Muan-gun Holds Protest Wearing Funeral Banners and Mourning Clothes Against Gwangju Civil-Military Airport Relocation

Published 11 Jun.2024 16:46(KST)

"Opposition Grows Against Gwangju City's Promotional Campaign Ignoring Rural Realities"

On the 11th, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do held a rally in front of the traditional market in Illo-eup, where about 500 members of the Illo-eup Regional Countermeasure Committee and social organizations gathered to protest against Gwangju City's promotional campaign and oppose the relocation of the Gwangju Combat Airfield to Muan.

The rally proceeded with greetings, free speeches, and a street march, even featuring a funeral bier and mourning clothes.

Kim Jun-yeon, chairman of the Illo-eup Regional Countermeasure Committee, who organized the rally, said in his greeting, “Gwangju City is zealously promoting the military airport relocation like an invader during this busy farming season,” and criticized, “Mayor Kang Gi-jung’s promise letter is full of lies. They promote that the noise-affected area is only 4.2% of the entire Muan-gun, but when they come to Hyeonggyeong-myeon, they lie about receiving noise compensation.”

About 500 members of the Iro-eup Regional Countermeasures Committee and social organizations are marching in the streets wearing funeral bier and mourning clothes in front of the Iro-eup traditional market.
[Photo by Muan-gun]

In the subsequent free speech, Na Sang-ok, former head of the Livestock Cooperative, said, “Muan is in the middle of onion and garlic harvest and rice planting season. People are using hoes and even travelers are helping with the work, so I don’t know what this is all about,” and passionately added, “If the Gwangju Combat Airfield is so good, then Gwangju City should embrace it forever.”

Additionally, Choi Song-chun, co-chairman of the Mokpo Environmental Movement Federation, supported the opposition to relocating the Gwangju Combat Airfield to Muan, stating, “Even if the fighter jet noise is far below the standard level, hearing it repeatedly at all hours every day is unbearable without going crazy.”

A resident of Illo-eup, Mr. A, said, “The people of Muan do not want the Gwangju Combat Airfield. The residents of Muan wish to live peaceful daily lives, so it should be relocated to a desired area.”

Originally, Mayor Kang Gi-jung planned to continue the promotional campaign by visiting the Illo traditional market, but it was canceled at the request of Jeollanam-do and Muan-gun.

Muan-gun has repeatedly requested Gwangju City to stop the promotional campaign conducted by visiting Muan-gun directly, citing concerns over accidental incidents and the safety of residents, as well as significant disruption to residents’ livelihoods during the busy farming season.

Although Gwangju City continued face-to-face promotions while touring the Muan area, the voices of Muan residents opposing the relocation of the Gwangju Combat Airfield to Muan are growing louder.