Jeonbuk State Governor Lee Won-taek: “Saemangeum Airport is essential” — makes a plea ahead of the appellate ruling

【Financial News, Jeonju = Kang In, reporter】 Jeonbuk State has emphasized that Saemangeum International Airport is essential infrastructure for regional development and Saemangeum’s competitiveness.
This comes as the appellate ruling in the lawsuit seeking to cancel the airport’s master plan is expected soon.
On the 7th, Jeonbuk State Governor Lee Won-taek held a briefing at the provincial government office and stressed, “Saemangeum International Airport is not simply a project to build a regional airport; it is an essential and core element that will determine the success of a major national project.”
Saemangeum Airport was first included in the Saemangeum master plan in 2011, then took shape after being incorporated into the 5th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan in 2016.
Airports are essential to support the movement of domestic and international businesspeople and technical personnel and to establish a logistics system linking airports, ports and railways. If construction of the airport is thwarted, as some have argued, the repercussions could extend beyond the airport itself, dampening corporate investment and affecting the entire Saemangeum development project, a national project.
The governor stressed, “Saemangeum International Airport has been delayed for a long time amid many twists and turns,” adding, “Residents have already waited for a long time, and this is a project that has been pursued following policy decisions at the national level and various procedures.”
Addressing concerns about safety and the environment, he said, “We do not take lightly the safety and environmental issues arising from airport construction,” adding, “However, protecting safety and the environment and building the airport should not be an either-or choice. We will seek a win-win solution that builds a foundation for regional growth while minimizing environmental impacts.”
Jeonbuk State has worked with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Airports Corporation, relevant agencies and experts in various fields to promote the airport’s necessity and public value. The signature campaign calling for the project to be put back on track drew 154 companies and about 104,000 people.
Governor Lee Won-taek said, “Carrying the heartfelt hopes of our residents, we will open up air links for Jeonbuk to take flight on a safe and sustainable foundation.”
Meanwhile, last September, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by the Saemangeum New Airport Cancellation Joint Action against the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, seeking to cancel the master plan for the Saemangeum International Airport development project. The ministry then appealed, and a ruling is scheduled for the 14th following arguments.


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