Muan-gun to Begin Construction of 'Aviation Specialized Industrial Complex' Next Month

Aviation Specialized (MRO) Industrial Complex Passes Jeonnam Province Review

Exterior view of Muan-gun Office (Photo by Muan-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim San) announced on the 2nd that the implementation plan (draft) for the aviation-specialized industrial complex project, which is being promoted as the biggest priority project of the 7th local government, was finally approved on the 30th of last month after review by the Jeollanam-do Local Industrial Complex Planning Deliberation Committee.

With the global increase in aircraft, the market size of the aviation industry is also rapidly growing, but South Korea depends on foreign countries for maintenance worth 1.3 trillion KRW, which accounts for 54% of the total aircraft maintenance demand.

The domestic aircraft maintenance (MRO) market size is expected to be about 4.5 trillion KRW in 2025, more than twice the current size, and since aircraft maintenance generates maintenance demand 3 to 4 times the value of the aircraft, it is attracting attention as a future strategic growth industry.

However, aircraft maintenance requires huge initial investment costs and facilities, personnel, and technology that comply with aviation regulations, so it is a business with high entry barriers and cannot be easily promoted.

In particular, in South Korea, sufficient infrastructure related to the aviation industry has not been established, so most excellent personnel who graduate from aircraft maintenance departments either go abroad or seek other career paths due to lack of employment opportunities.

Therefore, Muan-gun is promoting the aviation maintenance (MRO) specialized industrial complex project by investing 44.8 billion KRW in a 350,000㎡ site adjacent to Muan International Airport, utilizing its locational advantage.

Starting with the inclusion of the industrial complex designation plan by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport last year, land compensation began, and after public inspection and residents’ briefings, administrative procedures such as consultations with related administrative agencies and departments for the Jeollanam-do industrial complex implementation plan review were carried out until last month.

In particular, to facilitate smooth consultations in various fields including the cancellation of agricultural promotion areas, environmental impact assessments, traffic, disaster, water supply and sewage, and wastewater treatment, numerous visits to related agencies were made, and as a result of all efforts, the industrial complex implementation plan (draft) was finally approved and announced by Jeollanam-do, and the aviation-specialized industrial complex is scheduled to begin construction next month.

A Muan-gun official stated, “Based on the excellent location and infrastructure around Muan International Airport, we attracted investments from excellent companies, and with the final approval of the industrial complex project, we have taken the first step of this project,” adding, “We plan to simultaneously promote related industries such as aviation education and logistics, and will continue to do our best to create an environment favorable for business operation.”

Kim San, Governor of Muan-gun, said, “Our county has become a genuine mecca of the aviation industry starting with the creation of the aviation-specialized industrial complex,” and added, “When the industrial complex is completed as planned in 2022 and the resident companies begin operations, it is expected to greatly contribute to regional economic revitalization through technology transfer in the aircraft maintenance sector, fostering of high-quality manpower, large-scale job creation, and significant population inflow.”

He also emphasized, “We will make Muan a place where young people come, a happy city where people want to live, and a vibrant Muan where an open future and dreams come true.”