[Anchor]

Now that it has been decided that a large-scale semiconductor industrial complex will be built on the site of the Gwangju military airbase, the remaining challenge is the speed of the project. The relocation of the stationed Air Force wing and the issue of the ammunition depot, which was planned to be moved near the military airport, have emerged as key points of contention.

Reported by Kim Soo-young.

[Reporter]

For the early construction of the Honam semiconductor base, the swift relocation of the Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing, currently stationed at the Gwangju military airbase, is essential.

Because a temporary relocation is inevitable before the completion of the replacement airport, there are concerns about a potential security vacuum during this period.

[Jung Bit-na / Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense: We plan to review various measures to vacate the site as quickly as possible within a range that does not cause a security vacuum.]

Within the military, there is an assessment that because the wing primarily conducts pilot training, the military burden is relatively lower, and a plan to temporarily relocate to another military airport in the Chungcheong region is being considered.

The government, which had planned to announce the Muan Airport area as the replacement military airport site this coming November, has stated that it intends to move up that timeline.

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City also emphasizes speed.

They suggest that construction of the semiconductor base could begin even before the military airport is fully relocated.

[Min Hyung-bae / Mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City (the day before yesterday): I understand that the relevant authorities are preparing measures to allow the use of the site even if a direct relocation does not happen immediately.]

However, as the Special Act on the Relocation of Military Airports requires a referendum among residents of the candidate site, the approval or opposition of Muan residents remains a variable.

The Air Force ammunition depot, which was planned to be moved near the Gwangju military airbase, is also a problem.

The Ministry of National Defense and Gwangju Metropolitan City have been pushing for a project to move the ammunition depot located in the Mareuk-dong area of Seo-gu, Gwangju, to the vicinity of the Gwangju military airbase since 2005. However, since the planned relocation site for the ammunition depot is also slated to be used for the construction of the semiconductor base, the relocation has effectively been halted.

With over 260 billion won already invested and the purchase and leveling of the new ammunition depot site mostly completed, some point out that the budget has effectively been wasted. The Ministry of National Defense maintains that even if the land is used for other purposes, the value of the land and the infrastructure work already completed can still be recognized.

(Reported by Kim Hyun-sang | Video by Jeon Min-gyu | Graphics by Hwang Se-yeon)