On Nov. 18, the Defense Angle facility (localizer) embankment can be seen at the Jeju Air passenger aircraft accident site at Jeonnam Muan International Airport. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

On the 22nd, the government announced plans to fully improve the berm type localizer facility identified as a cause of the damage caused by the Jeju Air passenger plane accident at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, and has begun reviewing funding options.

According to the government on the 25th, it is estimated that the improvement project for the localizer facility will require a minimum of 15 billion won to a maximum of several hundred billion won. The government has established a policy to prioritize the maintenance of the localizer facility by reallocating the airport-related budget. While there are discussions on utilizing contingency funds, voices are being raised that the financial operation is restricted as the opposition party has reduced contingency funds during the year-end budget process.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has decided to replace the localizer system with a structure that can easily break upon impact. The berm installed to match the height of the localizer with the runway will be removed.

The structure installed on the berm will be modified to adjust the slope of the berm gently to prevent collisions with aircraft, or to erect a steel frame structure to adjust the height of the localizer.

For securing the localizer, the ministry is also considering methods that involve placing a localizer with a concrete structure on a surface that is less firm than concrete or gently sloping the elevation. The selection of the structural form will be based on the airport situation.

The ministry plans to immediately begin the design work and complete the improvement construction within the first half of the year. If the construction takes longer, the period for aircraft visual landing will be extended, thus the ministry intends to expedite the work, according to a ministry official.

Within the ministry, it is reported that there is considerable anxiety over the project's budget scale, as the method of installing localizer facilities and the scale of civil works can significantly affect the budget.

According to the ministry, each airport, including Muan Airport where the accident occurred, Gwangju Airport, Yeosu Airport, and Pohang-Gyeongju Airport, will each replace one concrete berm type localizer facility structure. Gimhae Airport and Sacheon Airport require structural changes since two concrete bases of the localizer facility are protruding above the ground. Jeju Airport has been identified as a candidate for replacement of a firm H-shaped steel structure.

According to the aviation industry, it is reported that the localizer facilities alone cost 1.5 billion won for equipment and installation expenses. If all nine identified localizer facilities are replaced, the expense for this alone will exceed 13 billion won. When the basic design service fees are reflected, it is estimated that the minimum project cost will exceed 15 billion won.

A key factor driving up the project expense is the scale of the civil works. There is a possibility that additional land will need to be acquired for the extension of the runway and securing the safety zone.

If additional safety facilities such as the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) are introduced, costs will surge. The ministry noted that they would consider implementing EMAS if it proves difficult to secure sufficient safety zones within the airport. Queenstown Airport in New Zealand allocated approximately 23 million New Zealand dollars (about 18 billion won) for the installation of EMAS and other safety facilities in 2024.

An aviation industry official said, "The cost will vary widely depending on how much the airport's specifications and safety systems are secured," adding that, "If the current berm-type method proposed by the government is changed to a ground facility burying it underground, then the localizer facilities will also need to be filled and leveled with earth, which is also not trivial in expense." This official added that, "If additional safety facilities are introduced, the total project budget could reach several hundred billion won."

Within the government, discussions are ongoing regarding securing budget options. Currently, there is no separate budget allocated for airport facility improvements, and it is reported that they are considering reallocating the budgets from other items as a priority.

According to the ministry, a total of 1.3533 trillion won has been allocated for this year's aviation and airport budget, which is an increase of 462.7 billion won (52%) compared to last year. The construction budget for the new airport on Gadeok Island, which is scheduled to open in December 2029, has been increased to 964 billion won. Other allocations include 63.2 billion won for the new Saemangeum Airport construction, 66.7 billion won for the design of Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, and 23.6 billion won for the design of the second airport in Jeju. Currently, within the government, it is being reported that the budget for the Gadeok Island project, which has some time before its opening, may be reallocated to proceed with the localizer facility improvements, with additional supplementary budgets being considered for further funding.

While there are discussions on utilizing contingency funds, a ministry official said, "Reallocation of budgets takes precedence over contingency expenditures." It is also known that the opposition party's reduction of half of the 4.8 trillion won in contingency funds proposed by the government during the budget finalization process at the end of last year has impacted the situation. The ministry official stated, "As contingency funds were halved in the year-end budgeting process, it has become difficult to allocate funds for airport facility improvements."