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(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) Jong Hwa Han – The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and the Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Corporation announced on the 21st that they plan to reissue a tender for the land development works of the Gadeokdo New Airport within this year.
The land development project will be conducted under a design-build (turnkey) contract, with the construction period set at 106 months and the total project cost estimated at 10.7 trillion won ($7.9 billion).
The government previously sought to award the contract to a consortium led by Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. with a construction period of 84 months (7 years), but the deal collapsed. In the renewed effort, the timeline has been extended to 106 months.
MOLIT explained, “Ensuring the safe construction and operation of the airport requires prioritizing the treatment of soft ground. Based on expert recommendations, we have allocated sufficient time for ground stabilization, resulting in a total construction period of 106 months.”
The Gadeokdo New Airport project has been progressing through the bidding process since the basic plan was announced in December 2023.
After four failed tenders between May and September 2024 and the subsequent breakdown of direct negotiations with the Hyundai E&C consortium in June this year, the ministry has been seeking alternative approaches to resume the project.
Hyundai E&C had argued that the land development phase should be extended by two years to 108 months (9 years) due to technical considerations, ultimately withdrawing from the project.
The project cost has been revised from 10.5 trillion won to 10.7 trillion won to reflect inflation.
The planned airport site features thick layers of marine soft ground, raising the risk of differential settlement due to the runway spanning both land and sea.
MOLIT stated that the design-build (turnkey) approach will allow the contractor to leverage its expertise and accountability in sourcing fill material, treating soft ground, and integrating subsequent processes such as breakwater installation, marine and land reclamation, and runway construction.
The government aims to expedite the necessary procedures to issue the tender within the year, select a contractor, and complete the basic design, with initial construction targeted for the second half of 2026.
If administrative procedures and construction proceed as scheduled, the Gadeokdo New Airport is expected to open by 2035.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yun-deok emphasized, “Gadeokdo New Airport must be developed as a gateway airport equipped to handle sufficient passenger and cargo demand, driving balanced national and regional development.”
He added, “While the construction period has been set with a focus on safety, we will actively cooperate with experts, contractors, and local governments to ensure the project progresses as swiftly as possible.”
jhhan@yna.co.kr
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