People Power Party Gwangju Branch: "Military Airport Relocation Requires Grand Decision by City and Province"

The People Power Party Gwangju Metropolitan City Party demanded that “Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province make a magnanimous decision for coexistence and cooperation regarding the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport.”

On the 16th, the People Power Party Gwangju City Party issued a statement saying, “Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province are voicing different opinions, and the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport seems likely to be delayed beyond the year,” adding, “If the two local governments are trapped in their own interests and only show differences in their positions, it may be seen as a lack of political capability.”

They continued, “From the perspective of joint development between Gwangju and Jeonnam, a preliminary relocation candidate site must be promptly confirmed and a consensus reached,” while noting, “Although the Gwangju Military Airport Special Act has been enacted, the first step for the relocation?the selection of a preliminary candidate site?has yet to be accomplished.”

They also stated, “Gwangju City has suggested that the military airport and civilian airport can be relocated separately, while Jeonnam Province insists on relocating both at once to Muan,” emphasizing, “While the city and province waste time fighting for control, the military airport relocation issue may be postponed until the next election.”

The city party urged, “Mayor Kang Ki-jung of Gwangju and Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam must demonstrate strong political leadership and immediately implement the agreed-upon relocation of Gwangju Military Airport promised to the citizens of both localities,” adding, “If the relocation issue, which is crucial to the joint development of Gwangju and Jeonnam, is delayed due to differences in the positions of the respective heads of local governments and no compromise is reached, they must bear appropriate political responsibility.”

They further added, “Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province should not waste time merely calling for coexistence on the surface but should promptly select a preliminary relocation candidate site to alleviate the concerns of local residents.”