Gadeok Island New Airport Tripartite Consultative Committee Launched; Talks Underway on Starting Priority Construction Work This Year

[Financial News] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), Busan Metropolitan City Government and Gadeokdo New Airport Construction have launched a standing consultative committee to coordinate issues related to construction of the new airport and accelerate the project.
MOLIT said it would hold the first meeting of the Gadeok Island New Airport Project Implementation Consultative Committee on the afternoon of the 18th in a meeting room at Busan Station. The committee includes the director general of MOLIT's Aviation Policy Office, Busan Metropolitan City Government's vice mayor for future innovation and the vice chairman of Gadeokdo New Airport Construction.
The committee was established after preparations for construction, including permitting and detailed design, began in earnest when a consortium led by Daewoo Engineering & Construction submitted its basic design documents for the site preparation work on the 7th. It will continuously coordinate issues among the central government, local government and project operator.
The first meeting will address ways to reflect the increase in construction costs following the war in the Middle East in the contract amount. It will also share the status of consultations among relevant ministries and review the views and on-site difficulties of local construction companies participating in the consortium.
The participants will discuss plans to begin priority construction work and prepare a ceremony by the end of the year. Gadeokdo New Airport Construction plans to proceed with subsequent procedures, including the contract, after the Central Construction Technology Deliberation Committee reviews the design in September.
They will also discuss a development plan linking the new airport with its hinterland. The committee will examine ways to connect the benefits of airport construction to regional development by expanding the participation of local companies and creating an airport complex city.
The committee will hold regular meetings every quarter and conduct working-level consultations as needed. Its key areas of cooperation will include permitting and construction preparations, safety and quality management during construction, and development linked to the airport's hinterland.
Jeong Chae-gyo, director general of MOLIT's Aviation Policy Office, said, "The central government, local government and project operator will work as one team to oversee the project carefully and move forward without wavering toward starting construction this year and opening the airport on schedule."
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter