Muan County Residents Stage Surprise Protest Over Muan Bay as Sole Candidate for Military Airport Relocation

Muan County Residents "We Also Want to Be Jeonnam Residents"

The Gwangju Combat Airfield Muan Relocation Opposition Pan-Citizen Countermeasure Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Pan-Committee) staged a surprise protest on the 3rd at Muan Sports Park, where the 'Volunteer Fire Brigade Technical Competition' was held.

Initially, the Pan-Committee had planned to file a protest report for the event to inform visiting outsiders of the determination of Muan residents, but intended to conclude by only posting banners around the venue.

However, after Jeonnam Province held a press briefing on the 2nd regarding the 'Position on the Integrated Relocation of Gwangju Civilian and Military Airports' and an explanatory session titled 'Understanding the Military Airport Relocation,' stirring public opinion as if Muan was the only correct site for the Gwangju military airport relocation and provoking Muan residents, the Pan-Committee changed its stance and carried out a surprise protest.

The Gwangju Combat Airfield Muan Relocation Opposition Pan-Citizen Countermeasure Committee is staging a surprise protest at Muan Sports Peak, addressing Governor Kim Young-rok with the message, "Please stop harassing the people of Muan."
[Photo by Pan-Citizen Committee]

On September 5th, Jeonnam Province announced a development plan worth 1.7 trillion won during the 'Hampyeong Future Regional Development Vision' presentation, and at that time, Governor Kim Young-rok drew a line on linking this announcement with the Gwangju military airport issue.

However, on the 2nd, during the press briefing on the 'Position on the Integrated Relocation of Gwangju Civilian and Military Airports,' the province stated, "We agreed at that time to cooperate on the military airport relocation and to stop mentioning Hampyeong County," indicating that only Muan County is being considered as the site for the Gwangju military airport relocation.

Furthermore, on the afternoon of the 2nd, Jeonnam Province hosted an explanatory session titled 'Understanding the Military Airport Relocation,' mobilizing many outsiders such as officials from Mokpo, Naju, Haenam, and the provincial government rather than Muan residents, yet promoted the event in the media as having been held successfully.

Regarding this, Park Moon-jae, the Standing Co-Chairman, criticized, "While Gwangju City has no intention of relocating the domestic airport, Governor Kim Young-rok is working harder on Gwangju City's affairs than his own, forcing the sacrifice of provincial residents and attempting to distort public opinion. I cannot understand the form of Jeonnam Province. It seems that in the governor's mind, the activation of Muan International Airport can only be achieved by relocating the military airport to Muan. It would be better for the residents if he runs for mayor of Gwangju as soon as possible."

Muan = Oh Hwan-joo, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy just8440@asiae.co.kr