South Korea's President Lee urges mid-2028 relocation of Gwangju airbase for chip cluster

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has called for the relocation of a military airbase in Gwangju city by mid-2028, aiming to expedite the development of a major semiconductor manufacturing hub in the southwestern region.

The president's directive follows the administration's unveiling of ambitious plans in June, involving investments exceeding $576 billion from industry giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to expand their chip fabrication facilities. The proposed site for this significant industrial cluster, covering 8.3 million square meters, was chosen last month. Its selection was based on favorable transportation links and the fact that the land was already leveled, according to Yonhap News Agency, citing a presidential official.

Lee emphasized the importance of the airbase's relocation, stating, "It would be great if the Defence Ministry would be able to temporarily relocate the functions of the Gwangju military airbase to another base by mid-2028." The remark was made during a meeting with company executives focused on the planned chip cluster, underscoring the government's commitment to fostering the semiconductor industry.

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It would be great if the Defence Ministry would be able to temporarily relocate the functions of the Gwangju military airbase to another base by mid-2028.