Muan County selected as candidate site for Gwangju military airport relocation

Muan County, located in Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City, has been selected as a candidate site for the relocation of the Gwangju military airport. This decision marks a significant step in a process that has been discussed since the opening of Muan International Airport in 2007 and gained momentum with the "Special Act on the Relocation and Support of Military Airports" in 2013.

Following the candidate site designation, the Ministry of National Defense, in consultation with the relevant local governments, will develop a support plan. Subsequently, the Minister of National Defense will request a resident referendum in Muan County. The county mayor will then reflect the results of this referendum in an application to host the relocated military airport. The final decision on the relocation site will be made by the Ministry of National Defense through a dedicated committee, with a decision expected by the end of the year.

The government has committed to providing support, including a 1 trillion won package and additional national-level assistance, through a support committee chaired by the Minister of Government Policy Coordination. This support is crucial for Muan County, which had previously demanded three key conditions for hosting the airport: the prior relocation of the civilian airport, substantial financial support amounting to 1 trillion won, and designation as a national industrial complex.

Muan County Mayor Kim San emphasized the importance of the government's commitment to these three conditions, stating that their "prior implementation and formalization will serve as a minimum basis for securing trust in the upcoming resident persuasion and referendum processes." He pledged to work closely with the central government and Gwangju Metropolitan City to ensure tangible benefits for the region. Gwangju Metropolitan Mayor Lee Yong-sup also expressed commitment to developing a robust support plan for the areas surrounding the relocated airport, aiming for the development of Muan and the broader Jeonnam-Gwangju region.