President Lee: Gwangju military airport functions to be moved elsewhere within two years

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has directed that the functions of the Gwangju military airport be temporarily relocated to other bases by mid-2028. This move aims to accelerate the development of a semiconductor industrial complex on the airport's current site. The President stressed the need for "blitzkrieg, not just speed" during a review meeting for "mega-projects."

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We need to wage a blitzkrieg, not just a war of speed. I hope you do your best to start construction early on land near the military airport, even before the temporary relocation.

The presidential office intends to pass a "mega-zone" special law within the year. This legislation will streamline various approval processes and environmental impact assessments, further speeding up the project. President Lee also encouraged early construction on land adjacent to the military airport, even before the full relocation is complete, emphasizing that corporate investment intentions should not be hindered by bureaucratic hurdles or infrastructure deficiencies.

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We decided to preemptively prepare the ammunition depot site within the military airport for early site development so that companies can start fab construction as soon as possible if they wish.

Discussions during the meeting also addressed critical infrastructure needs. Plans are in place to secure water resources, utilizing reclaimed wastewater and nearby dams to supply 650,000 tons daily by 2030. Power supply strategies were also reviewed. Meanwhile, other major projects in the Chungcheong and Yeongnam regions are scheduled to commence construction this year, involving significant investments from major corporations.

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We will also quickly pursue the designation of additional candidate sites in nearby areas after confirming corporate demand.