Gwangju Air Base Relocation Paves Way for $800 Billion Semiconductor Cluster in Honam Region

The long-debated relocation of the Gwangju military air base has finally reached a critical juncture, with a candidate site selected, clearing the path for a massive semiconductor cluster in South Korea's Honam region. This development is poised to attract an estimated 800 trillion won ($600 billion USD) in investments from industry leaders such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, aiming to establish a significant hub for semiconductor manufacturing.

The decision comes a decade after the Ministry of National Defense initially deemed the relocation proposal "appropriate." The process has been fraught with challenges, including difficulties in finding a suitable site and facing local opposition. However, the government's recent push to establish a "Honam region semiconductor cluster" as a key national project galvanized efforts among the Ministry of National Defense, the newly formed Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City, and Muan County.

Previously, Muan County had stipulated three preconditions for accepting the air base: the prior relocation of Gwangju's civil airport to Muan International Airport, a 1 trillion won support package from the central government and the metropolitan city, and significant national incentives. The government and metropolitan city actively engaged in discussions, fulfilling promises such as realizing the designation of a 1.05 million-pyeong national industrial complex in Muan, thereby building trust with the county.

With the selection of Muan County's Mangun-myeon area as the relocation site, the Gwangju air base's current location can be repurposed for the semiconductor facilities. The plan involves temporarily relocating the air base's functions to another military base by mid-2028 while simultaneously commencing construction in Muan. The project also requires coordination with the U.S. military, as the Gwangju base is a joint operational facility. Construction of the semiconductor fabrication plants is slated to begin in 2028, with the first facility expected to be completed by mid-2029 and memory semiconductor mass production commencing in June 2030.

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The relocation site selection process has concluded, and I am deeply moved. We will faithfully prepare support plans for the areas surrounding the relocation in cooperation with the government, and do our best to lead to the development of Muan and a better future for all of Jeonnam-Gwangju.