Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop "Wholehearted Efforts for Gwangju Military Airport Relocation"

Hwang Hyuntaek Gwangju City Council Member's Response to Administrative Inquiry

"Resolving the Military Airport Relocation Issue: Communication and Cooperation Are the Shortest Path"

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is responding to city administration questions at the 4th plenary session of the 293rd extraordinary meeting held on the morning of the 21st at the Gwangju Metropolitan City Council plenary hall. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, stated that efforts are being made in three aspects regarding the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport: sincere dialogue and cooperation with Jeonnam Province, strengthening the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defense and other central government bodies, and expanding the scale of support for the local governments to which the Gwangju Military Airport is relocated.

Mayor Lee explained in detail the progress made so far and the efforts the city is putting forth in response to councilor Hwang Hyun-taek’s question about the ‘Gwangju Military Airport relocation’ during the 4th plenary session of the 293rd Gwangju City Council temporary meeting held on the 21st.

The mayor said, “Under no circumstances can the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport to Jeonnam be realized without the cooperation of Jeonnam Province,” adding, “We are making every effort to establish a sincere dialogue and cooperative relationship with Jeonnam Province.”

He also emphasized the strengthening of the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defense and other central government bodies.

He recalled, “Military airports are important national security facilities, and their relocation is a national project. The Moon Jae-in administration included the relocation of military airports in its top 100 national agenda items.”

He continued, “Nevertheless, the central government is passing all responsibility onto local governments and remaining passive,” and stated, “Our city is striving for the prompt passage of the amendment to the Special Act on Military Airport Relocation and Support in the National Assembly so that the Ministry of National Defense and the central government can take a leading role and provide support.”

Mayor Lee responded, “We are considering ways to expand the scale of support for the local governments to which the Gwangju Military Airport is relocated.”

He added, “A buffer zone of 1 million pyeong will be created to prevent noise damage in the military airport relocation area, the population will increase by more than 5,000 due to the relocation of military units, 450 billion won in cash projects will be supported, and national projects will also be supported,” but noted, “Jeonnam Province has expressed that the level of support is insufficient, so we are exploring additional support measures.”

The mayor emphasized, “These three measures will be difficult to achieve effectively without discussion with Jeonnam Province. We hope Jeonnam Province will engage more actively in consultation and cooperation in terms of coexistence and fulfilling promises,” and stressed, “Communication and cooperation between Gwangju and Jeonnam are the shortcut to resolving the military airport relocation issue.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.