A committee for resolving conflicts on the island’s second airport has been formed.
The chairperson of the provincial council announced seven committee members right after the proposal to establish the committee was passed.
Some councillors have raised questions about fairness on the process of organizing the committee.
Joseph Kim reports.

[slug] Democratic Party of Korea proposed forming conflict resolution committee
The top decision making body of the Jeju office of the Democratic Party of Korea decided to propose a resolution to form a conflict resolution committee, instead of the previously suggested open discussion committee for the island’s second airport.

The resolution was passed at the provincial council.
It includes plans to collect public input and settle conflicts between stakeholders.

Recording
Kim Kyung-hak / Councillor

The resolution which includes plans to resolve conflicts is passed by the council operation committee .
<씽크:김경학/의회 운영위원장>
"공론화 지원 특위에 대한 첨예한 갈등을 좀 조정하는 내용으로 수정 가결했다는 말씀을 드립니다."

[slug] Resolution passed by provincial council
The resolution was passed at a recent regular session of the provincial council. 27 councilors approved the resolution, while 2 councilors were opposed. Another 2 abstained from voting.

[slug] Council chair appoints committee members
Right after the passage, the chair of the council appointed committee members.

Recording
Kim Tae-seok / Chair, Jeju Provincial Council
I’d like to appoint councilors Kang Min-sook, Kang Seong-euy, Koh Hyeon-su, Kim Jang-young, Park Won-cheol, Jo Hun-bae and Hong Myung-hwan as members of the conflict resolution committee. No objection. Therefore, the proposal is passed.
<씽크:김태석 제주도의회 의장>
"제2공항 건설 갈등 해소를 위한 특별위원회 위원으로 강민숙, 강성의, 고현수, 김장영, 박원철, 조훈배, 홍명환 의원 이상 7명을 선임하고자 합니다. 이의가 없으므로 의사일정 제4항은 가결됐음을 선포합니다."

[slug] Committee chair: Park Won-cheol, Vice-chair: Jo Hun-bae
The newly born committee has appointed (박원철) Park Won-cheol as the chair and (조훈배) Jo Hun-bae as the vice-chair at its first meeting.

The committee promises that it will solve pending issues with a balanced and reasonable approach.
It has requested the national government to delay notification of basic plans for the new airport and the National Assembly to cut the new airport construction budget.

Recording
Park Won-cheol / Chair, Conflict Resolution Committee for 2nd Airport
We ask for delaying the notification of the basic plans for the new airport until Jeju people reach agreement. We also ask for Seoul’s cooperation.
<씽크:박원철/제2공항 건설 갈등해소 특별위원장>
"도의회가 도민 의견수렴을 끝낼 때까지 계획들을 연기해주시고 의회가 제안을 드릴 때 적극적으로 협력해줬으면 좋겠다 이렇게 말씀드리고 싶고."

However, the formation of the committee and appointment are under fire.

[slug] 6 from ruling party, 1 from board of education, No opposition party members
Among the seven members, six are from the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea, and the other member is on the board of education. No one from the opposition party is included.
Some of the appointed members didn’t know they were chosen as a member.
And most of the members from the ruling party support the need of seeking public opinion on the creation of the new airport through a local referendum.

[slug] Committee formation under fire
Some councilors have raised questions about the fairness in the process of forming the committee.

Recording
Lee Kyung-yong / Councillor
The council chair should have to be politically neutral when appointing committee members. But he gave up his responsibilities as an intervener.
<씽크:이경용 의원>
"중립적인 의원들을 추천한다고 했으니 그 중립적인 의원이 누가 될 것인지 의장이 심사숙고해서 결정해야 하는게 의장의 조정역할 아니냐. 그 역할을 스스로 포기하고 독단적으로 결정한 부분은 문제가 많다."

The conflict resolution committee has been organized anyway, but the creation of the committee has caused another issue of impartiality of the committee.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol, Park Byeong-june

Meanwhile, area residents who oppose the creation of the new airport announced that they welcome the establishment of the committee which will provide clues to resolve conflicts on the issue and they will cooperate with the committee to objectively and reasonably seek and gather public opinion.

Joseph Kim, KCTV