South Korea considers building new international airport

Nicole Mezzasalma

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Rapidly growing demand for air passenger and cargo transportation in the Southeast might trigger decision

South Korea president Roh Moo-hyun said that his government will consider building a new international airport near Busan in the Southeast of the country to handle the rapidly increasing demand for air passenger and cargo transportation in the region, according to local news website Korea.net. The comment was made during a ceremony to mark the completion of a new international passenger terminal at Gimhae International airport, which took five years to finish and covers about 50,000sq m (538,195sq ft).

Roh said that demand for air travel around Busan would double by 2020, justifying the construction of a new airport in the area. He added that a feasibility study is under way and a final conclusion would be reached once it is finished in November.

Gimhae International airport serves more than 9m passengers every year on domestic routes and flights to several Asian destinations.