Seoul pushes airbase move to fast-track $576 bn chip hub
South Korea's president wants a military airbase in Gwangju relocated by mid-2028 to speed up a $576 billion chip manufacturing cluster.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has asked the defence ministry to relocate a military airbase in the southwestern city of Gwangju by mid-2028, a move aimed at clearing the way for a massive semiconductor manufacturing hub.
Speaking at a meeting with company executives on Monday, Lee suggested the airbase's functions could be temporarily shifted to another facility. The request comes as his administration pushes ahead with plans unveiled in June to invest over $576 billion in new chip fabrication plants in the region, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix set to expand operations.
The proposed site for the cluster spans 8.3 million square metres and was selected last month. Officials cited its existing transport links and the fact that the land had already been levelled as key factors in the choice, according to local news reports.
The relocation of the airbase is seen as a critical step to ensure the project proceeds without delays, as the current military facility occupies land needed for the industrial complex.