Former Hampyeong County Governor Lee Sang-ik expressed concern over the intensifying controversy between supporters and opponents regarding the relocation project of Gwangju Military Airport, noting the emergence of emotionally charged and harsh expressions.
In a statement on the 8th, Governor Lee said, “Hampyeong is facing a continuous population decline, with only 75 births recorded last year,” and explained, “Within the next five years, the number of births could drop to zero, placing us in an existential crisis of extinction.”
He continued, “Feeling a heavy sense of responsibility in this crisis of regional extinction, and after holding nine recent residents’ briefings and gathering opinions from various channels, I have concluded that the Gwangju Military Airport relocation project could provide a turning point to overcome the regional extinction crisis and achieve a major transformation in Hampyeong’s development.”
This is the first time Governor Lee has officially expressed support for the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport, drawing attention to how this might influence the residents’ survey scheduled for July and August.
Governor Lee stated, “If Gwangju Military Airport is established in Hampyeong, we will promote groundbreaking regional growth projects through large-scale population inflow, including the permanent stationing of young soldiers, construction of corporate cities linked with Bitgreen Industrial Complex and Future Car National Industrial Complex, fostering future automobile and air logistics industries, attracting public institutions, and expanding metropolitan transportation networks such as the establishment of a KTX Hampyeong Station.”
He added, “While I am well aware of concerns about damage to agriculture and livestock, it is possible to create advanced smart farms using noise buffer zones. In Yecheon County, Gyeongbuk, where a military airport is located, the number of Hanwoo cattle has been steadily increasing, so this could rather be an opportunity to achieve cyclical modernization of livestock facilities through scientific farming and odor reduction.”
Governor Lee explained, “The Gwangju Military Airport relocation project is a long-term endeavor that takes more than 10 years for construction. After submitting a letter of intent for hosting as a preliminary candidate site, in-depth negotiations on support for the relocation area will be conducted for at least two years, and the final decision on relocation will be made through a residents’ referendum. Only by submitting a letter of intent can the planned relocation site be known and the right to discuss large-scale growth projects be granted. Therefore, I expect the wise judgment of the residents regarding the submission of the letter of intent.”
He emphasized, “I fully understand that noise damage could disturb the peaceful lives of nearby residents and that residents may suffer significant losses such as losing ancestral homes passed down through generations. The decision on whether to submit the letter of intent will be made according to the will of the residents through a public opinion survey, and all processes will be conducted transparently with participation from both supporters and opponents. There will be absolutely no unilateral decisions or actions based solely on my personal views.”
Finally, he stated, “The integration with Gwangju, as some claim, is a matter that requires approval from Jeollanam-do and the National Assembly and is therefore a difficult task to realize. Blind criticism or hateful expressions that infringe on my and others’ human rights and honor must be immediately stopped for the sake of our Hampyeong.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
