Jeonbuk Province to Begin Construction of Saemangeum International Airport Next Year... Target Opening in 2029

Total Project Cost 807.7 Billion Won... Leap Toward Becoming a Global Hub

The Saemangeum International Airport, a key pillar of the transportation and logistics Triport, is proceeding smoothly with the goal of beginning construction in 2025 and opening in 2029.

According to North Jeolla Province on the 23rd, the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport selected an eligible contractor for the airside section (runway, apron, etc.) through a turnkey bid last June, and is currently carrying out detailed design, environmental and disaster impact assessments, and other administrative procedures.

Jeonbuk Provincial Office building exterior.

The landside construction, including the passenger terminal and parking lot promoted by Korea Airports Corporation, announced a design competition last October. The plan is to select a design firm early next year and commence the design process.

The current development scale of Saemangeum International Airport includes one runway (L=2,500m, B=45m), five aprons, a 15,010㎡ passenger terminal, a 750㎡ cargo terminal, 696 parking spaces, and a 450m access road, with a total project cost of 807.7 billion KRW.

There are 15 airports operating nationwide, of which 8 are international airports. Only Incheon International Airport, the central hub, operates routes to the Americas and Europe, while six key airports including Gimpo International Airport operate routes to Northeast and Southeast Asia.

The currently planned runway length of Saemangeum International Airport is 2,500m, and like the six other key airports except Incheon International Airport, it plans to operate routes to Northeast Asia (China, Japan, Taiwan) and Southeast Asia (Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam).

Recently, there have been suggestions that Saemangeum International Airport should reflect the changed circumstances, such as the full recovery of international flight demand and increased investment in Saemangeum leading to expanded industrial complex development.

Accordingly, North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province plans to seek ways to expand aviation demand and foster related industries through a 200 million KRW research project next year. Through this, they will prepare facility improvement plans for Saemangeum International Airport and propose necessary changes to the master plan to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

In addition, the 'Saemangeum International Airport Activation Council' established this year, with participation from seven organizations including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Saemangeum Development Agency, and Korea Airports Corporation, is formulating measures to vitalize the airport through close cooperation.

Kim Kwangsoo, Director of Construction and Transportation for the province, stated, "We will do our utmost to ensure Saemangeum International Airport breaks ground next year and opens in 2029 as planned," adding, "Together with local residents, we will do our best to make Saemangeum a global hub."

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