The Ministry of National Defense said on the 2nd it has selected the area around Mangun-myeon in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, as a preliminary relocation candidate site for the Gwangju military airport.
A Ministry of National Defense official said, "This selection of a preliminary relocation candidate site is the first step in the Gwangju military airport transfer process," adding that "Minister Ahn Gyu-baek selected and notified it after close consultations with relevant agencies, including Gwangju City, South Jeolla Province, and Muan County."
Discussions on relocating the Gwangju military airport began in 2007 after Muan International Airport opened, but they stalled as regional conflicts persisted. Then, after 18 years, a dedicated task force (TF) was formed within the presidential office in June last year, accelerating the relocation talks. In December last year, a joint statement was signed on relocating the Gwangju military airport to Muan County and support measures.
With the Ministry of National Defense selecting the preliminary relocation candidate site, a vote of residents in the Mangun-myeon area is expected to be held going forward. Depending on the result, if the Muan County governor submits an application to host the project, the site selection committee will make the final decision. The committee is expected to be composed of relevant agencies—including Gwangju City, South Jeolla Province, and Muan County—and experts.
The Ministry of National Defense also held a briefing session the previous day for residents of the Muan area. At the meeting, residents expressed concerns about measures to prevent noise damage and to support relocation. In response, relevant agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense and Gwangju City, explained that they plan to faithfully carry out the project through transparent information disclosure and close cooperation with local residents so that such concerns do not arise.
The Ministry of National Defense said it plans to "build understanding and trust based on a mutually beneficial relationship with relevant agencies—including Gwangju City, South Jeolla Province, and Muan County—and residents of the Muan area, and to form a cooperative consultative body to ensure the selection of the relocation site for the Gwangju military airport proceeds smoothly and is completed as quickly as possible."