Muan tapped as preliminary candidate site for Gwangju military airport relocation

▲ A briefing session for local residents over a military airport relocation project takes place in the southwestern county of Muan on April 1, 2026. (Yonhap)

military airport-relocation

Muan tapped as preliminary candidate site for Gwangju military airport relocation

SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Thursday it has selected the southwestern county of Muan as a preliminary candidate site for the relocation of a military airport in nearby Gwangju, paving the way for the long-stalled project to move forward.

The move came after President Lee Jae Myung in June last year called for a task force to address ongoing disputes over the relocation of the airport in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, to Muan.

As part of efforts, the defense minister has held consultations with relevant municipal organizations. Earlier this week, the ministry held a briefing session in Muan to explain to residents the relocation plan and relevant support measures.

The ministry plans to choose the final site for the relocation through a special committee. The decision will be finalized through the county's official proposal to host the military airport and a vote by local residents.

Established in 1964, the military airport has become a longstanding source of complaints from local residents due to noise from fighter jets as Gwangju has expanded into a city of approximately 1.4 million people.

A special law passed in 2023 laid the legal foundation for relocating the airport to a less populated area. However, residents of the proposed sites, including Muan, have voiced opposition due to concerns over noise and the environmental impact.

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