Sacheon City to Hold Policy Forum on Promotion and Expansion of Sacheon International Airport

Exploring Strategies for the Expansion and International Upgrade of Sacheon Airport

Sacheon City in South Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongsangnam-do, and the Aerospace Industry Development Forum will hold a policy discussion titled "Policy Forum for the Promotion and Expansion of Sacheon International Airport as an Aerospace Hub" on September 1 at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Room 2.

This forum has been organized to explore measures for expanding Sacheon Airport and upgrading it to international airport status, in connection with the opening of the Korea Aerospace Administration, the creation of the Aerospace Industrial Complex in Sacheon District, and the development of the aviation MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) industry.

In particular, the event will address changes in transportation and logistics environments, such as the expected increase in passenger and cargo volume in western Gyeongnam following the opening of the Namhae-Yeosu undersea tunnel, and will discuss strategies for expanding airport infrastructure and achieving balanced regional development.

Aerial view of Sacheon Airport.

The event will begin with an opening address by National Assemblyman Seo Cheonho, followed by welcoming remarks from Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongsangnam-do and Mayor Park Dongsik of Sacheon, as well as congratulatory speeches from other members of the National Assembly.

For the keynote presentations, Kim Hanyong, advisor to the Korean Society of Engineering, and Ko Gyesung, professor at the Department of Tourism at Kyungnam University, will discuss the necessity and expected benefits of upgrading Sacheon to an international airport.

This will be followed by a comprehensive panel discussion featuring Park Jinseo, Director of the Aviation and Space Transportation Research Division at the Korea Transport Institute; Park Sungjun, Director of Transportation and Construction at Gyeongsangnam-do; Kim Ongyi, President of the Korean Society for Aviation and Transportation; Yoon Changsool, Professor at Gyeongsang National University; Choi Sungho, Director of the Korea Policy Research Institute; Kim Woonjung, Head of Aviation Sales at the Glocal Business Division of Korea Airports Corporation; and Kang Wonseok, Director of Strategic Planning at the Korea Aerospace Industries Association.

The panel will engage in an in-depth discussion on strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Sacheon International Airport and its long-term development plans.

Mayor Park Dongsik stated, "The expansion and upgrade of Sacheon Airport to international status, coinciding with the opening of the Korea Aerospace Administration, will serve as a crucial opportunity for Sacheon to emerge as a central hub of the national aerospace industry. Through this forum, we aim to establish practical and actionable development strategies."

Approximately 150 experts in the defense, space, and aviation sectors, as well as National Assembly members and related officials, are expected to attend the forum. Based on the outcomes of this discussion, Sacheon City and Gyeongsangnam-do plan to continue consultations with the central government.