President Lee Orders Formation of Presidential Office-Led Task Force for Gwangju Military Airport Relocation

Seeking Solutions for Alleviating Metropolitan Concentration and Achieving Balanced Development
Proposing Growth Strategies Based on Renewable Energy in the Southwest Region
"Let Us Find a New Direction as Members of the Community"

President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the formation of a six-party task force (TF) under the direction of the Presidential Office to resolve the issue of relocating the Gwangju military airport. At the town hall meeting with city and provincial residents held on the afternoon of June 25 at the National Asia Culture Center in Gwangju, President Lee stated, "It is right for the nation to take responsibility," and added, "We will establish a consultative body as soon as possible, involving Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, Muan County, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport."

President Lee Jae Myung is speaking at the 'Gwangju Citizens and Jeonnam Residents Town Hall Meeting' held on the 25th at the National Asia Culture Center in Gwangju Metropolitan City. Photo by the Presidential Office Press Photographers Group

The town hall meeting was attended by residents of Gwangju and Jeonnam, as well as key officials including Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi Jung, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young Rok, and Muan County Governor Kim San. President Lee said, "We will make sure that conflicts between local governments do not leave this issue unresolved," and added, "Even if we do not reach a final conclusion, I hope this will serve as an opportunity to find a clue toward a solution."

In his opening remarks, President Lee also addressed the issue of concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area. He emphasized, "Many of the problems in the metropolitan area ultimately stem from excessive concentration," and added, "If we utilize the national territory efficiently through balanced regional development, many of these issues can be alleviated." He continued, "I want to hear the voices from the field on how to achieve balanced development."

Regarding the transition to renewable energy, President Lee stated, "In line with the climate crisis and the trend of a major energy transition, we must actively harness the potential of renewable energy, especially along the southwest coast," and added, "This process could serve as an opportunity to mitigate the dominance of the metropolitan area." He further said, "Let us join forces at both the local and central levels to find a path to coexistence as members of the same community."

President Lee Jae Myung is holding the "Gwangju Citizens and Jeonnam Residents Town Hall Meeting" at the National Asia Culture Center in Gwangju on the 25th. Photo by the Presidential Office Press Photographers Group

President Lee said, "At first, the Presidential Office tried to limit the audience, but I insisted that as many people as possible should attend without restrictions, and that anyone who wants to speak should be able to do so." He added, "The pain and challenges people face in their lives do not differ greatly from region to region," and said, "I wanted to freely share the thoughts of the people of Gwangju and Jeonnam."

He also stated, "The Republic of Korea is a developed country recognized by the world, but recently, there is a growing atmosphere of hostility, confrontation, and even attempts to eliminate one another simply because of differences in opinion." He continued, "We are neighbors living together in a single community, and now, as members of this community, we must seek a new direction together."