The construction period for developing the site for the Gadeokdo New Airport will increase from the original 84 months to 106 months. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Corporation said on the 21st that they will issue a re-bid notice within the year and restart the project.
The decision was finalized through coordinating differences between Busan City and the corporation. Busan City argued to maintain the 84 months stated in the basic plan. The corporation, however, cited the need to treat soft ground, open temporary roads, and potential delays in manufacturing major equipment, and proposed 111 months. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said it "reflected all expert opinions" and concluded with 106 months.
The re-bid was pursued after last year's competitive bidding for the site work failed four times and the negotiated contract with the Hyundai E&C consortium was halted. At that time, the Hyundai E&C consortium submitted a basic design of 108 months, 24 months longer than the 84-month bid requirement. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) ended negotiations, saying it "does not meet the bid conditions," and adjusted the construction period this time. Kim Jeong-hee, head of the Gadeokdo Promotion Team, said, "It is difficult to anticipate the bid results," but added, "We expect a positive review regarding industry acceptance."
The construction cost was raised from 10.5 trillion won to 10.7 trillion won, reflecting inflation. An official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) explained, "It is a high-difficulty project with thick soft ground and processes linked in a complex manner," adding, "We set the construction period reflecting on-site opinions."
The bidding method will remain design-build (turnkey). An official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "From quarrying earth and stone, treating soft ground, installing breakwaters, and reclaiming sea and land, to runway construction, the processes must be organically connected," adding, "If the processes are split, it is difficult to control risk."
The reason for setting the construction period at 106 months is also the stabilization of soft ground. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "The time required for ground stabilization varies depending on on-site conditions and construction methods," and added, "If stabilization is completed early, we will immediately proceed with subsequent processes to shorten the construction period and seek efficient project execution."
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) also plans to speed up airport-connection infrastructure projects such as access roads and railways. The ministry explained, "A governance body of about 40 organizations, including cities, research institutions, and the private sector, has already been formed," adding, "We will prepare so that the airport can be used immediately upon opening."
The bid guidelines will be pre-released on the corporation's website and on the national procurement system starting on the 21st. They will be finalized after deliberation by the corporation's Technical Advisory Committee. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) believes that if procedures proceed without a hitch, the Gadeokdo New Airport can open in 2035.
Minister Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "Gadeokdo New Airport must become a gateway airport for balanced national development," adding, "We will base it on safety and proceed as swiftly as possible in cooperation with related agencies."