Seoul: The government has decided to extend the construction period for the Gadeok Island New Airport from 84 months to 106 months, equating to eight years and 10 months. The decision comes as the government plans to reopen bidding within the year after the consortium led by Hyundai Engineering and Construction, which had been selected as the preferred bidder, withdrew its offer. Hyundai had asked for an extension of the construction period from 84 to 108 months due to safety concerns.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the extension aims to ensure safety and resume the stalled project; however, fundamental issues persist. The airport is planned on an artificial island created through land reclamation, with a 50-meter layer of soft ground on the seabed around Gadeok Island raising concerns about uneven subsidence. Furthermore, the area is vulnerable to typhoons capable of creating 12-meter-tall waves, posing a flood risk. The site is also located just three kilometers from a migratory bird habitat at the Nakdong River estuary, increasing the risk of bird strikes. Despite extending the construction timeline, the government has not increased the budget, heightening concerns about potential further delays.
Residents are worried that the new timeline might lead to false hope following repeated setbacks. Concerns about wasteful spending are mounting, as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has already spent 15.3 billion won ($10.4 million) on research to justify the original 84-month timeline.
The project is viewed by many as being driven by electoral considerations. Originally proposed by former President Roh Moo-hyun, the southeastern airport faced scrutiny over safety and costs, leading to a decision in 2016 to expand Gimhae International Airport instead. However, ahead of the 2020 Busan mayoral by-election, the Moon Jae-in administration revived the Gadeok Island plan, with the opposition's support to win over local voters.
The project rollout was expedited, bypassing preliminary feasibility studies, cost assessments, and basic and detailed design phases. Despite opposition from the Land Ministry, which cited seven major concerns including safety and economic viability, a special law was passed three months after its introduction. The shifting construction timeline underscores the project's political nature, with the opening year initially set for 2035, then moved to December 2029 during the World Expo bid, and now extended to nearly nine years.
Airport construction demands significant public funding, and the hesitance from builders suggests a need for the government to comprehensively reassess safety. Political pressure to hasten the schedule might result in wasted public funds and critical safety failures. Ensuring safety and feasibility from the project's onset should take precedence over rigid deadlines.