Nationwide Major Metropolitan Councils Jointly Promote Response to Airport Noise

Vice Chairman Woo Hyeong-chan of Seoul Metropolitan Council Leads Metropolitan Council Members' Meeting on Airport Noise Damage Measures, Discussing Formation and Activity Directions of Local Council Consortium for Airport Noise-Affected Areas

The far right is Woo Hyeong-chan, Vice Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] As air travel demand, which had decreased due to COVID-19, has recently revived, complaints about noise damage around major domestic airports have surged.

To address the serious social issue of airport noise damage, metropolitan council members from affected areas gathered in one place.

On the 4th, metropolitan council members from major regions nationwide, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gyeongnam, and Jeju, held a "Metropolitan Council Members' Meeting for Airport Noise Damage Countermeasures" at the office of Vice Chairman Woo Hyeong-chan of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

The list of attendees is as follows: ▲Woo Hyeong-chan, Vice Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party) ▲Yoo Kyung-hyun, Member of Gyeonggi Provincial Council (Democratic Party) ▲Hong Won-gil, Member of Gyeonggi Provincial Council (People Power Party) ▲Park Sang-hyun, Member of Gyeonggi Provincial Council (Democratic Party) ▲Kim Hwang-guk, Vice Chairman of Jeju Provincial Council (People Power Party) ▲Choi Hak-beom, Vice Chairman of Gyeongnam Provincial Council (People Power Party). Choi Eun-kyung, Member of Bucheon City Council (Democratic Party), attended as an observer.

At the meeting, Kim Hwang-guk, Vice Chairman of Jeju Provincial Council, was elected as the chairperson of the upcoming expanded "Metropolitan Council Members' Meeting for Airport Noise Damage Countermeasures (tentative name)." Attendees shared the current status of noise damage around Korea's three major airports?Gimpo, Jeju, and Gimhae?as well as support activities for airport noise damage by region, and exchanged opinions on solutions through joint responses by metropolitan councils.

Specifically, discussions included comparative analysis of airport noise ordinances by local governments and government responses through the enactment of integrated ordinances, expansion of participation by councils from other airport noise-affected areas such as Incheon Airport, public awareness campaigns on airport noise issues, and solidarity measures among metropolitan councils nationwide.

In addition to noise problems due to proximity to airports, issues such as height restrictions near airports and underdeveloped regional development were raised, with plans to establish alternatives.

Kim Hwang-guk, Vice Chairman of Jeju Provincial Council and newly elected chairperson, expressed gratitude to Vice Chairman Woo Hyeong-chan of Seoul Metropolitan Council for organizing the meeting, calling it "a meaningful occasion to approach airport noise issues from the perspective of local residents," and expressed aspirations for future activities while urging government interest and local residents' participation.

Woo Hyeong-chan, Vice Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council

Vice Chairman Woo Hyeong-chan of Seoul Metropolitan Council explained the seriousness of airport noise damage, stating, "Airport noise causes extreme nervous anxiety and stress to nearby residents and infringes on property rights, learning rights, and residential rights."

Choi Hak-beom, Vice Chairman of Gyeongnam Provincial Council, emphasized the necessity of a metropolitan council consultative body, saying, "The solidarity of local councils in airport noise-affected areas is essential for establishing systematic and practical damage countermeasures."

Encouraged by Kim Hyun-gi, Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, the meeting, which lasted over two hours, concluded with the sharing of future schedules and directions to present airport noise issues as a public agenda of local communities, promising organic communication and cooperation.