Airport Noise Damage Response Authority Discussion to Elevate to Metropolitan and National Level

Gyeonggi Province Councilor Park Sang-hyun (Democratic Party, Bucheon District 2) announced on the 20th that he held a meeting on airport noise damage mitigation measures with Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Councilor Kim Hwang-guk and Seoul Metropolitan Council Councilors Ok Dong-jun and Lee Gwang-hui at the Seoul Metropolitan Airport Noise Response Resident Support Center, agreeing to jointly pursue related legal amendments.

At the meeting, participants identified as problematic the lack of legal grounds for establishing metropolitan and basic-level noise support centers in multiple local governments, including Gyeonggi Province. They noted that the current law designates noise support center operations only as a "basic administrative function," allowing metropolitan local governments to shirk responsibility. Participants agreed that adding "metropolitan and basic administrative functions" to the law could establish the necessary grounds.

Funding issues were also discussed. Currently, approximately 50 billion won annually is raised through landing fees and noise charges, but statutory noise mitigation projects alone require 17-20 billion won annually in additional funding. In response, alternatives were proposed including differentiating noise charges based on noise generation by aircraft type, and applying fund-raising methods used for other nuisance facilities such as coal-fired power plants to airports as well.

Councilor Park Sang-hyun emphasized, "Although airports cause noise damage to nearby residents, the grounds for raising funds are insufficient compared to other nuisance facilities. Fund-raising methods such as local resource facility tax or those stipulated in special legislation should be applied to airport noise mitigation."

Participants also mentioned limitations of responses at the basic local government level, citing the case of Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. They noted that policy consistency is disrupted every time a district chief changes, and equity issues arise with regions suffering greater actual damage being neglected in support provision. Accordingly, participants reached a consensus that airport noise response should be elevated to national or metropolitan administrative functions.

Additionally, participants agreed to prepare a draft legal amendment and share it with parliamentary offices of relevant regional areas including Gyeonggi, Seoul, and Jeju for review, and to hold a policy discussion forum in the National Assembly around January 2027 to involve officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Regional Aviation Administration, and airport corporations, as well as district representatives.

Councilor Park Sang-hyun stated, "Airport noise is not merely a problem for the specific region where the airport is located but an issue directly connected to the nation's aviation policy, so support for affected residents should also be approached from the perspective of national responsibility. I will actively work to improve laws, secure funding, and establish support systems so that local residents can receive substantive assistance."