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🇰🇷 South Korea /Energy & Infrastructure

South Korea Selects Muan as Site for Relocated Gwangju Military Airport

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has selected Muan County in South Jeolla Province as the candidate site for relocating the Gwangju military airport.
  • The relocation is tied to the development of a semiconductor cluster in the Honam region, with the government designating the current Gwangju airport site as a semiconductor industrial complex.
  • The selection followed a review of institutional feasibility and social consensus, with Muan County's governor providing conditional consent, and a support package of over 1 trillion won is planned for the region.

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has officially designated an area in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, as the candidate site for the relocation of the Gwangju military airport. This decision marks a significant step in a long-standing regional issue and is closely linked to the government's ambition to foster a semiconductor cluster in the Honam region.

This candidate site selection is a historic advancement not only for resolving a regional issue that has continued for decades but also for balanced regional development.

— Ahn Kyu-baekMinister of National Defense and Chairman of the Relocation Site Selection Committee, commenting on the significance of the decision.

The selection process, which involved a committee meeting on April 28, adhered to criteria of institutional feasibility and social consensus. The ministry confirmed no insurmountable obstacles in terms of military operations and legal requirements. Crucially, the conditional consent from the Muan County governor met the social consensus criteria, paving the way for this decision.

With the candidate site identified, the relocation project is set to enter a more concrete phase. The Ministry of National Defense anticipates that this move will accelerate the project through cooperation among relevant agencies. A key aspect of the plan involves a substantial support package for Muan County, estimated at over 1 trillion won, in addition to existing agreements. This package aims to improve residents' living conditions, foster local industries and jobs, and enhance the overall living environment, adhering to the principle of "special support for special sacrifice."

The Gwangju military airport relocation project, based on the 'contribute and transfer' business model, is now on the right track.

— Ministry of National Defense OfficialDescribing the importance of selecting a candidate site for the project's progression.

Further steps include a resident referendum and final site selection, with the government aiming to finalize the location by the end of the year and complete the new airport by December 2032. The relocation is seen as a historic advancement not only for resolving a decades-old regional issue but also for promoting balanced national development.

Special support must follow special sacrifice.

— Government StatementStating the principle guiding the support package for Muan County.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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