A rendering of Saemangeum International Airport (Image provided by HJ Heavy Industries)
JEONJU, South Korea, Jan. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — The planned Saemangeum International Airport in South Korea is at the center of heated debate, with environmental groups and regional authorities clashing over its potential bird strike risks.
Following the Jeju Air disaster at Muan International Airport, concerns have intensified about the safety of constructing an airport near a major bird habitat.
Environmental advocates argue that the bird strike risk at Saemangeum Airport is exponentially higher than at Muan.
According to a 2021 environmental assessment by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Saemangeum’s Total Risk (TR) score, based on projected bird strike incidents, ranges from 0.01071 to 0.04873—up to 610 times higher than Muan’s score of 0.00008.
This translates to a likelihood of catastrophic bird strike incidents at Saemangeum once every 21 to 93 years, compared to once every 12,221 years at Muan.
The proposed airport site, located in Sura Mudflat, is surrounded by rich ecosystems, including the Mangyeong River, Dongjin River, and Saemangeum Lake.
The area is a critical stopover for migratory birds, including the endangered black-faced spoonbill and more than 150 species of wintering birds. Environmental groups have labeled the project “a disaster in waiting,” urging its immediate cancellation.
The Saemangeum reclamation project (Image courtesy of the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency)
Regional Authorities Push Back
However, Jeonbuk Province disputes these claims, citing the same report. Officials argue that the assessment was conducted under uncontrolled conditions and does not reflect post-construction management measures.
They highlight that the nearby Gunsan Airport, which shares similar geography, recorded a TR score of just 0.00005, making it the third safest among 15 domestic airports.
The province also plans to address concerns about Saemangeum’s 2,500-meter runway—the shortest among major domestic airports—following safety criticisms raised after the Muan incident.
Moving Forward
Despite the controversy, construction on Saemangeum Airport is set to begin this year, with a target opening date in 2029.
The new airport, located on reclaimed land in Gunsan’s Okseo-myeon, is designed to absorb the civilian aviation functions of the nearby Gunsan Airport, which is shared with U.S. military forces.
While Jeonbuk authorities stress the project’s importance for regional development, environmentalists warn that proceeding without proper safeguards could lead to irreversible ecological and safety disasters.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
