In July, the group hired to study the expansion of airport infrastructure said it was considering three possibilities: expanding the existing airport; building a new mid-sized airport elsewhere on the island and operating it in conjunction with the current one; and replacing the current facility with a larger one. In the latest development, the third option of closing and replacing the current airport has been scrapped. The final decision will be announced in November. Mike Balfour has more.
[slug]
Briefing on airport infrastructure expansion plan

This November, the government will announce details on expansion of infrastructure at Jeju International Airport. Initially, three possibilities were being considered but now the number of options has been reduced to two.

A member of the group hired to study the expansion of Jeju Airport’s infrastructure spoke at the latest briefing session and said that officials would no longer consider the option of closing down and replacing the current facility, in response to negative public opinion and potential losses it could bring to the local economy.

Sync
Kim Byung-jong / Professor, Korea Aerospace University
If the existing airport were to be closed, the facility would have to be utilized in some other way, but there’s a lot of uncertainty about how this would be done. With that in mind, the previous possibility of closing down the existing airport is no longer under consideration.
[녹취 김병종 / 한국항공대학교 교수]
"기존 공항을 폐쇄할 경우 다른 용도로 활용해야 하는데 무슨 목적이나 어떤 형태로 개발해야 할 지 커다란 불확실성을 던져주게 됩니다.
이런 검토결과를 감안했을 때 (기존 공항폐쇄) 방안은 더이상
유효한 방안이 아니다"


[slug]
‘If new airport needed, location will be included’

The three possibilities previously announced have now been reduced to two. Either the existing airport will be expanded or a new airport will be built and run in conjunction with the current one.

The group reviewing the project said if the final decision is to build a new airport, the location will also be selected and announced together with the final plan.
Important factors to be considered include whether the location would be suitable to house a 24-hour facility… and the commercial infrastructure of the area to be jointly developed with the new airport.

SYNC
Kim Byung-jong / Professor, Korea Aerospace University
As to where a new airport might be built, we are keeping it under wraps. Everything will be revealed when the final plan is announced. For now, we will be comparing the expansion of the existing airport to twice its current size with building a new one.
[녹취 김병종 / 한국항공대학교 교수]
"입지에 관련해서는 보안을 조심하고 있고 최종 (용역결과에) 밝힐 겁니다. 최종적으로 밝힐 때는 1안에 기존 공항을 2배 확장하는 대안과 2안에 제2의 공항을 만드는 것을 비교해서 최선의 방안을 밝힐겁니다.

[camera]
Moon Ho-seong

Responding to concerns about possible collisions should a new airport be constructed on the island, he gave examples of similar cases in other countries and said sharing airspace would not be a problem.

[reporter]
Mike Balfour

He also added that the government was reviewing issues raised at the first briefing session about traffic congestion and noise pollution near the airport. Mid-to-long term countermeasures are being mapped out and lawmakers are expected to push for a revision on related laws next year.

Mike Balfour KCTV