Yangcheon-gu Strongly Regrets the Expansion of Gimpo Airport International Flight Routes

Regret over Resident Opinion Listening, District Consultation, Victim Protection Measures, and 3No Policy Announcement
Urging Careful Attention and Consideration for Affected Areas Before Highlighting Policy Effectiveness
"Will Strongly Request Support Measures from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City"

Lee Gi-jae, Yangcheon District Mayor

Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Lee Gi-jae) expressed regret on the 28th regarding the 'Expansion of Gimpo Airport International Business Routes' announced in connection with Seoul City's 'Southwest Area Grand Renovation Plan' on the 27th.

The plan announced by Seoul City to strengthen the international flight functions of Gimpo Airport includes expanding the regulation on international charter flights, which is currently limited to within 2,000 km, to 3,000 km, and establishing vertical takeoff and landing pads for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) to enhance urban competitiveness. If the distance restriction is relaxed according to the plan, the number of international routes will increase, leading to more takeoffs and landings of large aircraft, and the noise damage will be directly borne by the residents of the affected areas.

Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, strongly criticized, “It is very wrong that Seoul City unilaterally announced this plan without listening to the opinions of the residents who have suffered severe airport noise damage for many years, as well as without any procedure to collect opinions from the autonomous district.”

In particular, Yangcheon-gu accounts for about 70% of the households in the Gimpo Airport noise control area within Seoul, and the physical, mental, and property damages caused by airport noise to the residents are very severe.

In fact, in 2023, among 40,030 households (89,726 people) in the airport noise-affected area of Yangcheon-gu, hearing tests were supported due to noise damage. As a result, 520 people showed symptoms of hearing impairment and underwent basic tests, of which 69 people (13.3%) received detailed examinations, and finally, 50 people were diagnosed with ‘hearing disabilities,’ confirming the seriousness of the damage.

Mayor Lee also criticized, “Nowhere in the urban competitiveness enhancement plan through the expansion of Gimpo Airport international business routes was there any measure to address the damage suffered by residents who have endured decades of pain.”

He emphasized, “Before emphasizing the effects of the policy, careful attention and consideration for the affected areas must be simultaneously taken into account for the policy to be proper,” urging close consultation with the affected autonomous districts first.

The district plans to strongly request the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City to conduct thorough measures for supporting residents affected by noise due to the increase of international flights such as to Hong Kong and Guangzhou, following the Gimpo Airport international flight function enhancement plan.

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