[Exclusive] Imminent Announcement of 7th Airport Development Plan ... Regional Politics Accelerating
As the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conducts final reviews targeting the announcement of the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan in the second half of this year, regional political movements surrounding Gyeonggi International Airport and the relocation of Suwon Military Airport are expected to accelerate.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 13th, the public hearing to disclose whether Gyeonggi International Airport will be reflected in the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for as early as September. Under Article 3 of the Airport Facilities Act, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport establishes an airport development comprehensive plan every five years containing aviation demand forecasts, regional airport development plans, required investments, and funding methods. If it is not reflected this time, stakeholders would have to wait another five years.
An official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said, "Internal review matters continue to be added, so the schedule is delayed from the original plan (first half announcement), but we are aiming to announce in the second half," and "Regarding whether Gyeonggi International Airport will be reflected, we are still in the internal review stage, so public disclosure is difficult. We plan to disclose during the public hearing and consultation processes with related agencies. We are aware of the demands being made by the region."
Regional political circles continue to engage with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and others to ensure that Gyeonggi International Airport construction is reflected in this 7th plan.
Gyeonggi Province submitted a business proposal to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for reflecting Gyeonggi International Airport in the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan. A Gyeonggi Province official said, "Around March 2025, we submitted Gyeonggi Province's business proposal to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport requesting it be reflected in the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan and are waiting," and "We have also visited Ministry officials for meetings."
However, the decision on whether to resume the 'Gyeonggi International Airport Candidate Site Analysis and Hinterland Development Strategy Research Project' that Gyeonggi Province suspended remains undetermined. A Gyeonggi Province official said, "After comprehensively reviewing financial conditions and policy directions, it seems we will decide whether to resume," and "Currently, Governor Choo Mi-ae is also in the process of understanding the tasks, so there are no separate remarks."
Suwon City is engaging with local members of the National Assembly, government, and Gyeonggi Province. In particular, it is coordinating with local members of the National Assembly. A Suwon City official said, "We are joining forces with local members of the National Assembly to reflect Gyeonggi International Airport in the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan," and "We are continuing related activities including government-party policy forums and submission of recommendations to the Defense Ministry."
Suwon is requesting Gyeonggi Province to support engagement with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and play a mediating role in resolving conflicts between Suwon and Hwaseong. A Suwon City official said, "We are asking Gyeonggi Province to play a mediating role so that Hwaseong City can engage in dialogue," and "Suwon Military Airport relocation is not just a Suwon issue but should be pursued as a national initiative."
The city continues to request that the central government address military airport relocation as a national-level task. A Suwon City official said, "When we met with the Defense Minister last October, we visited together with members of the National Assembly and the mayor, and we continue to contact him thereafter," and "We continue to propose to the Presidential Coordination Office that (military airport relocation) is something that should be done at the national level, not just a Suwon issue."
As the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's plan confirmation approaches, the role of local members of the National Assembly is also attracting attention. Five members of the National Assembly from Suwon held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall in March and stated, "We urge the inclusion of construction plans with final candidate sites in the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan to immediately promote the construction of Gyeonggi International Airport."
At that time, the members argued that while Gyeonggi Province organized the Gyeonggi International Airport Promotion Task Force, final candidate site selection and an implementation roadmap have not been presented, saying "Final candidate sites must be identified by May for plan reflection to be possible."
Among these, particular attention is being paid to the roles of members Baek Hye-ryun (Democratic Party, Suwon B) and Yeom Tae-young (Democratic Party, Suwon C), who have Suwon Military Airport in their constituencies. Suwon Military Airport grounds are mainly located in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, and the issues of airport relocation and post-facility land utilization are connected to these two members' local constituency concerns.
Member Baek has initiated institutional improvements through legislation. In June 2024, Member Baek sponsored a "Special Act for the Relocation of Suwon Military Airport and Construction of Integrated International Airport in Southern Gyeonggi." Members Kim Seung-won (Democratic Party, Suwon A), Kim Young-jin (Democratic Party, Suwon B), Kim Jun-hyuk (Democratic Party, Suwon C), and Yeom Tae-young from the Suwon region also participated as co-sponsors to contribute their full efforts.
The bill contains provisions for establishing the Gyeonggi Southern Integrated International Airport as a comprehensive airport focused on passengers and logistics by linking Suwon Military Airport relocation with civilian airport construction. It also includes special provisions allowing the state to subsidize or finance project costs and, if necessary, waive preliminary feasibility studies.
The bill is currently pending in the National Assembly.
Member Yeom, assigned to the Standing Committee on Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the second half of the National Assembly, is placing emphasis on reflecting in the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan. Member Yeom said, "The goal is to include in the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan the need for a second international airport in the Seoul metropolitan area to handle air logistics," and "We continue to urge and monitor through standing committee activities."
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry recently signed a research contract with the Korean Conflict Management Academic Society to address military airport relocation conflicts in the Suwon and Hwaseong regions. Through the research project, the Defense Ministry plans to analyze Hwaseong City's reasons for opposing relocation, civil-administrative-military interests, and conflict issues, and review incentives and agreement procedures to present to relocation areas. A residents' opinion survey, interviews, public hearings, and briefing sessions are also planned.
However, there are concerns that since the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is targeting the announcement of the 7th Airport Development Comprehensive Plan in the second half of this year, matters related to Suwon Military Airport relocation may not be included in this 7th plan.
A regional political circles official said, "The government's direct involvement in conflicts related to Suwon Military Airport can be evaluated as very encouraging," while adding "Even if Gyeonggi International Airport is not included in the airport development comprehensive plan, wouldn't there also be ways for the Defense Ministry itself to relocate Suwon Military Airport as its own project?"