"International Flights at Gwangju Airport Should Be Restored"... Opposition Grows Against Relocation to Muan

Citizens' Council: "Integration and Relocation Will Undermine Growth"
Inaugural General Meeting on the 17th... Pushing to Resume International Flights

There has been a call to revive international flights at Gwangju Airport instead of relocating it to Muan.

The newly formed Gwangju Airport International Flight Revival Citizens' Council (Preparatory Committee) issued a statement on September 9, saying, "The integration and relocation of Gwangju Airport is not the answer for Gwangju, Muan, or the Honam region." The group added, "What is needed now is to restore international flights at Gwangju Airport and to develop Muan Airport as a specialized hub for cargo logistics and aviation education."

Pilots of the 1st Combat Flying Unit in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, are landing after completing aerial training with fighter jets. Provided by the 1st Combat Flying Unit

The group argued, "If the airports are integrated and relocated, the new airport will become a burden. Gwangju will lose its growth engine, and local residents will face greater inconvenience when flying." They also criticized, "It is undemocratic to present the results of a survey-designed to favor integration and relocation-as if public opinion has changed."

The Citizens' Council plans to hold its inaugural general meeting on September 17 and begin full-scale activities. About 20 people, including Lim Hanpil, chief representative of the Gwangsan Citizens' Solidarity, and Kang Suhun, a member of the Gwangju City Council, have joined the initiative. However, Assemblyman Kang stated, "While I support the restoration of international flights at Gwangju Airport, I do not agree with this line of reasoning," and requested to be removed from the list of participants.

Bae Hooncheon, head of the Gwangju Citizens' Council for Attracting a Complex Shopping Mall, who proposed the formation of this group, explained, "Regardless of political parties or organizations, this is a gathering of people who agree with and want to work toward reviving international flights at Gwangju Airport."