Muan-gun, Residents' Voluntary Relay of 'Military Airport Opposition Resolution Events' Continues

About 30 residents who attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mangun-myeon Rural Hub Revitalization Project held on the 9th are performing a resolution demanding a fundamental reexamination of the military airport relocation project. Photo by Asia Economy

[Muan＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Hwan-joo] The anger of 90,000 county residents triggered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 6th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan announcement is leading to voluntary relay opposition rallies by residents, uniting Muan residents under the banner of blocking the military airport relocation.

According to the county on the 12th, starting with 54 village heads of Haeje-myeon who pledged on the 29th of last month to take the lead in the resolute opposition struggle against the relocation of the military airport to Muan, 45 members of the Saemaeul Women's Association of Hyeongyeong-myeon held a rally on the 4th demanding the immediate halt of the military airport relocation to Muan.

Also, about 30 residents who attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the rural hub revitalization project in Mangun-myeon on the 9th performed a resolution performance demanding a re-examination of the military airport relocation project from scratch despite the stormy weather with heavy rain and wind.

On the 11th, about 50 residents attending the completion ceremony of the Hyeongyeong-myeon Cultural Welfare Center condemned the Ministry of Land's overreach, expressing strong opposition, stating that the military airport relocation would destroy the production base of farmers and fishermen and threaten the livelihoods of residents.

Jo Young-gyu, general secretary of the Mangun Prosperity Association who led the residents' resolution event after the groundbreaking ceremony, said, "Our area, where Muan International Airport is located, is being mentioned as a strong candidate site for the military airport, so noise damage to Mangun residents is obvious if the military airport is relocated," adding, "We will actively participate in blocking the military airport relocation with the determination to protect our living grounds ourselves."

Meanwhile, the Saemaeul Women's Association of Mongtan-myeon has announced a resolution rally scheduled for the 19th, and residents of Muan-eup and Illo-eup are planning site visits to the noise damage area of Gwangju Songjeong-ri Combat Airfield on the 23rd and 26th, respectively, indicating that the voices of Muan residents opposing the military airport are expected to continue for the time being.

Muan＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Hwan-joo ohj1358@asiae.co.kr