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Moon Jae-in visits Busan for planned selection of new airport site

Moon Jae-in visits Busan for planned selection of new airport site

Posted June. 10, 2016 07:21,   

Updated June. 10, 2016 08:47

한국어

With Miryang supported by Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province versus Gadeok Island supported by Busan intensely confronting with each other, Moon Jae-in, former chairman of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, visited Gadeok Island on Thursday. During his campaign for the April 13 general elections, Moon promised that if five lawmakers (with the Minjoo Party) are elected in Busan, he would ensure that the new airport will be constructed without fail.”

Moon visited the candidate site for Gadeok New Airport in Busan’s Gangseo district on the day, and was debriefed on the city’s bid to construct a new airport there by officials from Busan Metropolitan City. “Busan citizens are concerned about whether the process to pick the site is proceeding objectively, fairly and transparently, and are angry over the issue,” Moon said. “Even mayor Seo Byung-soo, who is known to be a key member of the pro-Park (Geun-hye) faction, seems to be swayed by an invisible hand. The government should transparently come clean on such suspicion.”

Asked which sites between Miryang and Gadeok Island he supports, Moon said, “It is not appropriate to express my personal opinion," adding that if the survey is conducted through an objective and fair process, the project would be conducted as Busan citizens desire. However, he seems to have taken a step back from his stance before the general elections when he openly expressed his view.

Analysts say that he is taking a revised stance because he is preparing for next year’s presidential election. “The reason is that if he openly expresses his support of Gadeok Island, people in Daegu and North Gyeongsang region will protest him without doubt,” a Minjoo Party source said. “His stance would have also been affected by the fact that even people within the Minjoo Party are divided over the selection of new airport site.”

Rep. Kim Bu-gyum, who hails from Daegu, is claiming that the new airport should be constructed in Miryang to ensure balanced development of territorial land. Kim is considered Moon’s potential rival in the presidential race.



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