President Lee orders faster Gwangju military airport relocation

President Lee Jae-myung has ordered an acceleration of the Gwangju military airport relocation process, stating that the current projected completion date of mid-2028 is too late. During the third public-private joint inspection meeting for mega-projects, the President emphasized that the relocation is a critical foundation for establishing the Honam region's advanced semiconductor industrial complex. He suggested that extraordinary measures, including potential amendments to laws and regulations, should be considered to expedite the timeline.

In addition to the airport relocation, the government announced plans to expand the power grid capacity in the Honam region to support growing energy demands from AI and semiconductor industries. The transmission capacity is set to increase from 37GW to 64GW by 2030. This initiative aims to resolve grid bottlenecks and expand the acceptance of renewable energy, which has previously faced connection constraints due to system saturation.

The administration is also focusing on improving living conditions for workers and residents in these industrial zones. This includes providing infrastructure for families, educational and training opportunities for local youth, and ensuring that the benefits of high-tech industrial growth are distributed throughout the region.