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On April 23, the National Assembly passed the Special Act on Designating and Fostering Airport Economic Zones, sponsored by Rep. Bae Jun-young (People Power Party). The law establishes a legal foundation to develop airports nationwide as hubs for industry, jobs and tourism.
Rep. Bae said the law’s central aim is to link airports with surrounding regions so they can be designated and nurtured as integrated airport economic zones.
When a city or provincial governor requests designation, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will designate the zone after consulting relevant administrative agencies and securing review by the Aviation Policy Committee.
After designation, national and local governments may develop plans and allocate budgets to attract industry, expand infrastructure and promote investment.
The law replaces the previous piecemeal approach to airport-area development with an institutional framework that enables unified, comprehensive planning.
Specifically, it requires national and local governments to formulate and implement policies needed to designate and foster airport economic zones and to provide administrative and financial support. It also clarifies that airport operators must cooperate.
That will allow coordinated development of industry and economic activity centered on airports.
By creating a legal basis to support infrastructure costs—such as roads, rail and water facilities—the law makes it easier to concentrate industry near airports and to attract companies in a more systematic way.
Authorities can adopt phased plans that specify which industries to attract to particular areas and which infrastructure projects to prioritize.
Until now, airports across the country have largely functioned as transport facilities for passengers and cargo, while local communities have shouldered burdens such as noise and carbon emissions without receiving sufficient economic benefits.
The new law addresses those shortcomings and provides a national policy framework to develop airports into economic hubs linked to industry, logistics and tourism.
Rep. Bae has advocated for legal recognition of airport economic zones since the 21st National Assembly.
Although his earlier bill lapsed when that Assembly’s term ended, he reintroduced it as his first bill upon entering the 22nd National Assembly because he considered it essential.
With the bill’s passage in the plenary session, lawmakers have for the first time created a legal basis to jointly grow industry, logistics and tourism around airports, and officials expect follow-up projects to accelerate efforts to develop airports nationwide as engines of economic growth.
Rep. Bae said, \”Airports should no longer be mere transit facilities. They must be transformed into national growth hubs that drive industry, jobs, investment and regional development. This special law provides the first institutional foundation for developing airports nationwide in that direction.\”
The law’s passage marks an important turning point that could convert airports from simple transportation facilities into core drivers of national growth.
Incheon — Lee Chun-man, reporter lcm9504@viva100.com
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