Defense ministry vows push for temporary relocation of Gwangju air base operations

Seoul's defense ministry has committed to actively pursuing the temporary relocation of Air Force operations from Gwangju's air base, a move aimed at expediting a significant chip cluster project in the region. This pledge bolsters the government's overarching ambition to establish a sprawling semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) cluster in the southwestern and central parts of the country, a multibillion-dollar endeavor involving Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.

The Gwangju air base, currently the home of the Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing, has been designated as the location for this strategic chip cluster. However, the government's plan to shift the base to the adjacent Muan county has encountered resistance from local authorities and residents. During a recent public-private gathering on the mega chip cluster initiative, President Lee Jae Myung directed the defense ministry to temporarily move Gwangju's military airport operations to a different site in order to accelerate the project.

The ministry affirmed its cooperation with the government's policy to bolster the semiconductor sector's competitiveness while minimizing the potential impact of the temporary relocation on national security and military preparedness. This would entail a comprehensive review and advocacy for a plan to temporarily relocate the airport operations by mid-2028.

The relocation would necessitate consultations with the U.S. military stationed at the base, as it is jointly governed by the air forces of both nations, functioning as a collocated operating base (COB). A COB operates as a shared facility where the U.S. Air Force can deploy assets in times of contingency. The base encompasses land granted to the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) by the South Korean government.

The defense ministry pledged to engage closely with pertinent agencies for consultations with the U.S. side, ensuring an early return of the land provided to USFK. The South Korean Air Force carries out missions at the Gwangju air base, encompassing advanced flight training for fighter pilots and safeguarding the southwestern airspace.

Additionally, the base operates T-50 advanced jet trainers and domestically developed TA-50 light attack aircraft. Military sources indicate consideration for relocating three air squadrons from the 1st Fighter Wing to three other fighter wings in the central Chungcheong region. The Air Force assured that a plan will be formulated to facilitate a timely relocation of the assets from the Gwangju base, ensuring no adverse effects on defense posture and operational readiness.