Yangcheon-gu, Guro-gu, and Gimpo-si Propose Reform of Cash Support Method for Airport Noise Countermeasures

On the 25th, residents delivered an official statement containing practical improvement requests to Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae), together with Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) and Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do (Mayor Kim Byung-soo), visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 25th to deliver a joint petition to Minister Won Hee-ryong regarding the plan to reform the cash support system for residents affected by airport noise. The petition mainly included proposals such as reflecting inflation rates in the installation of air conditioners and electricity bill support.

The cash support reform plan for airport noise-affected areas announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in March provides an annual cash payment of 100,000 KRW for air conditioning installation and 230,000 KRW for electricity and TV license fees to residents who close their windows during the summer due to aircraft noise.

However, the reform plan had issues such as the support amount being less than the current direct installation cost of air conditioners and the lack of reflection of inflation rates, which effectively reduced the support.

Additionally, the electricity bill support of 50,000 KRW per month for four months from June to September did not consider environmental factors such as the extended air conditioner operation period due to climate change and the 22% increase in electricity rates since 2018, nor inflation rates, making it an unrealistic support measure and causing resident backlash.

On this day, the heads of the three regional organizations submitted a petition with the following three points to ensure a reasonable support plan that practically helps residents.

First, the cash support amount for air conditioning installation should consider inflation rates so that it does not decrease compared to the current direct installation cost.

Second, electricity bill support should be adjusted to reflect the increase in electricity rates since it is provided to residents who close their windows due to noise during the summer.

Third, the installation of air conditioners and electricity bill support should be treated as part of resident livelihood support, and the 'Airport Noise Prevention Act' should be amended to reflect inflation rates.

On the same day, Minister Won Hee-ryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated, “We will actively review the reform plan to ensure it benefits the residents.”

Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “Through the delivery of this joint petition, I hope that the compensation system, which has been somewhat rigid compared to the economic and mental damages endured by residents affected by airport noise, will be reformed into a practical and reasonable system.”

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