'Gwangju Military Airport Relocation' Kang Ki-jung "1 Trillion Won Support"... Jeonnam Province "Regret Over Inadequate Details"

Regarding the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport, Mayor Kang Gi-jung of Gwangju Metropolitan City announced support measures for the hosting area, but Jeonnam Province expressed regret that the province's opinions were not reflected and that the simultaneous relocation of Gwangju's civilian and military airports was not included.

On the 26th, Mayor Kang Gi-jung announced the "Support Plan for the Hosting Area of Gwangju Military Airport," revealing plans for financial support amounting to 1 trillion won (450.8 billion won + alpha (α)), customized regional development projects for the hosting area, and the creation of a new city with self-sufficient functions.

Gwang-gi Jeong, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is announcing support measures for the Gwangju Military Airport hosting area on the 26th.
[Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City]

First, as a financial support plan, Mayor Kang promised, "The regional development project support fund will be created and supported at a scale of 1 trillion won (450.8 billion won + alpha (α)) by adding Gwangju City's resources to the originally announced 450.8 billion won, which was the difference from the donation and transfer."

He also stated, "From the moment a letter of intent to host the military airport is submitted, we will promote additional regional development projects through consultations with the hopeful hosting local governments, Jeonnam Province, and central government ministries for specific customized projects such as the Sunlight Pension, Sports Academy, Aircraft Maintenance (MRO) Industrial Complex, and International School."

Once the hosting area is confirmed, related details will be specified in a special law, and special relocation settlement support funds will be provided per household and individual. Along with this, a new city with self-sufficient functions will be created by concentrating relocation complexes including public housing, off-site official residences, and permanent facilities.

As a noise countermeasure, an additional 1.1 million pyeong (approximately 3.63 million square meters) of noise buffer zones will be secured in the hosting area, and measures will be prepared in consultation with the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Force Headquarters, including adjustments to training times and flight routes.

Mayor Kang added, "We will relocate Gwangju's public institutions, including constructing the Gwangju City Government Officials Training Center, which educates about 5,000 people annually, in the hosting area, prioritize purchasing agricultural, fishery, and livestock products produced in the hosting area, and establish exclusive sales outlets in Gwangju City and elsewhere." He also said, "Gwangju City will actively cooperate with Jeonnam Province, central government ministries, and related agencies to ensure that the new military airport hosting area can leap forward as a future industrial hub city."

However, Jeonnam Province expressed that it would discuss the announcement by Gwangju City again after consultations with the relevant areas.

The province stated, "While the support plan proposed by Gwangju City has made some progress, it is overall insufficient," and argued, "It is inappropriate to base the calculation of support project costs on the 450.8 billion won announced seven years ago in 2016; instead, it should be based on the amount recalculated by Gwangju City in 2022 in cooperation with the Office for Government Policy Coordination."

Furthermore, it pointed out, "It is very regrettable that the plan does not include the content that the civilian airport will be relocated immediately once the military airport issue is resolved to revitalize Muan International Airport."

In August 2018, Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, and Muan County signed an agreement to integrate Gwangju's civilian airport into Muan International Airport by 2021. In December 2020, the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Win-Win Announcement" stated that a comprehensive support plan for the military airport relocation area would be prepared through a pan-government consultative body led by the Office for Government Policy Coordination.

However, just about a week later, on December 9, 2020, the Mayor of Gwangju declared the cancellation of the agreement regarding the relocation of Gwangju's civilian airport to Muan International Airport.

Jeonnam Province emphasized, "Gwangju City must promptly and clearly express its position to simultaneously relocate Gwangju's civilian and military airports to Muan International Airport."

Additionally, the province urged, "Regarding Gwangju City's announcement, we will discuss it again with Gwangju City after consultations with the relevant areas. Jeonnam Province's position remains unchanged that Gwangju's civilian and military airports must be relocated promptly for the revitalization of Muan International Airport and the development of the southwestern region, and we request Gwangju City to actively cooperate."

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