Kim San: "Will Join Five-Party Consultative Body on Military Airport"... Negotiations for Muan Relocation Accelerate

Min Hyung-bae and San Kim Hold Closed-Door Meeting on August 8

Consensus Reached on Three Key Preconditions

Cooperation for Semiconductor Cluster Discussed

The discussion on relocating the Gwangju Military Airport to Muan, which had been at a standstill, is entering a new phase. Former Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Metropolitan City Mayor Min Hyung-bae and San Kim, Governor of Muan County, recently held a closed-door meeting, where they reached significant consensus regarding the military airport relocation and Muan's three key preconditions. Subsequently, Muan County has officially stated its intention to participate actively in the forthcoming five-party consultative body.

According to Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Metropolitan City on August 9, Mayor Min and Governor Kim met privately at a restaurant in Muan on the afternoon of August 8, where they discussed major local issues, including the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport, the reopening of Muan International Airport, and the establishment of a southwestern semiconductor cluster.

Former Mayor Min Hyung-bae of Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City recently inspecting the Air Force ammunition depot site near Gwangju Military Airport. Photo by Yonhap News

Notably, the two officials exchanged views regarding Muan County’s “three key preconditions,” which have been the main point of contention in the debate over the relocation of the military airport.

Muan County has consistently demanded, as a prerequisite for providing a relocation site in the Muan area, the following: the priority relocation of Gwangju Civil Airport to Muan International Airport; financial support of 1 trillion won; and the presentation of groundbreaking incentives such as the establishment of a national industrial complex, along with a concrete roadmap.

It is reported that, during this meeting, Mayor Min and Governor Kim confirmed that they have no significant disagreements in principle regarding the timing, scale, and pace of these matters.

Above all, with Governor Kim expressing his active willingness for Muan County to participate in the forthcoming five-party consultative body for the military airport relocation, attention is now focused on whether negotiations will move into a more formal phase.

Until now, Muan County has maintained the position that it requires concrete implementation plans for the three key preconditions before it can proceed with discussions on relocating the military airport. Accordingly, there is an increased likelihood that, following this meeting, working-level talks between Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Metropolitan City and Muan County will gain momentum.

Kim San, County Governor of Muan. Provided by Muan County

The issue of relocating the military airport is also closely tied to the establishment of the southwestern semiconductor cluster.

Mayor Min and Governor Kim have agreed to cooperate for both the resolution of the military airport relocation and the successful development of the semiconductor cluster.

San Kim, Governor of Muan County, stated, “We wholeheartedly welcome the construction of a national-scale semiconductor fab, which will dramatically advance our region. We will also actively participate in the five-party consultative body for the military airport relocation to achieve both the requests of Muan County and mutual benefit with national projects.”

Min Hyung-bae, Mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Metropolitan City, said, “It is necessary to promote both the southwestern semiconductor cluster project and the military airport relocation in parallel, and I intend to continue meeting regularly to seek solutions that benefit everyone.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.