(URGENT) Gov't finalizes Muan County area as site for Gwangju air base relocation

On August 28, the South Korean government's selection committee announced its decision to designate Muan County as the site for relocating the Gwangju Air Base from the neighboring city of Gwangju. The move clears the way for a rapid build-out of a major semiconductor and artificial intelligence cluster in the region, valued at 800 trillion won (US$582.9 billion), with key contributions from Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. The committee, headed by the defense ministry, finalized the designation after a meeting with municipal officials.

This decision comes after the Gwangju Air Base was selected as the candidate site for relocation in April. The base, which currently shares runways with a civilian airport, has faced opposition from Muan residents due to concerns over noise pollution and safety risks. With Friday's decision, the government will establish a joint commission with municipal governments to proceed with the relocation plan, including creating a 1 trillion won-plus comprehensive support package for the development of Muan County.

The 1st Fighter Wing, responsible for key flight training, will temporarily relocate to bases in North Gyeongsang, North Chungcheong, and South Chungcheong provinces. While the government aims to complete the new Muan air base by late 2032, concerns remain about dispersing military units and their functions across temporary locations.

Temporary facilities for pilots and maintenance personnel will lack ballistic missile shielding and chemical and biological protection, according to a local media outlet. The defense ministry stated that the temporary setup maximizes the use of existing infrastructure while building new structures only when necessary. The relocation also involves consultations with the U.S. military, which currently shares the Gwangju Air Base under a bilateral Status of Forces Agreement.