Na Gwang-guk Provincial Assembly Member, "Long-Haul Flights to Americas and Europe
Must Reduce Time and Economic Burden of Traveling to Incheon Airport"
Muan International Airport has seen a slight increase in passengers this year due to a rise in the number of users and the expansion of new routes. The photo shows passengers using Muan Airport. Provided by Jeonnam Province.
Muan Airport, which has been stigmatized as a "nominal international airport," has shown some signs of recovery from long-term stagnation this year due to an increase in passengers and the expansion of new routes.
According to statistics from Korea Airports Corporation, as of October this year, Muan International Airport saw a 99.3% increase in passengers compared to the previous year (323,458 people), a 107.2% increase in flight operations (2,136 flights), and a 78.1% increase in cargo transport (3,367.8 tons). In particular, starting in December, new international routes to Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia, along with a daily flight to Jeju, will be added, bringing the total number of routes to 18. It is expected that the number of passengers will continue to increase in the future.
However, there are criticisms that these figures lack credibility as they are compared to the dark period of Muan International Airport when even regular and charter flights were suspended due to the COVID-19 situation.
Accordingly, it has been pointed out that in order for Muan International Airport to overcome its chronic stagnation, the development of transfer routes for mid- to long-haul flights to regions such as the Americas and Europe must be pursued.
Of course, Jeollanam-do Province is currently pushing for an extension of the existing runway length of about 2,800 meters to at least 3,150 meters, but there are also claims that even if the construction is completed, there will be practical limitations to operating mid- to long-haul routes.
Na Gwang-guk, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly, is questioning during the budget review of the Construction and Transportation Bureau. Photo by Na Gwang-guk, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly
On the 22nd, Na Gwang-guk, a Jeollanam-do Provincial Assembly member (Democratic Party of Korea, Muan 2), during the 2025 fiscal year budget review under the jurisdiction of the Construction and Transportation Bureau, stated, "If transfer routes passing through hub airports in neighboring countries such as China and Japan are introduced at Muan International Airport, residents could reduce the time and economic burden of traveling back and forth to Incheon International Airport to use mid- to long-haul routes."
Assemblyman Na added, "Even Gimhae Airport, which has a runway longer than 3,500 meters and an annual passenger volume reaching 10 million, only recently launched a Jakarta route and still has no routes to the Americas or Europe. Rather than disappointing residents with the unrealistic launch of mid- to long-haul direct flights, efforts should focus on developing transfer routes to create new international demand and revitalize the airport."
He also added, "The recently delayed second phase of the Honam High-Speed Railway project is an important project that can dramatically improve accessibility to Muan Airport, so the Construction and Transportation Bureau should mobilize all administrative capabilities for its swift opening."
In response, Yoo Ho-gyu, head of the Construction and Transportation Bureau, said, "We are actively communicating with foreign airlines currently operating at Muan Airport, and if transfer routes are operated, it is expected to contribute even more to the revitalization of the airport."
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