Jeonnam Province Directly Refutes Claims by Groups Opposing Military Airport Relocation

No Human Health Impact from Carcinogenic Components in Fighter Jet Fuel

Expected Production of 5.1 Trillion KRW and Added Value of 1.8 Trillion KRW

Jeonnam Province has rebutted the claims made by the opposition group against the relocation of the military airport in the Muan area.

The province stated on the 1st that there is no impact on human health from the carcinogenic components in fighter jet fuel, and that the claim of no regional development effect is incorrect, as the production and employment inducement effects are very significant.

Recently, after declaring the ‘Simultaneous Relocation of Gwangju Civilian and Military Airports’ for the development of the southwestern region of Jeonnam, the Samhyang-eup Prosperity Association, opposing the relocation of the Gwangju Fighter Airfield to Muan, hung a banner saying, “Did you know that fighter jet fuel contains carcinogens and neurotoxins?”

In response, the Air Force Headquarters stated, “Fighter jet aviation fuel (JP-8) is kerosene with corrosion inhibitors and anti-icing additives added, similar to the aviation fuel (JA-1) used in civilian aircraft,” and “Since fighter jets operate at higher mission altitudes than civilian aircraft and the fuel is completely combusted, there is no impact on human health.”

Jeonnam Province considers the claims of the Samhyang-eup Prosperity Association to be exaggerated.

In particular, after reviewing the composition data announced by an oil refining company, the province found that the carcinogenic substances in fighter jet fuel claimed by the Samhyang-eup Prosperity Association are present only in trace amounts and have no effect on human health. These substances are also found in gasoline and diesel used in everyday automobiles.

Furthermore, the province dismissed the claim made by the ‘Anti-Relocation Pan-Citizen Countermeasure Committee’ in a leaflet distributed to attendees of a military airport-related lecture hosted by the Jeonnam Social Organizations Federation, stating that “fighter airfields are not production or consumption facilities, so there are no employment or regional development effects.”

According to an analysis of the military airport relocation proposal submitted by Gwangju Metropolitan City to the Ministry of National Defense and approved in 2016, the Korea Transport Institute specified that “the relocation area of the Gwangju military airport will induce production of 5.1 trillion KRW, added value of 1.8 trillion KRW, and employment of 38,000 people.”

Earlier, in May, Jeonnam Province conducted the ‘Understanding the Gwangju Military Airport Relocation Campaign’ across the entire Jeonnam region including Muan and Hampyeong to resolve interregional conflicts caused by the Gwangju military airport relocation issue and to properly inform residents of the pros and cons of the relocation.

The campaign emphasized that even if the military airport is integrated and relocated with the civilian airport, the civilian and military runways will be installed 1.3 km apart, allowing civilian and military aircraft to take off and land simultaneously, and enabling 24-hour airport operation.

It also introduced that the new military airport site is planned to minimize the impact on surrounding areas by reviewing fighter jet noise reduction measures at every stage from site selection to operation.

A Jeonnam Province official said, “If Muan County truly wants regional development, it should provide residents with objective information based on facts, not exaggerated or distorted information,” and added, “We hope the Pan-Citizen Countermeasure Committee will also verify the truthfulness of all claims related to the Gwangju military airport relocation and participate in disseminating accurate information. We will strongly respond to any distribution of distorted or exaggerated information in the future.”

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