Members of youth organizations in the Gunwi and Uiseong areas pose with Gyeongbuk Gov. Lee Cheol-woo at the provincial government building on Sept. 14 after they gave a plaque of appreciation to the Gov.Lee for the provincial government’s agreeing to build a new integrated airport in the areas. (Photo: Gyeongsangbuk-do provincial govt.)

Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee Cheol-woo said, “Construction of a new integrated airport is not just the relocation of an airport, it will be a historic watershed event to transform the industrial and economic landscape of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area.”

Days will come when a wide array of exports ranging from advanced electronic products from Gumi to clean agricultural produce from the province will be shipped abroad through a new airport, Gov. Lee said in an interview with a recent vernacular economic news daily, and industry and tourism sectors in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area will make a leap forward anew.

“Of late, Pohang has undergone new tremendous changes as large-sized companies centering secondary battery and new drug development sectors have been attracted to create new jobs,” he said.

Under the stewardship of Gov. Lee, who took office in the 7th local government autonomy, the Gyeongbuk provincial government has made achievements such as the central government’s designation of Pohang as a mid-sized unicorn R&D special zone and a next-generation battery recycling regulation-free special zone.

Gyeongju’s has also attracted an innovative new power research institute.

Blue-chip companies will be attracted to the area, and new industries such as the secondary battery and new drug sectors will be nurtured by capitalizing on these.

Gumi has been designated as a smart industrial complex and a mid-size upstart R&D special zone by the government.
Kumho National Institute of Technology, a key technology institution in the complex, is teaming up with tenant companies.

It is concentrating on ICT-based smart production innovation by building a virtuous cycle of R&D, startup, verification and commercialization with backwater areas such as Kumoh Tech Valley. Andong will be developed into a vaccine industry center by making the most of the Andong branch of the International Vaccine Institute, SK Bio Science’s vaccine plant, and other infrastructure like an animal cell verification support center for producing clinical specimen.

As for the construction of a new integrated airport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area, Gov. Lee said, “First of all, a civilian airport with an abundant size should be built, so a runway with more than 3.2 km in length needs to be built for long-haul flights to Americas and Europe and construction of a terminal capable of accommodating more than 10 million passengers annually and a cargo terminal with an annual capacity of 200,000 tons are also essential.”

Gov. Lee emphasized traffic approach as a key of the success of a new integrated airport. To this end, he said plans on metropolitan traffic networks to the airport will be fleshed out through its commissioning of a specialized research institution.

The provincial government plans to channel 12.4 trillion won for the construction of three railway lines and five road networks related to the new airport.

A project to relocate Daegu International Airport has recently taken a historic step. The Daegu K-2 Air Force base, built by the Japanese in 1936, was reborn into the current Daegu International Airport in 1961, 59 years ago.

Gunwi’s agreement with Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee and Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin came last minute on July 30, one day before the deadline.

The deal will allow the new airport project to be fast tracked. The project is expected to be accelerated after the Ministry of National Defense (MND) holds a new airport site selection committee and concurs with the joint candidate site proposal.

 
“A new integrated airport will open fresh opportunities in the East Coast area, a historic watershed,” Gov. Lee said. “We have so far neglected the sea, but as the 21st century is an era of the sea, how well the sea is managed will likely raise the per capital income to $50,000,” he said.

To this end, Gov. Lee said the marine tourism should be nurtured on top of the construction of super metropolitan traffic logistics center cities.

If and when the new airport is dedicated, he said, it will have synergetic effects with Yeongil Harbor, the sole container trade port in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area, and a railroad network connected with Pohang Station of the KTX line.

It means that port-railroad connection will lead to a tripartite linkage of airport, port and railway networks, thus building a multi-channel logistics network to usher in an era of opening the East Sea to the world.

Gov. Lee said Gyeongbuk has to develop the East Coast, rich with pristine natural beauties, into a convergence tourist area.

To name some, there will be Hupo Marina in Uljing, Goraebul Beach in Yeongdeok, Homigok in Pohang, and Gampo maritime tourism complex in Gyeongju and other staying marine healing spots, now under construction.

Specialized experience recreation tourism complexes will be constructed according to each sphere of the East Coastal area, stretching 537 km in length.