South Korea is seeking to finalize a comprehensive agreement with the United States by the end of 2026 on plans to relocate jointly used air bases across the country, including facilities in the southwestern city of Gwangju, a source familiar with the matter told Yonhap in a report published on November 2, 2026.
Seoul wants the Gwangju air base and military airport moved as part of an initiative to build a semiconductor cluster in the city and the surrounding region. The two sides have been negotiating since 2021 on principles and procedures for relocating five collocated operating bases, following South Korea's plan to move the military airfield in Daegu. A collocated operating base is one from which the U.S. Air Force can deploy assets in a contingency and includes land the South Korean government provides to U.S. Forces Korea. The other three are in Cheongju, Gimhae and Suwon.
The two sides tentatively agreed on a deal in October 2024 but made little headway afterward, with discussions reportedly stalling over a U.S. draft proposal in November 2025. Working-level talks have since progressed, including on fine-tuning the agreement's language, and Seoul aims to finalize the pact by the end of 2026, according to the source.
Defense ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said in a briefing on Monday that Seoul is consulting with Washington to include the temporary relocation of U.S. military facilities inside Gwangju Air Base in the agreement. Chung said the government also plans to take swift steps to obtain parliamentary consent under required procedures. On maintenance work at the U.S. facilities inside the base, she said the matter is being addressed in the talks, including an option to temporarily suspend the operation. "We are discussing options with the U.S. side, including a temporary halt to the maintenance work, to ensure that the budget is not wasted and that the national industrial complex project will face no disruptions," Chung said.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters on Friday that the government was nearing a deal with the U.S. on the comprehensive agreement.
Gwangju Air Base, home to the Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing, has been selected as the site for the planned chip cluster. Under the relocation plan, the Gwangju military airport would move to neighboring Muan County, while the 1st Fighter Wing and its flight training squadrons would be reassigned across three bases in North Gyeongsang, North Chungcheong and South Chungcheong provinces.
