Opponents of the island’s second airport construction project have long asked for a reassessment of the site feasibility study for the facility. The provincial government has finally accepted that demand. Joseph Kim reports.




Report

[slug]
Conference between provincial officials, airport opponents
Jeju Provincial Council (November 13)

The province and the group opposing the island’s new airport construction held discussions last week.

[slug]
Opponents demand reassessment of feasibility study

Mr. (김경배) Kim Gyeong-bae, the vice director of the opposition group, had been on a hunger strike for more than 30 days, demanding the reexamination of the feasibility study that affected the selection of the location of the new airport.

Recording
Kim Gyeong-bae / Vice chair, Airport opposition committee
It’s late, but today I ask, once again, that the governor officially ask Seoul for a reexamination of the flawed feasibility study.
<씽크:김경배/2공항 성산읍반대대책위원회 부위원장>
"지금이라도 도지사 본분에 충실하셔서 우리가 2년 전부터 요구해 온 부실용역 부분 밝혀달라고 먼저 국토부에 공문 보낼 것을 요청합니다."

Recording
Won Heeryong / Governor
We’re trying to correct things for islanders by taking responsibility and coordinating matters about the new airport project with Seoul when needed.
<씽크:원희룡/제주특별자치도지사>
"저희가 답할 부분은 답하고 국토부와 조정할 부분은 조정해나가고 문제가 있다고 확인된 부분에 대해서는 제주도민 전체 입장에서 바로 잡아가는 그런 입장을 가지고 있습니다."

After the one hour discussion, the province finally accepted the opposition’s demands.

The two sides reached an agreement on the reexamination of the feasibility study that is allegedly flawed.


They agreed that drawing the basic plan for the construction and reexamining the feasibility study will be carried out by different bodies for enhanced transparency.

The result of the reexamination will carry legal binding force so that the basic plan of the construction project reflects the result.


The province will officially demand that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport accept the agreement made between the provincial government and opponents.

Recording
Ahn Dong-woo / Vice governor
The opposition’s request for annulment of the feasibility study is not accepted. Instead, we will commission different organizations for the two tasks for enhanced transparency and justice.
<싱크:안동우/제주특별자치도 정무부지사>
"원점 재검토에 대한 요구가 반영안됐기 때문에 기관 자체를 별도로 분리해서 발주함으로써 의구심을 해소할 수 있기 때문에 저희가 이를 국토부에 요구할 것입니다."

The opposition group promised to accept the results of the reexamination.

Recording
Gang Won-bo / Chair, Airport opposition committee
If the results show that the feasibility study was just and normal, we will accept it. As long as procedural transparency is secured, we cannot oppose it. We don’t want to be selfish NIMBY people.
<씽크:강원보/2공항 성산읍반대대책위원회 위원장>
"이상이 없다고 하면 무슨 명분으로 반대하겠습니까? 사전 타당성 조사의 절차적 투명성이 담보된다면 저희가 반대하면 그것은 지역 이기주의고 님비현상이죠."

Now, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has the key to the construction project.

Last month, the Ministry said that it would integrate the basic plan and the reexamination into one.

[slug]
Attention now on response from transport ministry

As the opponents asked for separation of the two tasks, the two sides failed to reach an agreement.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Moon Ho-seong

Islanders are watching how the province’s changed attitude toward the new airport project affects Seoul’s decision.

Joseph Kim, KCTV