The Muan International Airport Activation Committee has urged the government to disclose the results of runway safety inspections and to provide a clear roadmap for the airport's reopening, amid concerns that the reopening could be delayed for an extended period due to safety issues.
On the morning of September 11, the committee held a protest in front of the Muan County Office, stating, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Airports Corporation must provide accurate information regarding the safety issues of Muan International Airport's runway and present a timeline for normalization to the local community."
Recently, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed durability issues with the runway surface during inspections and is conducting additional safety checks with the involvement of specialized agencies. Based on the inspection results, the ministry plans to establish a repair plan and subsequent measures.
As discussions arise about the possibility of temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport, local opposition is growing, particularly as forecasts suggest that the reopening of Muan Airport may be significantly delayed.
In their statement, the committee questioned whether sufficient inspections and maintenance had been conducted during the prolonged closure of the airport, rather than focusing solely on the runway safety issues.
They stated, "There was time to inspect and maintain the runway during the operational suspension, yet now, as discussions about reopening are underway, concerns about the need for extensive repairs have emerged." They demanded transparency regarding the processes and results of previous runway inspections and management.
The committee specifically called for the release of annual runway Pavement Condition Index (PCI) data and recent safety inspection results, asserting that immediate repairs should commence, potentially involving independent experts for objective verification.
The committee also expressed strong opposition to the consideration of temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport.
They stated, "The discussion of resuming international flights at Gwangju Airport, 18 years after they were moved to Muan Airport in 2008, could exacerbate local distrust in the normalization policies for Muan Airport."
They emphasized that rather than establishing separate facilities for temporary international flights, resources and administrative efforts should be focused on restoring safety facilities and repairing the runway at Muan Airport.
However, it should be noted that the temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport are still under consideration by the government and have not been finalized. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has also stated that a final safety assessment for Muan Airport's runway has not yet been made, and they will develop repair plans and subsequent measures based on the inspection results.
The committee highlighted that the prolonged closure of Muan Airport is impacting local businesses, tourism, and logistics, urging the government to promptly present a comprehensive roadmap for the full reopening of Muan International Airport, including schedules for safety facility restoration and runway repairs.
They also linked the issue of relocating the military airport in Gwangju to the normalization of Muan Airport.
The committee stated, "Without the normalization of Muan Airport, there can be no progress on the military airport relocation referendum," and warned that they would oppose any discussions or referendums related to the military airport relocation if the government does not present a clear plan for the normalization of the airport.
They also indicated that if their demands are not met, they would consider legal action against officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Airports Corporation, as well as collective actions such as protests in the capital.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is currently conducting additional safety inspections after confirming durability issues with the runway surface at Muan International Airport. The ministry plans to disclose detailed information and subsequent procedures after a safety assessment is made following reviews by specialized agencies, and they maintain that the temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport are still under consideration but have not been confirmed as of now.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.