"Military Airport Temporarily Relocated by Mid-2028"... Semiconductor Blitzkrieg

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung has instructed that the functions of the Gwangju Military Airport, designated as the Honam semiconductor site, be temporarily relocated to another military airport by mid-2028. He called for a "blitzkrieg" that goes beyond speed to ensure it can be utilized as a semiconductor industrial complex at the earliest possible date.

Reporter Park Yerim.

[Reporter]

Presiding over a public-private joint inspection meeting on the three major mega-projects today (August 10), President Lee Jae-myung declared a "blitzkrieg" for the creation of the semiconductor cluster site and its infrastructure.

[President Lee Jae-myung: You must drastically reduce the required time by pursuing related procedures simultaneously and continuously improving regulations to ensure the fastest possible execution.]

Regarding the 800 trillion-won Honam semiconductor cluster, he cited the example of Taiwan's semiconductor firm TSMC building a plant in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in just 22 months, urging swift execution.

In particular, concerning the relocation of the Gwangju Military Airport designated as the cluster site, he gave specific instructions to the Ministry of National Defense.

[President Lee Jae-myung: I would like you to take measures so that the functions of the Gwangju base can be temporarily relocated to another military airport by mid-2028, allowing the Gwangju Military Airport site to be utilized early as a semiconductor industrial complex.]

Since the Gwangju Military Airport is a "ROK-U.S. Combined Operations Base" known as "COB," consultations with U.S. Forces Korea are also essential to accelerate the establishment of the Honam semiconductor cluster.

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official stated, "The U.S. side is also responding positively to the consultations," adding, "We will complete the relocation of military facilities and temporary decentralized deployment by the second half of 2028."

Cheong Wa Dae also announced plans to push for the enactment of the "Mega Special Zone Special Act" within this year to shorten various licensing and approval procedures and rapidly build infrastructure such as electricity and water. Regarding investment plans for Chungcheong and Yeongnam—part of the three major mega-projects—it stated that SK hynix, Samsung Electronics, and others are scheduled to begin construction or expand facilities within this year.

(Video by Jeong Sang-bo, Yoon Hyung | Video Editing by Wi Won-yang | Design by Lee Ga-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.