In the lead-up to the June 3 local elections, candidates for the Incheon mayoralty from South Korea's two major political parties are vocalizing their opinions regarding the proposal to unify the management of Incheon International Airport Corporation, Korea Airports Corporation, and the construction promotion team for the new airport in Gadeokdo. This proposal has emerged as a significant issue among the candidates, indicating that airport management integration is becoming a key talking point in the electoral race.

Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party's candidate who received a single nomination for the mayoral position, dismissed the integration proposal as an 'unfounded speculation' on his social media platform. He stated that discussions about the merger were never held within the government and emphasized that the rumors should not create anxiety among the citizens. Park also asserted that Incheon Airport is a proud hub competing on a global stage and should not be handled with mere consolidation logic, stressing the need for greater investment and regional development to ensure balanced growth between the capital and local areas.

On the other hand, the current Mayor of Incheon, Yoo Jeong-bok, criticized the integration as a 'hasty merger,' questioning the rationale behind requiring Incheon Airport, which has maintained profitable operations as a global hub, to shoulder the financial burdens of operating local airports and the construction costs of the Gadeokdo airport. He indicated that the current discussions appear to prioritize political reasons over economic benefits, voicing concerns that the potential profits from Incheon Airport may be at risk of being diverted to Gadeokdo, which resonates with growing apprehensions among citizens regarding the implications of the airport management merger.