Debate Over Gwangju Airport International Flights... Civic Group Rebuts Council Member Park Sugi's Criticism

Emphasizing Accumulated Inconvenience After Muan Airport Incident
Refuting That the Issue Is Separate from Military Airport Relocation

In response to Gwangju City Council member Park Sugi's criticism that the renewed push for temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport is merely "showcase administration," a civic group immediately issued a rebuttal. They argued that, amid ongoing inconvenience due to the prolonged suspension of regional airport operations, the core issue is being overshadowed by political disputes.

Gwangju Airport panorama.

The 'Gwangju Airport International Flight Restoration Civic Committee' released a public inquiry on the 16th, stating, "Council member Park Sugi's remarks are political statements that ignore the inconvenience to citizens and the severe damage to the local tourism industry," and added, "It is unfair to characterize the renewed push for temporary international flights as mere showcase administration."

The group further argued, "Following the Muan Airport incident, international flights have been suspended for several months, making the city's renewed request an unavoidable measure." They also countered, "Isn't this simply a political statement by Council member Park to recover from low approval ratings in the Gwangsan-gu mayoral candidacy poll?"

They continued, "To claim that local governments should not even attempt another push simply because the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has denied approval is to deny their responsibility," adding, "The assertion that this damages trust between Gwangju and South Jeolla Province is an excessive interpretation." They explained that the temporary resumption of international flights is a separate issue from the discussion on relocating the military airport and, in fact, serves the shared interests of the region.

Regarding Council member Park's alternative proposal for transportation subsidies, the group emphasized, "Given that the annual overseas travel demand from Gwangju and South Jeolla Province exceeds one million people, this idea is fiscally unfeasible," and stressed, "The temporary resumption of international flights is the most immediate and practical alternative."

Previously, during a city council administrative audit, Council member Park criticized, "Repeatedly raising an issue already denied by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, without any fundamental changes, undermines the credibility of the administration itself."

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