Jeontu Bihangjang Muan-gun Countermeasure Committee Announces Protest Visit to Gwangju City Hall

Press Conference Criticizing Remarks by Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung

Muan County: "We Will Spare No Support for the Task Force and Residents"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung's statement that "Gwangju Military Airport will be integrated into Muan, Jeonnam" has prompted Muan County and the Gwangju Combat Airfield Muan Relocation Opposition Committee (hereinafter the Opposition Committee) to announce a planned protest visit to Gwangju City Hall.

A rally opposing the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport to Muan is being held at Muan Airport.
[Photo by Muan-gun]

On the 9th, Mayor Kang Gi-jung stated at the "Strategic Meeting on the Relocation of Public Institutions in the Seoul Metropolitan Area to Gwangju," attended by local lawmakers and government officials at the National Assembly, that "Gwangju Military Airport will be integrated into Muan Airport, and the Korea Airports Corporation will be attracted there."

In response, the Gwangju Combat Airfield Muan Relocation Opposition Committee plans to visit Gwangju City Hall in protest at 2 p.m. on the 10th and hold a press conference criticizing Mayor Kang's remarks.

Muan County is one of the leading candidate sites for the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport, which Gwangju City is currently promoting.

Anticipating controversy over Mayor Kang's remarks, Gwangju City clarified that the statement was intended to mean "integrating Gwangju Military Airport into military airport relocation areas such as Muan Airport."

Park Moon-jae, chairman of the Opposition Committee, said, "The Korea Airports Corporation was not attracted even during the Moon Jae-in administration, so it is unlikely under the Yoon Seok-youl administration," adding, "We will visit Gwangju City to clearly convey the Opposition Committee's stance against the military airport relocation."

A Muan County official stated, "We believe Mayor Kang made the statement as if the relocation to Muan County has been finalized," and added, "We will spare no support from the perspective of the Muan Relocation Opposition Committee and residents."

Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Hwan-joo ohj1358@asiae.co.kr