'New Phase in Airport Relocation'... Democratic Party TF and Pan-Government Consultative Body Activated

Gwangju City Accepts Participation Request from Stakeholders by Democratic Party and Government
City Halts Open Dialogue Room, Muan Vision Forum, and Public Opinion Polls
‘December Deadline’ Withdrawn... “Focus on Future Discussion Outcomes”

Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung held a tea meeting with reporters on the 5th floor press room of the city hall on the 26th, explaining the integrated relocation of civilian and military airports. Photo by Gwangju City

The issue of the integrated relocation of Gwangju civil-military airports has entered a new phase. Until now, the discussions were limited to the three parties of Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, and Muan County, but now the central government and political circles have also joined.

On the 26th, Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung held a casual meeting with reporters at City Hall and stated, “The issue of integrated relocation of civil-military airports has expanded beyond Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, and Muan County to include the central government and political circles as additional stakeholders.”

Mayor Kang explained that the Democratic Party plans to form the ‘Gwangju-Jeonnam Win-Win Development TF (Task Force),’ and the central government will resume the ‘Intergovernmental Consultative Body operation’ led by the Office for Government Policy Coordination.

The Democratic Party intends to address major agendas in the ‘Gwangju-Jeonnam Win-Win Development TF,’ including joint issues of Gwangju and Jeonnam such as ▲energy ▲administration and new industries ▲integrated relocation of civil-military airports.

Kim Min-seok, Senior Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party, who visited Gwangju that day, said, “While considering the formation of a ‘Military Airport Special Committee’ at the Democratic Party level proposed by Mayor Kang Ki-jung, we reached a consensus to broaden the perspective and enrich and flexibilize the discussion by not limiting it to military airports but seeking a greater vision for Gwangju and Jeonnam, leading to the formation of the ‘Gwangju-Jeonnam Win-Win Development TF.’”

At the central government level, the Office for Government Policy Coordination plans to hold a ‘Intergovernmental Consultative Body Working-Level Meeting’ in December, chaired by the First Vice Minister of State, with participation from Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, Muan County, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. After the working-level meeting, a higher-level ‘Intergovernmental Consultative Body Meeting’ will be arranged.

Mayor Kang judged that with the Democratic Party and the central government responding to Gwangju City’s request, the integrated relocation issue has shifted to a new phase, and thus decided to temporarily postpone or suspend the activities carried out so far.

First, the ‘Open Dialogue Room,’ which was a communication and publicity channel with Muan County residents, will be suspended. The ‘Airport City Muan Future Vision Forum’ and the ‘Public Opinion Survey’ scheduled for early December will also be halted. Furthermore, as the discussion framework has expanded to include the central government and political circles, the ‘December deadline’ has been withdrawn.

Mayor Kang emphasized, “We requested the Democratic Party to form a ‘Military Airport Special Committee,’ but after extensive discussions and deliberations at the party level, it seems the decision was made to form the ‘Gwangju-Jeonnam Win-Win Development TF.’ The integrated relocation of civil-military airports will be addressed as a major agenda in this TF. As the discussion framework has expanded to include the Democratic Party and the central government, the city will unite efforts to ensure that results can be achieved within this framework.”