Hello! We are Mason Yoo and Andrew Park currently enrolling Korea International School Jeju as 6th graders. The issue of building a second airport in Jeju has been around for years, and the recent update of this matter caught our attention. So we decided to have our end-of-the-year project regarding this topic. First, we would like to appeal why it is a bad idea to construct the second airport in Jeju. Then, the benefits of sustainability of the Jeju environment. Please note that these are coming from middle school students’ views and their ideas for the betterment of the island.

We would like to inform you that building the second airport is a horrible idea. We consider this way because when builders construct the airport contractors need to cut down all the trees in Bijarim. Also, in Bijarim there are special trees called “Nutmeg trees.” Jeju has the largest nutmeg forest and it takes about 400 to 800 years to grow. This advances Jeju and shows Jeju. However, when contractors cut down Bijarim for the airport we will lose the reputation of being the largest nutmeg forest in the world.

Additionally when the trees are cut down the amount of oxygen that the trees produced will reduce. One big tree could make oxygen for four people. On the other hand, when the forest is wounded, fresh oxygen will drop down. By the same token, when an airport is built airplanes would make more carbon dioxide but when we have fewer trees there would be less oxygen although when there is a lot of carbonic dioxide. A Lot of carbonic dioxide stimulates greenhouse effect.

As the trees cut down, animals’ habitats are destroyed. Animal shelters are forms of protection. They can hide from their predators and keep their babies safe. However, when they lose their shelters, they are more exposed to dangers from other animals and the survival rate of little ones will go down. Animals without homes will come out to the road where they end up dying or injured by vehicles. On top of that, animals do not reproduce when they know the environment is not safe enough In addition, animals can't find a new place to stay. As a result, the animal population gets lower.

As years go, the tourist population is increasing. In 2005, there were about five million people visiting Jeju, but by 2016, it reached 20 million. Many citizens in Jeju suffer from enormous traffic jams, overflowing trash, rapid incise of real estate, and sewage problems. In order to keep the island healthy and safe, the regulation of tourists is necessary. It is home for the residents before being a tourist site for visitors.

Please save our Bijarim forest from the second airport! When we work as a group, we can make a difference!