South Korea, U.S. begin Gwangju base talks

The South Korean government has opened talks with the United States over plans to relocate Gwangju Military Airport, after designating the site for the Honam semiconductor cluster. Because the airport serves as a Combined Operating Base (COB) for the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces, any relocation requires coordination between the allies.

Speaking at a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae's Chunchugwan press center on Friday, presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom said discussions with Washington were already underway.

"Because U.S. forces use part of the military airport, consultations with the United States are naturally required," Kim said. "Those discussions have already begun."

A Defense Ministry official told reporters the ministry would work to ensure the relocation does not weaken military readiness while coordinating closely with the South Korean Air Force and U.S. counterparts.

Gwangju Military Airport is one of South Korea's five Combined Operating Bases. Unlike the permanently staffed U.S. air bases at Osan and Gunsan, a COB is maintained for the rapid deployment of U.S. air assets during a contingency. Under the South Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), portions of the base have been made available for U.S. use, with designated facilities kept ready for emergency operations. As relocation plans move ahead, Seoul and Washington are expected to work through issues including the disposition of U.S.-provided facilities and the base's COB designation.

Maj. Laura Hayden, spokeswoman for the U.S. Seventh Air Force, said Friday that the command "has significant military interests at Gwangju Air Base." She said the Seventh Air Force would continue working closely with the Republic of Korea Air Force "to ensure all requirements are met and to maintain a strong combined defense posture."

U.S. Forces Korea declined to comment on a policy decision still being considered by the South Korean government, but said it "remains committed to maintaining a strong combined defense posture on the Korean Peninsula alongside the Republic of Korea."

Still, the South Korea-U.S. consultations are widely viewed as part of the normal process rather than an unexpected obstacle, since relocating Gwangju Military Airport had already been under review before the government selected the site for the semiconductor cluster. Muan County has been identified as the preliminary relocation site. But after the government decided Monday to build the Honam semiconductor cluster on the existing airfield, pressure is mounting to clear the site sooner than originally planned.

One option under discussion is to move the training operations of the Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing to other bases. Speaking on YTN Radio on Monday, Kim said the government could begin using the site before a new airport is completed in Muan if the Air Force can quickly shift its training missions elsewhere.

"If we work with the Air Force on a plan to disperse the training conducted at Gwangju to other air bases as quickly as possible, we can begin using this site without waiting for the new airport in Muan to be completed," he said.


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