Gwangju Air Base Relocation to Muan County Approved by South Korean Government

New Delhi, India Aug 29, 2026 ALN: A South Korean government selection committee has finalized its designation of Muan County as the site for the military air base relocation from the neighboring city of Gwangju. This decision paves the way for the expedited development of a significant semiconductor cluster in the region.

The committee, led by the defense ministry, confirmed Muan County as the new location for the Gwangju Air Base, home to the 1st Fighter Wing, following a meeting with municipal government officials, as stated in a ministry release.

"The final designation of Muan County as the relocation site puts the Gwangju base relocation project into full motion, laying the groundwork for a swift process in cooperation with relevant agencies," the ministry announced.

This latest decision accelerates the government's initiative to construct a vast semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) cluster in Gwangju and surrounding areas, a project valued at 800 trillion won (approximately US$582.9 billion) involving major players like Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.

Muan was selected as the candidate site for the Gwangju Air Base relocation back in April. The air base currently shares runways with a civilian airport, which is expected to relocate to Muan ahead of the military units, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.

However, the proposal has faced opposition from Muan residents, who have raised concerns about noise pollution and safety risks, expressing skepticism regarding government support promises.

With this decision, the government is set to initiate a joint commission with municipal governments to advance the relocation plan, including drafting detailed plans for incentives and support for affected regions.

"While we take swift steps for follow-up procedures, we plan to flesh out the '1 trillion-won-plus' comprehensive support package for the development of Muan County," the ministry stated.

Under the relocation plan, the 1st Fighter Wing, which includes key flight training squadrons, will temporarily relocate its operations to three different bases in North Gyeongsang, North Chungcheong, and South Chungcheong provinces.

Two of the training squadrons utilize T-50 advanced jet trainers for pilot training, while another unit operates the indigenous TA-50 Block-2 light attack aircraft to defend the country's southwestern airspace.

The relocation of the squadrons follows President Lee Jae Myung's directive to swiftly disperse the units' operations to other military bases by mid-2028 to expedite the process.

The government aims to complete the construction of the new Muan air base by late 2032, with key Air Force training units expected to be stationed at temporary facilities for at least the next four years.

However, concerns persist regarding the dispersal of military units and their functions across temporary locations. A local media outlet reported that temporary aircraft hangars at the Chungcheong bases will lack ballistic missile shielding, as indicated in an Air Force document submitted to an opposition lawmaker.

Offices for pilots and maintenance personnel will be constructed in "modular" structures that do not meet chemical and biological protection standards, according to the media report.

The defense ministry stated that the temporary setup will maximize the use of existing infrastructure at the host bases, with new structures to be built only when necessary.

"We are working with the Air Force to minimize disruptions to our defense readiness and pilot training," the ministry emphasized.

In addition to the temporary deployment, the relocation plan also involves consultations with the US military, which shares the Gwangju Air Base.

The air base currently operates as a collocated operating base, allowing the US Air Force to deploy its assets in case of a contingency. The South Korean government has provided land to US forces under the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement.

The defense ministry has indicated that it is collaborating closely with the US Forces Korea (USFK) to ensure the early return of the land provided to the USFK.