Yang Bunam Says "Maruk-dong Ammunition Depot Relocation Project to Resume in Earnest"

A Total of 5 Billion Won Secured
Long-Awaited Project in Gwangju Moves Forward

Yang Bunam, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Gwangju Seo-gu-eul), announced on the 3rd that the budget for the relocation project of the Maruk-dong ammunition depot has been increased by 3.5 billion won in the 2026 main budget, bringing the total to 5 billion won. He stated that this will kick-start the relocation of the ammunition depot in earnest.

Yang Bunam, Member of the National Assembly. Courtesy of Yang Bunam's Office

The long-awaited project to relocate the Maruk-dong ammunition depot, a goal of Gwangju and Seo-gu residents for over 20 years, is now set to resume in earnest.

Located in the heart of Gwangju, the Maruk-dong ammunition depot has been designated as a military protection zone for the past 50 years, hindering regional development and causing various problems such as infringement of property and living rights, as well as safety risks for residents and nearby communities.

In response, the Ministry of National Defense approved the project in 2005, and by 2023, a total of 326.2 billion won had been allocated, with 268.1 billion won spent on compensation and construction. However, the project was suspended in 2023 due to discussions on relocating the Gwangju military airport.

Yang Bunam has sought solutions through community meetings with local residents, aiming to relocate the ammunition depot, which impedes not only his constituency of Seo-gu but also the development of Gwangju’s urban center. He also made direct appeals to President Lee Jaemyung, urging the prompt relocation of the Maruk-dong ammunition depot independently from the Gwangju military airport relocation, among other multi-faceted efforts.

In addition, Yang Bunam emphasized the necessity of the relocation project to members of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee and secured positive responses regarding the project’s resumption during the defense minister’s confirmation hearing. After close cooperation with relevant agencies such as the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, he succeeded in securing the budget needed to restart the relocation.

In particular, through continuous collaboration with budget committee members including Budget Committee Chair Han Byungdo and members of the Defense Committee during the National Assembly’s budget deliberations, an additional 3.5 billion won was allocated to cover the portion not included in the government’s budget proposal, resulting in a total of 5 billion won secured for the relocation project. This marks the fruition of all-encompassing efforts to resolve the region’s long-standing issue.

Yang Bunam stated, “Now that the suspended relocation project has crossed the major hurdle of securing funding, I expect the relocation of the Maruk-dong ammunition depot to proceed in earnest following a design review next year. I will do my utmost to secure additional funding for items not yet reflected in the budget to ensure the relocation is completed as soon as possible.”

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