It is expected to pass preliminary feasibility test early Nov with residents expecting ‘improved residential condition’
As the Baengnyeong Airport building project is facing a preliminary feasibility test by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance early November, Incheon Metropolitan City has high hopes for it passing the test.
Incheon Metropolitan City said that how the project went was explained and active cooperation from the locals was requested during the discussion between mayor Park Namchoon and local residents that was held as a part of ‘Visiting mayor’ on Oct. 29.
▲ As the Baengnyeong Airport building project is facing a preliminary feasibility test by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance early November, Incheon Metropolitan City has high hopes for it passing the test. Baengnyeong Airport location map
Baengnyeong Airport is Incheon Metropolitan City’s major task to improve residential conditions for the locals of the west sea’s northernmost island and to ensure them to be able to commute within a day as it is a long-awaited wish of the five west sea islands’ residents.
The Baengnyeong Airport building project plans to build a 30-meter wide and 1200-meter-long runway, control tower and passenger terminal to accommodate 50 person-capacity private airplanes by channeling 174 billion KRW using the 254,000 square meter land from Solgae district, Baengnyeong-myeon, Ongjin-gu.
To date, it failed twice the deliberation in being selected as a target project in the preliminary feasibility test. However, as it has seen a higher Benefit-Cost analysis point of 2.19 from the prior feasibility review of the Baengnyeong Airport building project, conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the hopes are high at this time.
The city government requested to make the Baengnyeong Airport the most prioritized agenda at ‘the five west sea comprehensive development plan (years from 2011 to 2015) and is making all-out effort to be nominated from the preliminary feasibility test by establishing joint effort system with relevant central government ministries.
▲ The Baengnyeong Airport building project plans to build a 30-meter wide and 1200-meter-long runway, control tower and passenger terminal to accommodate 50 person-capacity private airplanes by channeling 174 bn KRW using the 254,000 square meter land from Solgae district, Baengnyeong-myeon, Ongjin-gu. The image is Baengnyeong Airport allocation planning (draft).
In addition, the legal foundation was established as the Baengnyeong Airport building master plan, feasibility investigation and construction work was reflected on the ‘6thairport development middle-long term (years from 2021 to 2025)’ of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. National assembly’s attempt to amend ‘the special act to support five west sea islands’ aiming to include an airport to the category of public facilities is raising the hopes as well.
Incheon Metropolitan City is expecting a considerable reduction of travel time to Baengnyeong-do from the current four hours on passenger ship to one hour on flight once the airport is up and running. Consequently, access to the west sea’s northern most three islands of Baengnyeong-do, Daecheong-do and Socheong-do will improve, enabling one-day commuting zones and enhancing emergency responses which in turn will significantly enhance residential conditions for the local residents.
Moreover, it is expected to contribute to the balanced local economic development as tourists and investment may be attracted from home and abroad, emanating from Baengnyeong and Daecheong National Geological Park designated in 2019 and such exceptional tourism resources as mother nature-gifted scenery.
▲ The development plan for Baengnyeong Airport-surrounding area (draft)
The city government plans to open the Baengnyeong Airport in 2027 as it will implement follow up processes impermeably once the project has been nominated as a target project from the preliminary feasibility test
On this note, it will operate a neighboring area development plan in place by commissioning to establish ‘Baengnyeong Airport-Surrounding Area Development Plan and Master Plan’, and prepare measures to create synergy effects linking the airport to accommodation,tourism, leisure and medical service.
