Suwon City Considering Relocation of Air Force Golf Course Adjacent to Gwonseon District

Suwon City is reportedly reviewing plans to relocate the golf course at the Air Force's 10th Combat Flying Wing, which is adjacent to the Gwonseon District, to the Hwanggyae-dong area in Hwaseong City.

During an administrative audit of the Public Development Division by the General Affairs and Development Committee on the 28th of last month, the city revealed that the military requested the Hwanggyae-dong area in Hwaseong City as an alternative site for the golf practice range.

According to the city, the fitness facility covering 12 parcels and 335,055 square meters in the Gwonseon-dong area, Gwonseon-gu (Lot 235) consists of a nine-hole golf course and official residences (19 buildings, 580 units) used as dormitories for Air Force pilots and others.

The Air Force flying wing's golf course has drawn direct instructions from Mayor Kim Yong-seo to actively coordinate with the Air Force on relocation plans. The city maintains that the golf course site should also be included in the Gwonseon District development project for balanced development.

Since September, the city has begun discussions with the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Force regarding the relocation of the Air Force golf course. During this process, the military has reportedly requested that the golf course be relocated to an area designated by the military.

In response to such requests, the city plans to review and reflect the military's requirements for systematic and planned development of the Gwonseon District urban development and the golf practice range site.

In relation to this, Han Sang-yul, director of the Public Development Division, stated, "The military requested that we purchase the military facility protection area in the Hwanggyae-dong area of Hwaseong City as a relocation site for the golf course."

However, reviewing the Hwanggyae-dong area in Hwaseong City instead of state-owned land in the Jangji-dong area of Gwonseon-gu (approximately 66,000 square meters) designated as a military operational facility at Suwon Air Force Base in October has drawn criticism that the city is unilaterally accepting the military's requests.

In particular, the city anticipates that the Hwanggyae-dong area in Hwaseong City, as requested by the military, will require considerable time due to administrative procedures and excessive obstacles such as houses and factories, raising concerns that the Gwonseon District urban development project could proceed in a deformed manner.

Councilmembers including Min Han-ki of the General Affairs and Development Committee questioned whether there is an alternative plan to secure state-owned land in Jangji-dong, Gwonseon-gu, which is designated as a military facility, instead of the Hwanggyae-dong area in Hwaseong City, which would require considerable time for relocation.

In response, Director Han Sang-yul stated, "We are currently in discussions with the military regarding golf course relocation, but nothing has been decided or confirmed," and added, "We are also making efforts to develop the golf course site."

Meanwhile, separately from the golf course relocation, the city stated that the Air Force residences are being reconstructed at their current location to boost military morale, as the facilities are cramped and aging.