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| Rep. Kim Moo-sung | Rep. Kim Tae-ho |
By Shim Jae-yun
The ruling Saenuri Party is expected to face a possible in-house conflict over a new airport construction project in the southeastern area of Gyeongsang Province, the party's home region.
A stalwart lawmaker raised the issue during a decision-making Supreme Council meeting, triggering tension among the party members. It had been a bone of contention from the governing side as the project involves the personal interests of the party lawmakers, most of them hailing from the province.
Lawmakers from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province have been calling for the construction of the new airport in nearby Miryang instead of Gadeok, near Busan, which has been the preferred area of those from Busan and South Gyeongsang Province.
The issue has been dormant since 2011 under the former President Lee Myung-bak administration. But the government's new findings that the upcoming airport project is feasible with enough demand put the issue into the spotlight once again.
Rep. Kim Tae-ho, who served as governor of South Gyeongsang Province and cited the need for the presidential commission to encourage reconciliation among the party members, should play a more active role in settling the issue.
"The commission is encouraged to find a solution to mediate the major differences of each side and unite as one to push for the project," he said.
He asserted that there had been tremendous conflict and damage in the civilian sector and the government, due to cutthroat competition among relevant provinces and cities up until March 2011, decided the best course of action was to shelve the airport project to avoid even more infighting.
"The political sector should refrain from taking action that will add more fuel to the conflict," Kim said.
In response, party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung said, "The political arena should repent for its triggering conflict among the different regions in dealing with the airport construction project. There should not be a recurrence of such behavior."
He asked the party members to refrain from making any statement over the new airport for the sake of the entire nation.
"We need to create a committee to be composed entirely of experts that are neutral and have no vested, personal interests in the project so that they may choose an ideal location without any bias," he said.
Though the ruling party leaders warned against beginning a dispute over the new airport, there is high possibility that the lawmakers will engage in future wrangling over the issue as it involves significant personal interests.
For instance, Hong Joon-pyo, governor of South Gyeongsang Province, underlined that Miryang should be chosen as the site for the airport, not Gadeokdo.
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