Jeollanam-do Proposes Runway Extension and Infrastructure Improvements for Yeosu Airport

Aiming for the Successful Hosting of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo
Plans Include Approval of Irregular International Flights

Jeonnam Provincial Government Office Exterior View

Jeollanam-do is accelerating efforts to extend the runway and improve navigation safety facilities at Yeosu Airport to boost its utilization and enhance safety.

The provincial government announced that it has proposed to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to include the extension of Yeosu Airport's runway from the current 2,100 meters to 2,800 meters in the national plan, and to support the approval of irregular international flights during the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo.

Although Yeosu Airport serves as a key infrastructure for tourism and industry in the eastern region of Jeollanam-do and the southern central coast, its runway is the second shortest among airports nationwide, and its glide slope facility (mound) is the highest at 4.0 meters, raising ongoing safety concerns.

Due to these conditions, the types of aircraft operating at the airport are limited, and flight cancellations frequently occur in adverse weather, exposing operational limitations.

In response, Jeollanam-do has requested that the runway extension be included in the 7th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan (2026-2030) to alleviate passenger anxiety and establish a safer operating environment.

The province also requested improvements to navigation safety facilities, including upgrades to the glide slope facility, securing a longitudinal safety area, and installing bird detection radar.

By the end of 2025, Jeollanam-do plans to complete improvements to the glide slope facility, expand the runway's longitudinal safety area from 208 meters to 240 meters, and install bird detection radar by 2026 to prevent bird strikes and further enhance operational safety.

In particular, to ensure the successful hosting of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, which aims to attract 3 million participants from 30 countries, the province also proposed the approval of irregular international flights.

The plan is to open temporary routes connecting major cities such as those in Japan and China, providing greater convenience for foreign visitors and elevating the status of the event as an international occasion.

Kim Yungrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, stated, "To develop Yeosu Airport into a leading airport supporting tourism and industry across the southern central coast, it is essential to extend the runway and strengthen safety. With active government support, we will make Yeosu Airport a safe and trusted facility, ensuring the success of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo and driving regional development."

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