The Muan County Council has called for the swift normalization of Muan International Airport, which has been closed for an extended period, urging the government and related agencies to establish a specific reopening schedule and recovery measures for the local economy.
During the 7th plenary session of the 310th extraordinary meeting on August 3, council member Yang Yeong-bok read a statement urging the reopening of Muan International Airport, describing it as a key infrastructure that supports the local economy and tourism industry in Jeollanam-do and Gwangju. He noted that the prolonged closure has severely impacted local businesses and the tourism and travel sectors, infringing on residents' right to air travel.
The council referenced a study by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which found that 61.8% of residents and small business owners in affected areas have felt the impact of the economic downturn, with estimated losses in the travel industry reaching 28.2 billion won. They emphasized that the government must move beyond mere investigation and review.
Furthermore, the statement highlighted that a special law for compensation and support for the victims of the December 29 air disaster mandates the national and local governments to establish and implement comprehensive measures to support affected areas and prevent future incidents. The council urged the government to fulfill its obligations under this law and to implement effective recovery measures that residents and the tourism and travel sectors can feel.
The council also pointed out that despite the prolonged suspension of operations at Muan International Airport, the government has yet to provide criteria or a timeline for reopening. They demanded that the government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expedite the necessary administrative procedures and immediately disclose the timeline and phased implementation plan for reopening.
Additionally, the council referenced a recent directive from the President during a national tourism strategy meeting, urging swift discussions on the reopening of Muan International Airport. They stressed that relevant departments must not let the President's directive remain just words and must quickly finalize and implement a responsible reopening plan.
The council also emphasized that the government and the integrated special city of Gwangju should not delay the prior relocation of Gwangju's civilian airport to Muan International Airport any longer.
The council stated, "The prior relocation of Gwangju's civilian airport to Muan International Airport is essential for developing Muan International Airport as a central hub for aviation, logistics, and industry in the southwestern region and achieving mutual development for Jeollanam-do and Gwangju." They argued that to secure the competitiveness of the semiconductor cluster to be established on the site of the Gwangju military airport, it is necessary to build a comprehensive transportation and logistics network connecting aviation, rail, and ports centered around Muan International Airport.
On this day, the Muan County Council officially urged the government and related agencies to expedite the administrative procedures for reopening, disclose specific criteria and timelines for reopening, implement immediate support and recovery measures for affected areas as mandated by the special law, and fulfill the prior relocation of Gwangju's civilian airport along with plans to expand international routes and enhance air logistics capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Muan County Council has been actively responding to issues related to the normalization of Muan International Airport and local development, having previously issued a statement last month demanding a concrete roadmap for the implementation of the three preconditions promised by the government and the integrated special city of Gwangju regarding the relocation of Gwangju's military airport.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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