Muan County Councilor Lim Donghyun Criticizes Moves for 'Temporary International Flights' at Gwangju Airport

"Government Must Present a Roadmap for the Normalization of Muan International Airport"

On the 14th, during the 1st plenary session of the 300th temporary meeting, Im Donghyun, a member of the Muan County Council in Jeonnam, urged the government to present a clear roadmap for the early normalization of Muan International Airport through a proposal.

This proposal was announced in response to the escalating conflict between political circles in Gwangju and Jeonnam and the local community regarding measures to address the prolonged closure of Muan International Airport.

Assemblyman Lim Donghyun is presenting a proposal at the 1st plenary session of the 300th extraordinary meeting. Provided by Muan County Council

In his proposal, Im stated, "With the prolonged closure of Muan International Airport, the tourism industry in Gwangju and Jeonnam is on the brink of collapse, which has led to a crisis threatening the very foundation of the tourism sector and is dealing a serious blow to the local economy. It is estimated that the tourism industry could incur damages amounting to 30 billion KRW until the airport reopens, making the prompt normalization of Muan International Airport an urgent task for all residents of Jeonnam and Gwangju."

He continued, "However, despite the fact that this situation is an issue everyone must endure together, Gwangju City is demanding the operation of international flights at Gwangju Airport under the pretext of reviving the local tourism industry, as if it were only Gwangju's problem. Even though related agencies are working together to normalize the airport, Gwangju City is disregarding these efforts and focusing solely on an unconvincing political strategy," criticizing Gwangju City's move to temporarily operate international flights.

He particularly emphasized, "The operation of international flights at Gwangju Airport is not a practical discussion, as it will inevitably be delayed compared to the reopening of Muan International Airport due to various realistic constraints. Gwangju City is abandoning the greater cause of early normalization of Muan International Airport and is instead fixated on its own interests, causing unnecessary regional conflict and wasteful administration."

He further urged, "The government must reaffirm that the prompt normalization of services at Muan International Airport is the top priority and must mobilize all available resources to ensure swift recovery and the resumption of public services. Above all, the government should deliver a clearer and more immediate message regarding airport normalization to prevent political exploitation and avoid unnecessary confusion."

Meanwhile, Im also called on Jeonnam Province to not only actively cooperate with the government's airport normalization policy but also recognize that airport normalization is fundamentally not a political issue and to represent the voices of local residents with greater determination.