[Anchor]

New semiconductor plants for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will be built on the site of the Gwangju Military Airport. With the location decided, the remaining challenge is speed. The relocation of the 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.

Reporter Kim Soo-young reports.

[Reporter]

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

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

[Jeong Bit-na / Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense: We plan to examine various ways 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 the burden is relatively lower since the wing primarily conducts pilot training, and a temporary relocation to another military airport in the Chungcheong region is being considered.

The government, which had planned to announce the area around Muan Airport as the replacement military airport site this coming November, has stated its intention to move that timeline forward.

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated City is also emphasizing 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 City (yesterday): I understand that the relevant authorities are preparing measures to allow the use of the site, even if it is not a direct relocation right away.]

However, as a referendum of residents in the candidate site is mandatory under the Special Act on the Relocation of Military Airports, the approval or disapproval of Muan residents remains a variable.

The Air Force ammunition depot, which was planned to be moved near the Gwangju Military Airport, is also an issue.

The Ministry of National Defense and Gwangju City have been pursuing a project since 2005 to move the ammunition depot located in Mareuk-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, to the vicinity of the Gwangju Military Airport. However, as the planned relocation site for the 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 most of the land acquisition and leveling work for the new ammunition depot site completed, there is criticism 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.

(Video reporting: Kim Hyun-sang, Video editing: Jeon Min-gyu, Design: Hwang Se-yeon)