"I will accept the government's decision for the new (expanded) Gimhae airport to help address the conflict among regions and strive for national unity," he said during a press conference.

He added that he "fully" understands that the government had to consider various factors in its decision-making process such as potential backlash and the "big scars and sense of frustration" the candidate cities might experience if they lost.

The mayor's latest remarks reflects a softening of his earlier stance. He originally denounced the government's decision to nullify the airport project as a "quick-fix" solution.

Stressing that what matters for now is to prevent the foregone issue from further dividing the nation, he pledged to create a new Gimhae airport that would maximize convenience for citizens in the country's southeastern region.

"I and other provincial leaders in the region will put our heads together to maximize the convenience for citizens in the region by ensuring the linkage to the airport through infrastructure such as roads and railways," he said.

"Let's move beyond the wasteful competition over the new airport and work together to make the airport the center for the region's win-win cooperation and co-prosperity for the next 100 years to come," he added.

As part of an effort to allow the airport to operate around the clock, the mayor also pledged to consider a set of measures including relocating some residents near the airport who have complained of aircraft noise.

Lawmakers in the ruling party that represent Busan had largely advocated for Gadeok Island, while those from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province supported Miryang. The division was a major setback to the efforts to forge unity in the ruling party gripped by persistent factional feuds. (Yonhap)