The first step toward the success of the TK New Airport is revitalizing Daegu International Airport, lawmaker Park So-young says

[Financial News, Daegu = Kim Jang-wook] "The first step toward the success of the Daegu Gyeongbuk New Integrated Airport is revitalizing Daegu International Airport!"
Daegu Metropolitan Council member Park So-young, who represents Dong-gu District 2, drew attention by urging the city to strengthen momentum for the Daegu Gyeongbuk New Integrated Airport project and prepare measures to revitalize Daegu International Airport through a written policy inquiry.
Park said, "While local airports have recently shown signs of recovery, it is disappointing to see Daegu International Airport lag behind, especially compared with the strong performance of Cheongju International Airport." She called for an objective analysis of the causes and asked Daegu Metropolitan City to present its own comparative findings.
According to separate data confirmed through Daegu Metropolitan City, total passenger traffic at Daegu International Airport in 2025 stood at 3,579,195, or 76.5% of the 4,669,057 recorded in 2019.
International passenger traffic reached 1,497,161 in 2025, only 58.1% of the 2,595,616 recorded in 2019.
As of the 30th, total passenger traffic at Daegu International Airport this year stood at 2,292,805, while international passenger traffic reached 1,027,546.
She asked the city to compare Daegu International Airport's recovery in passenger numbers, foreign arrivals, route count and flight frequency with other regional airports, and to explain how it is analyzing the airport's sluggish performance and the factors behind Cheongju International Airport's growth.
She also urged officials to review whether expanded financial support for airlines and route diversification policies have produced tangible results, and to devise a comprehensive revitalization strategy linking key international routes, inbound tourism products and cooperation with the travel industry.
In particular, on airport convenience, she proposed practical measures to improve accessibility, including checking parking utilization during peak seasons, holidays and weekends, linking nearby public parking lots, public institutions and idle private parking spaces, and introducing a direct shuttle bus between Dongdaegu Station and Daegu International Airport.
Park emphasized, "The current Daegu International Airport is not merely an airport waiting to be relocated. It is the foundation that must first prove the demand for civilian flights and route competitiveness for the Daegu Gyeongbuk New Integrated Airport." She added, "Daegu Metropolitan City must accurately diagnose the current airport's sluggishness and come up with practical revitalization measures."
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