Korea: Gadeok airport project faces mounting uncertainties

A new airport construction project on Busan’s Gadeok Island is facing increasing uncertainties, as the government's attempt to secure builders for the initial phase of site preparation has failed for the third time. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced Monday that the third attempt to secure a construction contract for the Gadeok Island project, situated in the southwestern waters of Busan, was unsuccessful due to a lack of candidates. Only a consortium led by Hyundai Engineering and Construction (E&C) submitted a bid. Regulations mandate that competitive bidding is a requirement for state contracts. As a result, the ministry initiated a fourth bid through the Public Procurement Service starting Tuesday. The deadline for applications is Sept. 5. "We aim to foster fair competition among companies to single out the most competent firms," the ministry said. "Once we select the final bidder, we will focus on completing the airport before the end of 2029. We plan to shorten the construction timeline by utilizing the most advanced automated construction equipment and cutting-edge building technologies."<br/>