Following the designation of the Gwangju Military Airport site as the Honam Semiconductor Cluster, the military has decided to temporarily disperse and relocate the functions of the Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing stationed there to the Yecheon, Seosan, and Chungwon air bases.

Meeting with reporters today (August 14), a Ministry of National Defense official stated, "We plan to pursue a temporary relocation utilizing the Yecheon, Seosan, and Chungwon bases, taking into consideration the minimization of operational impacts and the capacity of each base."

The 1st Fighter Wing, often called the "cradle of combat pilots," consists of three squadrons, including two flight training squadrons (the 189th and 216th Flight Training Squadrons) and the 206th Fighter Squadron.

Among them, the two flight training squadrons have operated T-50 advanced trainers and have been tasked with training combat pilots.

The 206th Fighter Squadron operates the domestically produced TA-50 Block 2 light attack aircraft and performs missions defending the airspace over the southwestern region.

It is understood that the existing 1st Fighter Wing forces will be temporarily deployed to two locations—the Yecheon Air Base (16th Fighter Wing) and the Seosan Air Base (20th Fighter Wing)—with some functions of the Yecheon base being transferred to the Chungwon Air Base (19th Fighter Wing) in Chungju.

The two flight training squadrons operating T-50 advanced trainers are expected to gather at the Yecheon base, while the TA-50 assets are expected to move to the Seosan base.

A military official said, "We will execute an optimal base relocation so that there is no impact on training," adding, "We are also reviewing airspace issues to ensure no problems arise, and we will equip the facilities with simulators for flight training to prevent any disruptions."

When asked if there would be a vacuum in pilot training, the official emphasized, "There will be a slight impact, but we plan to supplement flight training and other areas to minimize that impact."

While the area around Muan-gun had already been selected as a preliminary relocation site for the Gwangju Military Airport, the government's decision to establish the Honam-region semiconductor cluster there has created a situation where the site must be vacated faster than originally planned.

President Lee Jae-myung instructed on the 10th to "temporarily relocate the functions of the Gwangju base to other military airports by mid-2028," officially establishing the direction and target timeline to temporarily disperse the 1st Fighter Wing ahead of its move to Muan.

The military plans to begin preparations for the temporary relocation, such as design work, starting this year, and to officially commence construction next year.

Another Ministry of National Defense official stated, "We will need to proceed with preliminary requirements such as administrative procedures as quickly as possible."

Because the completion of Muan Military Airport, the final relocation site, is targeted for 2032, the decentralized deployment system to the Yecheon, Seosan, and Chungwon bases is expected to last for approximately four years.

Meanwhile, Gwangju Air Base is one of five joint ROK-U.S. Air Force operating bases where U.S. military aviation assets deploy in contingencies, requiring consultations with the United States for the base relocation.

It is reported that approximately 520,000 pyeong of land (including areas exclusively and jointly used by the U.S. side) has been granted under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

A Ministry of National Defense official stated, "The U.S. side is also fully aware of this matter and we are engaging in practical discussions with them."

(Photo: Yonhap News)