Mareuk-dong Ammunition Depot Relocation Under Review... Shim Cheolui: "Government Must Prepare an Alternative"

Semiconductor Fab Site Selection Makes Changes to Existing Plan Inevitable
Calls for Relocation Alongside Military Airport and Measures to Protect Residents' Property Rights

As the relocation of the ammunition depot in Mareuk-dong, Gwangju, which has received 269.9 billion won of the total project cost of 326.2 billion won, faces a complete review due to plans to build a semiconductor fab, local political figures have called on the government to develop an alternative plan and measures to protect residents' property rights.

Shim Cheol-ui of the Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Seo-gu 4) urged fundamental measures to relocate the Mareuk-dong ammunition depot together with the military airport at the earliest possible date in a five-minute free speech at the plenary session marking the close of the fourth extraordinary session on October 23. He also said that if the relocation is delayed, restrictions on residents' land use should first be eased by lifting or reducing the military installation protection zone.

Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Council member Sim Cheolui. Provided by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Council.

The Mareuk-dong ammunition depot relocation project has been underway since the Ministry of National Defense approved the relocation in 2005. This year, the project was set to resume after securing 5 billion won in national funding. However, after the area around Gwangju Military Airport was selected in July as a site for a semiconductor fab, the existing relocation plan now requires a complete review. One option being discussed is to keep the ammunition depot at its current location until the Muan military airport relocation in 2033.

As a result, concerns are growing that the relocation of the ammunition depot, a long-standing hope of residents, could once again be delayed for a prolonged period.

While welcoming the construction of the semiconductor fab, Shim said, "The burden of changing plans to advance a national strategic project must not be imposed on residents." He said residents who had sacrificed for national security for more than 50 years should not be told to wait again.

Shim said, "A change to a national project cannot mean that promises made to residents disappear," adding, "The government must take responsibility for drawing up a revised plan to replace the existing one."

He said that if the combat wing is dispersed, plans should also be made to relocate the ammunition depot. He added that if immediate relocation is difficult, regulations affecting residents' livelihoods should be reviewed first. He also proposed actively considering lifting or reducing the military installation protection zone and easing unreasonable restrictions on construction and development.

He also called for active consultations with the Ministry of National Defense to allow land use for purposes such as small-scale commercial facilities and parking lots.

Shim stressed, "The construction of a semiconductor fab and the relocation of the ammunition depot should not be treated as an either-or choice," adding, "The government, the Ministry of National Defense, and the integrated special metropolitan city must promptly develop measures to relocate the military airport and ammunition depot together."

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