Gwangju Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Concrete Six-Party Agreement on Military Airport Relocation, Urges National-Level Implementation

On the 17th, after the joint announcement of the six-party consultative body related to the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport at Gwangju Urban Corporation, a commemorative photo was taken. Photo by Song Bohyun

The Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged the stable promotion of the integrated relocation of Gwangju’s civilian and military airports as a national policy task, during the six-party task force consultative body on the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport, which was hosted by the Presidential Office and attended by the government, Gwangju City, South Jeolla Province, and Muan County.

On the 17th, the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement, saying, "It is significant that a concrete direction has been established for the solution to the Gwangju Military Airport relocation issue, which has been stalled for 18 years and long demanded by the local community. The fact that the central government and local governments have created a framework for discussion and formed a consensus based on implementation will serve as a practical turning point for the future progress of the project."

They further stated, "Since Gwangju Military Airport is a facility established and operated for national security purposes, its relocation should also be pursued under national-level judgment and responsibility. We hope that this agreement will serve as an opportunity for the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport to be stably promoted as a national policy task, beyond being a local burden."

They continued, "Through the revision of the special law, sufficient institutional measures must be put in place to ensure that the relocation project does not impose an excessive financial burden on Gwangju Metropolitan City. The special law should clearly specify the basis and scope of national financial support so that the state can responsibly provide funding within the scope of the national budget."

Additionally, they stated, "The former site, which will be secured through the relocation of the Gwangju civilian and military airports and is approximately 2.48 million pyeong in size, is a strategic asset that will determine the future growth direction of Gwangju. We hope that this space will not be limited to simple development, but will be established as an industrial hub that creates quality jobs, enabling local youth to settle stably in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province without having to leave the region."