(Jeonju = Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Chae-du = Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Governor Lee Won-taek said on the 7th, “I sincerely hope that the administrative and public value of (Saemangeum International Airport) will be recognized in the upcoming appeal court ruling, opening the way for normal promotion.”
He held a press conference at the provincial office on this day and emphasized, "If the airport construction is frustrated, the path to attracting global companies and investments will be blocked, and the entire Saemangeum project and the large-scale national project itself will be shaken."
Attending the press conference were Gunsan Mayor Kim Jae-jun and provincial council members Kim Woo-min, Na Dong-dae, and Han Jun-hee.
Governor Lee said, “Airports are an essential and key element that determines the success of large-scale national projects,” and emphasized the need for an airport, saying, “For Saemangeum to transform into a cutting-edge economic city and become a global economic hub, a logistics and transportation network that organically connects land, sea, and air must be supported.”
He added, “The airport has been delayed for a long time, going through numerous twists and turns, and residents have already waited a long time,” adding, “Any further delays will undermine the future of Jeonbuk.”
Governor Lee explained, “Jeonbuk directly participated as an auxiliary participant in the trial (after losing the first trial) and responded jointly with related organizations such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport,” and added, “Based on objective data on major issues such as the risk of bird collisions, economic feasibility, and the impact of World Heritage, we faithfully explained the necessity and public value of the airport.”
At the same time, he said, "We are also taking seriously concerns about safety and the environment," and added, "Protecting safety and the environment and building an airport should not be a matter of either/or. We will definitely find a win-win solution that builds a foundation for regional growth while minimizing environmental impact through strengthened measures such as preventing bird collisions and protecting legally protected species."
On this day, members of an environmental group opposing the construction of the airport attempted to enter the press conference room but were blocked by police.
They protested for a while, saying, "Why are you blocking a provincial citizen from entering the press conference hall? How can you advocate for provincial democracy if you block the owner?"
In response to this, Governor Lee explained, "We should not interfere with the actions of certain people asserting themselves, and that is a basic principle of democracy," but explained, "I was not aware in advance whether there was a request (such as attending a press conference) from environmental groups."
Previously, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in a lawsuit to cancel the basic plan for the Saemangeum International Airport development project filed against the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport by about 1,300 citizens belonging to the joint action to cancel Saemangeum New Airport in September last year.
The court cited the fact that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport did not compare and review the risk of bird collisions when selecting the location for Saemangeum International Airport and intentionally reduced the risk as reasons for the ruling.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport appealed, and the 4-2nd Administrative Department of the Seoul High Court concluded the appellate argument in the lawsuit for cancellation of the basic plan for the Saemangeum International Airport development project and set the next 14th as the sentencing date.
