Lawmakers, Provincial and City Leaders from Sacheon and Jinju
Over 160 Participants Including Experts, Agencies, and Local Residents
Exploring Strategies for Sacheon Airport Expansion and International Upgrade
Seeking Solutions at the National Assembly
On September 2, Assemblyman Seo Chunho, the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Government, and Sacheon City announced that they held a policy forum titled "Policy Forum for the Promotion and Expansion of Sacheon International Airport as the Gateway to Aerospace" at the 2nd Small Conference Room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building.
The forum, hosted by Assemblyman Seo Chunho and co-organized by Gyeongsangnam-do and Sacheon City, was attended by 20 key figures including Assemblyman Kwon Youngjin (Secretary of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee), Sacheon Mayor Park Dongsik, Gyeongsangnam-do Vice Governor Park Myunggyun, Jinju Deputy Mayor Cha Seokho, and other major officials. They voiced their support for the need to upgrade Sacheon Airport to international status and the importance of its inclusion in national plans.
The forum was chaired by Lee Heonsu, Professor Emeritus at Korea Aerospace University. Presentations included: ▲ Kim Hanyong, Advisor to the Korean Airport Society, who spoke on "Strategies for Functional Reorganization to Achieve International Airport Status," and ▲ Ko Gyesung, Professor at the Department of Tourism at Kyungnam University, who addressed "The Role of Tourism in Revitalizing Sacheon Airport."
In-depth discussions followed, featuring Park Jinseo, Director at the Korea Transport Institute; Kim Woongi, President of the Korean Society for Air Traffic; Yoon Changsool, Professor at Gyeongsang National University; Kim Unjong, Director at Korea Airports Corporation; and Park Sungjoon, Director of Transportation and Construction at Gyeongsangnam-do.
During the discussion, participants emphasized that "Sacheon Airport serves as a hub for the aerospace industry and as a key gateway connecting tourism and industrial logistics along the southern coast. Upgrading it to international status is not merely an expansion of infrastructure, but a symbolic project for balanced national development and the cultivation of strategic industries."
It was also highlighted that, in conjunction with the establishment of the Korea Aerospace Administration, the creation of an aerospace complex city, and the growth of the aviation MRO industry, Sacheon Airport has the potential to grow beyond a domestic airport into an international aerospace hub.
Experts particularly pointed out that any further delay in upgrading Sacheon Airport could result in national losses in terms of balanced regional development and national competitiveness. They agreed that continued reliance on airports in the Seoul metropolitan area, such as Incheon Airport, would inevitably limit the future growth drivers of local industries, and that the integrated development of aerospace, logistics, and tourism through Sacheon Airport is urgently needed.
Additionally, with the recent creation of the Tongyeong Integrated Marine Leisure Tourism City and the opening of the Namhae "Sol Beach" Resort, large-scale tourism infrastructure has rapidly increased, driving a surge in tourism demand along the southern coast. As a result, there is an outlook that Sacheon Airport will establish itself as a central axis for enhancing the economic and tourism competitiveness of the entire southern coastal region.
In March, Gyeongsangnam-do submitted a proposal for the phased expansion of Sacheon Airport to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and is working to have it included in the 7th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan (2026-2030).
The proposal includes: ▲ Phase 1, expansion of the passenger terminal and introduction of CIQ (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine) facilities; ▲ Phase 2, construction of a new terminal, expansion of taxiways and aprons, and creation of parking lots; ▲ Phase 3, expansion of passenger and cargo terminals and extension of the runway to complete the airport's function as an international and logistics hub.
Since July, a province-wide signature campaign has been underway to promote the development of Gyeongnam as an aerospace hub airport, raising public awareness of the need for the expansion and international status of Sacheon Airport. Efforts are also being made to lay practical foundations, such as agreements for new routes by small airlines.
In his opening remarks, Assemblyman Seo Chunho, who hosted the forum, stated, "Sacheon Airport is not just a regional airport, but should be developed as a national strategic airport in connection with the Korea Aerospace Administration. The upgrade to international status and expansion project is a core infrastructure initiative to support Korea's aerospace industry, and we will focus all our efforts to ensure its inclusion in the 7th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan at the end of the year."
Sacheon Mayor Park Dongsik added, "Sacheon is the center of the national aviation industry, with the opening of the Korea Aerospace Administration, the concentration of the aerospace industry, and the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries. Now is the time for Sacheon's air gateway to become an international gateway airport that drives Korea's growth engine."
Gyeongsangnam-do Vice Governor Park Myunggyun emphasized, "Sacheon Airport is a national strategic hub connecting 'Gyeongnam, the capital of the aerospace industry,' and 'the center of tourism on the southern coast.' Now is the time for a national decision to elevate it to an international aerospace hub airport."
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