Launch of 'Conflict Mediation Council' for Jeju Second Airport Announced... Proponents and Opponents Clash Again

Proponents Hold Mass Rally in Front of Provincial Government Building on the 9th
"Oppose Civil-Government Mediation Council, Governor Must Decide"
Opponents Welcome Pledge to Accept Residents' Decision

The Jeju Second Airport construction project, which has been mired in unresolved conflict for 11 years, is once again at a critical crossroads as the draft of the environmental impact assessment is set to be released in October. As the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province proposed launching a “Jeju Second Airport Conflict Mediation Council” involving both civil society and government officials in an effort to resolve the fierce confrontation between those pushing for the project and those seeking its cancellation, organizations in favor of the project immediately denounced the council as “an evasion of responsibility to delay the project” and demanded its prompt, proper progression. In contrast, opposition groups welcomed the initiative, calling for a resolution through a resident referendum or other means reflecting the will of local citizens, leading to another direct clash between proponents and opponents.

At the “Jeju 2nd Airport Promotion Urgent Mass Rally” held in front of the Jeju Provincial Government Office on the morning of the 9th, participants are urging for the proper advancement of the project and the governor’s decision. Photo by the reader.

On the morning of the 9th, five organizations—the Jeju Second Airport Province-wide Promotion Committee, Jeju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jeju Employers Federation, Jeju Tourism Association, and Jeju Construction Association—held a large-scale “Province-wide Rally for the Advancement of the Second Airport” in front of the Jeju Provincial Government Building. They strongly urged both the provincial government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to proceed with the project according to the law and official procedures.

Notably, four lawmakers belonging to the Democratic Party of Korea and representing eastern districts adjacent to the planned airport site—Kang Dongwoo (Gujwa-eup and Udo-myeon), Yang Hongsik (Seongsan-eup), Han Donghun (Pyoseon-myeon), as well as Oh Kyungnam (Proportional Representative) from Namwon-eup—attended the rally together, vividly demonstrating the split in opinion on the project even within the Jeju Provincial Council.

The rally participants strongly objected to the three main guidelines for the Second Airport project announced by the province the previous day (designation as a key evaluation project, expansion of cross-verification by professional bodies, and collection of residents’ opinions prior to council approval), as well as the formation of the civil-government “Conflict Mediation Council.”

In a written statement submitted to the governor, they pointed out, “Since the site was announced in 2015, there have been countless public hearings and reviews, followed by the Ministry of Land’s announcement of the basic plan, and we have now entered the final legal procedure of the environmental impact assessment. This is not the stage to restart the discussion on whether to proceed with the project from scratch. Setting up a joint council to defer the final decision only creates new conflict and irresponsibly puts the project at risk of drifting yet again.”

They further stressed, “What Jeju needs is not another council but a responsible decision from the governor,” firmly drawing the line against introducing any new procedures for public opinion, such as a referendum or civic deliberation survey.

In contrast, civil society organizations that have sought to stop the airport project welcomed the provincial government’s conflict-resolution measure, reflecting a stark difference in stance.

The Emergency Province-wide Meeting to Stop Jeju Second Airport issued a statement the same day, saying, “We welcome the decision to resolve the Second Airport conflict through the decision of the local residents,” and added, “The newly formed Conflict Mediation Council must transparently release to the public all unresolved key issues and review processes from the strategic environmental impact assessment stage.”

This group repeatedly emphasized that “the clearest and most democratic way to put a final end to the conflict over the Second Airport is a resident referendum,” and further urged, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which holds the final authority, as well as the central government, must come forward and declare that they will fully accept the decision of the Jeju residents.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.