Gwangju:Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul visited the Gwangju Air Base on Wednesday to assess the readiness of a key Air Force unit as the government plans to relocate the base to support a major semiconductor project. The visit was aimed at encouraging troops to cooperate with the relocation efforts while maintaining strong defense capabilities.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Gwangju Air Base, home to the Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing, has been selected as the site for a new chip cluster in the Honam region. The base is expected to be moved to Muan County. The government is planning to temporarily relocate three squadrons of the 1st Fighter Wing to air bases in Yecheon, Seosan, and Chungju to minimize operational disruptions.

Initially, the relocation was scheduled to be completed by mid-2028. However, President Lee Jae Myung has instructed officials to expedite the process, suggesting that regulations may be revised to facilitate this.

Later in the day, Kang visited the Army's Ground Operations Command, where he was briefed on operational updates. He emphasized the need for a "watertight" readiness posture and stressed the importance of discipline among military commanders. The Ground Operations Command oversees several corps, including the 1st Corps, which has faced criticism for procedural lapses such as conducting guard duties without live ammunition. An internal audit reportedly found similar issues in the 2nd and 3rd corps.