Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik Presides Over Senior Aides Meeting
President Lee Orders Formation of Task Force at 'Gwangju Citizens and South Jeolla Residents Town Hall Meeting' on the 25th
The Office of the President has decided to form an internal task force (TF) to address the issue of relocating Gwangju Airport to Muan. The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Secretary's Office within the presidential office will serve as the TF coordinator, with participation from the National Defense Secretary's Office, the Local Autonomy and Development Secretary's Office, and the Public Conflict Coordination Secretary's Office.
Kang Yoojeong, spokesperson for the presidential office, announced at a briefing held at the Yongsan presidential office in the afternoon that "Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik presided over a senior aides meeting, and the plan to form a TF for the relocation of the Gwangju military airport, which President Lee Jaemyung mentioned yesterday, was reported."
Kang further stated, "The formation of a TF within the presidential office is intended to resolve distrust among local governments regarding the relocation of the Gwangju military airport and to expedite the process." She added, "The TF will decide on the formation of a six-party consultative body, which will include the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Gwangju City, South Jeolla Province, and Muan County, as well as determine the lead agency." She noted that, if necessary, residents and external experts could also be included in the consultative body, and the presidential office itself would participate.
The TF plans to estimate costs and review the roles of each institution related to the airport relocation. Kang explained, "Going forward, the TF will estimate costs related to the relocation of the military airport, review the efficient allocation of airport facilities, national financial support, analysis of noise damage, and examine the roles of each institution regarding the relocation plan."
Regarding the possibility of forming similar TFs, she said, "For complex issues like this one, which has persisted for over ten years, formats such as town hall meetings will continue, and if, after directly hearing public grievances, it is deemed that the presidential office's involvement is needed to resolve social conflicts, there is a possibility that additional TFs may be established."
The previous day, President Lee held a 'Gwangju Citizens and South Jeolla Residents Town Hall Meeting' to hear the positions of stakeholders regarding the airport relocation issue. Afterward, he stated, "The government will take the lead," and instructed the formation of a six-party TF involving the presidential office, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, residents, and external experts.
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