Park Chang-seok, a member of the Muan County Council, emphasized the need for the government to establish a specific timeline for the reopening of Muan International Airport, ensuring safety is prioritized. He made these remarks during the second session of the 311th Muan County Council on the morning of September 21.
In his statement, which he read on behalf of the council, Park called for the government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Korea Airports Corporation to develop concrete measures for the airport's normalization.
The statement not only urged for a prompt reopening but also stressed the importance of transparently disclosing the results of detailed safety assessments before establishing an objective safety standard and a specific reopening schedule.
Park reiterated the council's commitment to recognizing the lessons learned from past incidents at Muan International Airport and underscored the critical importance of airport safety.
He also pointed out that the prolonged delay in reopening the airport, without public disclosure of the safety assessment results and the scope of necessary repairs, needs to be addressed swiftly.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, ground subsidence has not been detected in the runway area, with the main issue being the deterioration of the asphalt surface. Minor subsidence observed near some facilities away from the runway is being managed according to safety standards after repairs, the council explained.
In light of this, Park conveyed the council's demand for the government to transparently disclose the results of the detailed safety assessments, including the location and depth of pavement damage, pavement condition index measurements, repair areas, construction methods, and timelines for each phase of the work.
He also raised concerns about the economic impact on the local community due to the prolonged suspension of international flights.
As operational disruptions continue, the tourism industry and small businesses are suffering, and reports of temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport have heightened community concerns about the diminishing role of Muan International Airport.
During his statement, Park made it clear that the reopening of Muan International Airport should not be linked to the relocation of Gwangju's civilian and military airports.
The council is urging the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Airports Corporation to immediately disclose the results of the detailed safety assessments, the pavement condition index, and the verification details from external experts, as well as to present a comprehensive plan that includes the scope of runway repairs, construction methods, timelines, budget, and responsible parties.
Furthermore, they called for the discussions regarding temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport and the relocation of civilian and military airports to be separate from the reopening of Muan International Airport, urging for the normalization of the airport to proceed without delay.
Park Chang-seok, representing the council, stated, "The government must clearly present the safety assessment results, repair plans, and reopening schedule to ensure the prompt reopening of Muan International Airport based on safety."
Through Park's statement, the Muan County Council officially conveyed to the government and relevant agencies that while thorough safety measures must be prioritized, the situation of indefinite delays in reopening cannot be neglected.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.