The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport building. [Herald Business DB]
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport building. [Herald Business DB]

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Tuesday it has designated an area of approximately 3.47 square kilometers in Hyeongyeong-myeon, Muan-gun, in the South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Integrated City — hereafter referred to as South Jeolla-Gwangju City — as the candidate site for the Muan National Industrial Complex, following deliberation and approval by the Industrial Location Policy Deliberation Committee.

The designation follows up on the "swift designation of the Muan National Industrial Complex" announced Dec. 17, 2025, as part of a six-party consultative body on the relocation of the Gwangju military airport. At the request of South Jeolla-Gwangju City, the Industrial Location Policy Deliberation Committee — composed of related ministries and private experts — reviewed the project's necessity, site suitability and regional balanced-development effects before confirming the site as a candidate.

Under the Industrial Sites and Development Act, the mayor of the integrated special city may designate a target area and request that the land minister designate it as a national industrial complex, when the mayor deems such a designation necessary.

"The designation of the Muan National Industrial Complex candidate site has laid the groundwork for creating an industrial hub that will drive new growth in the Honam region," the ministry said.

South Jeolla-Gwangju City and Muan-gun plan to attract businesses and secure actual demand centered on regional strategic industries while fleshing out follow-up procedures.

The ministry said it will work closely with local governments and relevant agencies in drawing up the industrial complex plan, and will push ahead to complete the second phase of the Honam High-Speed Railway — including a station at Muan International Airport — by 2027. Through that effort, it aims to develop Muan International Airport and its rail connections into an integrated logistics and industrial hub.


hss@heraldcorp.com