents saying a new airport was “unnecessary” stood at 43.2%, more than the combined total of the 20.4% preferring Gadeok Island as a site and the 20.4% voting for Miryang.

　Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]