Gwangju Airport 'Explosive Device Scare' Ends as a False Alarm

A suspicious package suspected to be an explosive was found inside an Air Force base in Gwangju Metropolitan City, but it ended as a simple misunderstanding.

At around 1:50 p.m. on the 19th, a suspicious postal box was discovered at the post office inside the Welfare Center of the 1st Fighter Wing in Gwangsan-gu.

As a result of the first search by the military police, contents suspected to be explosives were detected, prompting the Air Force and police to control the scene.

The runways of both Gwangju Civil Airport and the military airport were closed for about two hours, and evacuation orders were issued to nearby elementary schools and residents.

However, when the military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team opened the box, only everyday items unrelated to explosives such as a mobile phone charger, toothpaste, and shoes were found.

Accordingly, the emergency situation management and scene control were lifted around 3:30 p.m.

Gwangju Airport. [Photo by Yonhap News]