The Jeju Residents Against the Second Airport is a solidarity organization that united residents of villages near the proposed airport site and local civil society organizations in Jeju to prevent the second airport from going ahead.

Prior to the creation of the Emergency Refugee Council, the Jeju 2nd Airport Seongsan-eup Opposition Task Force, comprised of three villages near the proposed airport site (Nansan-ri, Susan-ri, and Sinsan-ri), and the Jeju 2nd Airport Criminal Refugee Action, comprised of 22 civil society organizations, led the movement against the second airport in solidarity with each other.

As soon as the feasibility study committee for the second airport ended in June 2019, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport finalized the basic plan and submitted the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, intending to push ahead with the construction of the second airport. In response, the Seongsan-eup Opposition Task Force and Pan-Do People's Action proposed an emergency solidarity organization to unite the capacities of the local community against the second airport, and on July 22, 2019, the Emergency Citizens' Assembly to Stop Jeju's Second Airport was formed, with over 100 civil society organizations participating.

Since its formation, the Emergency Residents' Assembly has been fighting to stop the second airport from going ahead, centering on two pillars: 'Fighting for the right to self-determination of Jeju Islanders' and 'Responding to the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment'. To this end, on the one hand, we initiated a public discussion process to resolve the second airport conflict by moving the provincial assembly from the second half of 2019, and finally confirmed the opposition of the majority of Jeju Islanders through an official poll organized by the provincial assembly and Jeju Island in February 2021. On the other hand, we raised the issue of the need for a second airport and the environmental suitability of the Seongsan site, leading to the Ministry of Environment's rejection of the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment in July 2021. With the confirmation of the opposition of Jeju Islanders and the rejection of the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, the second airport has completely lost its legitimacy.

However, with the election of Yoon Seok-yeol's government, which pledged to build a second airport, the push for a second airport was rekindled. In January 2023, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport resubmitted a supplemental Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, and the Ministry of Environment passed it with conditional consultation. In response, the Emergency Residents' Assembly again demanded a referendum as the final means of resident decision, and waged a struggle to stop the second airport by highlighting various deficiencies and suspicions in the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment. However, the conflict and struggle over the construction of the second airport continues due to the arrogance and self-righteousness of the Yun Seok-yeol government and the opportunistic avoidance of responsibility by Jeju Island's Chief Executive Oh Young-hoon.

Jeju's second airport is itself the largest and worst development project in Jeju Island's history, covering 1.65 million square meters of green and farmland with concrete, severely impacting the surrounding migratory bird roosting areas, hills, and groundwater flow, as well as destroying the livelihoods and communities of local people who have been farming. Furthermore, the second airport will unleash a frenzy of speculation and overdevelopment across Jeju Island, leaving irreparable scars on the island's greatest assets: its beautiful natural environment and communities. Furthermore, the airport is an unnecessary overcapacity that will eventually be used as an airbase at a time when tourism is no longer growing.

If the Yun-Seok-yeol government proceeds with the notification of the basic plan for Jeju's second airport, it will inevitably lead to more intense conflicts over whether or not to agree to the environmental impact assessment, which will determine whether or not to proceed with a second airport. The Emergency Residents' Assembly will continue to raise the fundamental issue of whether a second airport is necessary for Jeju's future, amplifying the opposition of Jeju residents, while also thoroughly verifying the environmental suitability of the proposed site, focusing on issues such as hidden bones and caves, migratory bird nesting sites, preservation of protected flora and fauna and ecosystems, disaster risk, and noise.

Together with the residents of Jeju Island, and with the support and solidarity of the entire nation, we will stop the second airport, protect Jeju from overdevelopment, speculation, and militarization, and make a major turning point towards a sustainable Jeju Island where ecology, peace, and community are alive. We ask for the continued interest, participation, and solidarity of all Jeju residents who want a unique and sustainable Jeju, and all those at home and abroad who love Jeju.

Thank you.