Can We Take off at the New Runway on Jeju Island? - written by 20522 Chang Gyumin

Can We Take off at the New Runway on Jeju Island?

written by 20522 Chang Gyumin

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have just arrived at Jeju airport. Please remain seated until the aircraft stops.”

After landing on Jeju, you will see a plethora of airplanes and people boarding. People waiting for their suitcases will line up, and so will those in front of car rental desks.

Look at the departure area, and there will be feet stopped for their boarding check. Everywhere, every person. Everyone definitely wants to get out of this congestion.

Korean government announced a new plan to resolve this. A new airport only for international lines will be constructed on Seongsan, the eastern part of Jeju Island. It has more advantages than the original one.

The new airport’s runway will be constructed running north and south on right side of Mt. Halla, so it is out of the dangerous wind shear from seasonal wind of Korea that blows north in summer and south in winter since runways need head wind. Also, tourists will easily be able to access Seongsan Ilchulbong, which is the hot spot for tourists. Lastly, by building it in the eastern area, it is isolated from past urban development therefore it can activate the surrounding area economically by bringing in capital and businesses.

Actually, the necessity to construct a new airport on Jeju has been claimed almost for 30 years. The existing airport has progressed to its final expansion due to the exploding passengers from in and out of Korea. As a result, the airport couldn’t keep up with a lot of air traffic and passengers gathering anymore. However, the development couldn’t continue since the airport is located downtown. Also the locals have persistently complained about the noise problem.

Now airplanes take off and land every one and half minutes, and if any small accident occurred there, it has to stop all traffic in order to resolve it. Another dangerous part for the airport is to the southern side where Mt. Halla creates crosswinds that are risky for airplanes taking off and landing. For these reasons, the need to build a new airport has been argued as a solution to congestion and safety problem.

However, there are also those who protest the big enterprise. First, they claim this project will bring about huge environmental destruction. If the new airport is constructed, more and more tourists would come and undermine cultural assets and environmental values on Jeju.

To make the matter worse, there is a lava cave, which is designated as natural monument and the longest lava cave in Korea, under the predetermined site. There is a risk of it collapsing if the airport is built.

Another argument is land compensation. They say Jeju’s land prices have exploded, so people have to be compensated for their land. However the locals want to be paid more money because their house will vanish. Also, there must be those who fight for more compensation. For these reasons, they argue that instead of the new airport, the government should put a limit on the amount of tourists and conserve the value of Jeju.

The controversy on whether to build a new airport to disperse air traffic and tourists is still ongoing between the government and villagers on Jeju. The government should come to a conclusion which can bring benefits to both villagers and tourists, considering economic and environmental effects on the island.