Runway Location and Direction, Major Military Base Facility Scale and Layout Decided
Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of National Defense to be Signed Next Year, Target Completion by 2030
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yeo Jong-gu] The blueprint for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport project, promoted by Daegu City, has been unveiled.
On the 18th, Daegu City announced that it has completed the establishment of the "Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport Basic Plan," which serves as the blueprint for the integrated new airport relocation project.
The integrated new airport is the first case in Korea to relocate both a military airport and a civilian airport simultaneously. The military airport plan was led by Daegu City, which established the basic plan, while the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) led the civilian airport by conducting a preliminary feasibility study, proceeding on a "two-track" basis.
The "Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport Basic Plan," initiated in November 2020 under the leadership of Daegu City in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Force, includes details such as the location and direction of the runway, the scale and layout plan of major military unit facilities, and the total project cost.
So far, Daegu City has established the basic plan through on-site inspections of the Daegu military airport with the Ministry of National Defense and close consultations with related agencies including the Air Force, the U.S. 7th Air Force, MOLIT, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Through consultations with the Air Force, the military operational suitability was reviewed, and the optimal runway location and direction minimizing noise damage were decided. After about 50 consultations and on-site inspections with the current base units and related agencies, the scale and layout plan of the Korean military unit facilities were established.
Additionally, through more than 30 working-level consultations with the U.S. Forces Korea and the U.S. 7th Air Force, the requirements for relocating U.S. military facilities were reflected in the basic plan.
According to the basic plan, the project period is until 2030, and the relocation project cost is estimated at approximately 11.4 trillion KRW. The site area is about 2.3 times larger than the existing military airport site, totaling 16.9 km², with two runways, aprons, a maintenance hangar, ammunition storage, fuel storage facilities, and about 700 buildings planned.
Reflecting the joint agreement reached in 2020, the civilian terminal and off-base housing will be located in Gunwi County, while the military base main gate, on-base housing, and sports facilities will be located in Uiseong County.
Once Daegu City submits the basic plan results to the Ministry of National Defense soon, the Ministry will verify the basic plan contents through a feasibility analysis service, prepare a memorandum of understanding draft reflecting any revisions, and request review by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance by the end of August.
Furthermore, Daegu City plans to proceed with strategic environmental impact assessments and cultural heritage surveys starting in September to expedite the process.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is comprehensively reviewing measures for harmonious placement of military and civilian airport facilities, recent increasing trends in air demand post-COVID-19, appropriate airport capacity, and scale through a preliminary feasibility study. They plan to establish reasonable measures through continuous consultations with Daegu City.
Daegu City plans to hold resident briefing sessions from the end of August to explain the basic plan results to residents of Gunwi County and Uiseong County. To ensure smooth progress of the integrated new airport construction project, they also plan to consult with Gyeongbuk Province on designating the relocation site as a development activity restriction area.
As many consultations regarding land acquisition and compensation are expected, on-site communication consultation offices operated by Gunwi County and Uiseong County will be open on weekdays from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily from the 22nd until September 16, after the Chuseok holiday. Experts in law, taxation, and appraisal will be flexibly deployed to provide consultation services to residents.
Expert consultations will be held every Tuesday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Gunwi County and every Thursday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Uiseong County.
Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu City, said, "The Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport, which will be the foundation for the prosperity of Daegu-Gyeongbuk for the next 50 years, aims to open in 2030 and be constructed as a central airport for logistics and passengers in the central-southern region. We will prepare the remaining procedures without any setbacks along with the enactment of a special law."
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