Gadeokdo New Airport?
The southern region’s gateway airport has the potential to operate 24/7 while focusing on passengers and complex logistics.
Overview of Gadeokdo New Airport
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The airport authority aims to make contributions to national balanced development and competitiveness consolidation through the fast construction of Gadeokdo New Airport under the Special Act
for Gadeokdo New Airport Construction (enforced on September 17, 2021).
- Site: 6.669 million square meters around Gadeokdo Island in Gangseo-gu, Busan
- Expected Opening Year: 2035
- Total Budget: 15.9 trillion won (airport facilities: 13.9 trillion won; access roads: 0.7 trillion won; access railways: 1.3 trillion won)
- Agencies in Charge
- Airport: Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Authority
- Roads: Busan Regional Office of Construction & Management
- Railways: Korea National Railway
- Airport demand prospects (based on fiscal year 2065): International flight passengers: 23.26 million, international flight cargo: 335,000 tons.
- Airport operational plan: Operations centered on international flights.
※ Detailed operational plans will be confirmed before the opening of the airport.
Progress
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Apr. 15, 2002
Chinese commercial aircraft crashes into Dotdaesan Mountain, Gimhae (129 dead, 37 injured)
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Dec. 2006
President Roh Moo-hyun orders official assessment for a new airport in the southern region
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Mar. 30, 2011
Announcement of cancellation of Southeast Region New Airport, President Lee Myung-bak’s presidential election pledge
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Jun. 2016
Gimhae New Airport decided to be Yeongnam Region New Airport, President Park Geun-hye’s presidential election pledge
*Daegu‧Gyeongbuk regions release statement of refusal to accept the decision (July 1, 2016), joint relocation of K-2 and Daegu airports decided (Jul. 11, 2016)
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May 2017
President Moon Jae-in promotes construction of Southeast Region Gateway Airport as his presidential election pledge
*Construction of 「Southeast Region Gateway Airport」 and airport multi-functional city: necessity to construct Southeast Region Airport as a gateway airport to meet rapidly increasing air
transport demand and serve as an alternate airport for emergency diversions from Incheon Airport.
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Sep. 9, 2018
Mayors and Governors of BU-UL-GYEONG jointly agree on call for the construction of a gateway airport in Southeastern Region
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Feb. 13, 2019
President Moon Jae-in suggests reassessment of new airport
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Jun. 20, 2019
Transfer of Gimhae New Airport issue to the Prime Minister's Office agreed upon (BU-UL-GYEONG local government heads and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)
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Dec. 2019~
Gimhae New Airport Verification Committee under the Prime Minister’s Office launched to carry out project verification.
*total of 21 members (1 Chairman and 20 members) ▸5 members each for safety, environment, noise and facility operation demand
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Nov. 17, 2020
Verification results announced ▸ Fundamental review of Gimhae New Airport construction required (the project was virtually annulled)
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Nov. 20/26, 2020
Ruling and opposition parties propose Special Act on Construction of Gadeokdo New Airport.
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Feb. 26, 2021
Special Act on Construction of Gadeokdo New Airport passes National Assembly.
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Mar. 16, 2021
Special Act on Construction of Gadeokdo New Airport promulgated. [Enforced Sept. 17, 2021]
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May 2021 Service
Contract for Pre-Feasibility Study (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)
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Sep. 17, 2021
Enforced Special Act on the Construction of Gadeok New Airport and lower statute
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Apr. 2022
Completed pre-validation research for Gadeokdo New Airport construction
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Apr. 29, 2022
Exemption of pre-feasibility study for Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Project confirmed
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May 2022
Commenced propriety review for KDI’s Gadeokdo New Airport Project Plan
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Aug. 2022
Started master plan and strategic environmental effects evaluation
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Oct. 2022
The ruling and opposition parties proposed the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Law Amendment (Proposal) (related to compensation)
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Jan. 2023
Proposed the Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Corporation Act
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Mar. 2023
Announced Early Opening Roadmap of Gadeokdo New Airport (opening in December 2029)
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Jun. 2023
Agreement of Entrustment for Compensation Work in July 2023 (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport – Busan City – Gyeongsangnam-do)
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport secures compensation; the city of Busan pays compensation for land and fisheries and supports the relocation plan; Gyeongnam pays
compensation for fisheries.
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Jul. 2023
Established a department dedicated to compensation work within the New Airport Promotion Headquarters
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Aug. 2023
Announced the Gadeokdo New Airport Master Plan (Draft)
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Oct. 2023
Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Corporation Act passed by the National Assembly
- Confirmation of the establishment of the Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Corporation
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Dec. 2023
Announced the Gadeokdo New Airport Master Plan
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Apr. 2024
Established Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Authority
- May 2024
Bid issuance for site development project
- June 2024
Bid re-issuance for site works
- June 2024
International design competition winner announcement
- 1st Prize: Heerim Consortium / passenger terminal design rights
- 2nd Prize: Haeahn Consortium / ancillary building design rights
- July 2024
Third bid issuance for site works
- July 2024
Design commencement for passenger terminals and ancillary buildings
- August 2024
Fourth bid issuance for site works
- August 2024
Concept plan notification for access roads
- September 2024
Concept plan notification for access railways
- October 2024
Design commencement for priority sections of site works
- December 2024
Bid issuance for access railways
- December 2024
Bid issuance for access roads
- January 2025
Bid re-issuance for access roads
- February 2025
Basic design commencement for access railways (Section 1)
- March 2025
Bid re-issuance for access railways (Section 2)
- March 2025
Additional bid issuance for access roads
- April 2025
Fourth bid issuance for access roads
- May 2025
Fifth bid issuance for access roads
- June 2025
Basic design proposal review for site works ▸ Not approved
- July 2025
Submission of basic design proposals and bid documents for access railways (Section 1)
- August 2025
Eligible bidder selection for detailed design of access railways (Section 1); detailed design initiation
- September 2025
Submission of basic design proposals and bid documents for access railways (Section 2)
- October 2025
Eligible bidder selection for detailed design of access railways (Section 2); detailed design initiation
- November 2025
Bidding guidelines released for site works by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport ▸ Construction period: 106 months; Target opening: 2035
- December 2025
Bid re-issuance for site works
Significance
- Provide a southern gateway transportation hub that complements Incheon International Airport and alleviates excessive concentration within the Seoul Metropolitan Area
- Position Busan to become an innovation epicenter of the south and a cornerstone of national strategy policies through the city’s transformation into a global city
- Elevate Busan as a logistics node in Northeast Asia, supported by a quadrimodal transportation system (air-sea-rail-road)
Statutory Principles (Special Act, Article 3)
- Integrate passenger and logistics functions
- Ensure safety in regards to runway management and aircraft operations
- Contribute to national balance and prosperity by bolstering non-metropolitan area of Korea
Planning Framework
- Create a 24/7 airport as part of a multimodal quattro port (airport–seaport–railway–road) coordinating logistics and traveler transport
- Revitalize the Airport Economic Zone by means of sea- and air-based aviation distribution linked with Busan New Port
- Leverage cutting-edge technologies—BIM and digital twins—for robust and intelligent implementation
- Achieve low-carbon, environmentally friendly outcomes harmonized with Gadeokdo’s natural resources, including the surrounding marine ecosystem
Gadeokdo New Airport Website (Korean)
