Suwon Air Force Base Noise Mitigation Measures to Cost 120 Billion Won

Under the 'Military Airfield Noise Prevention and Support for Noise Countermeasure Areas Act' submitted to the National Assembly by the government on the 7th, noise mitigation projects in areas surrounding Suwon Air Force Base are expected to receive 123.83 billion won out of the total budget required.

This ranks third nationally, following 167.72 billion won for Daegu Air Base countermeasures and 130.88 billion won for Osan U.S. Air Force Base.

● Estimated 93.8 Billion Won for Private Residences

Soundproofing facility installation for private homes including detached houses and multi-family housing is expected to receive 93.77 billion won.

For areas with noise levels of 95 decibels or higher, 19.17 billion won will be allocated, while 74.61 billion won is expected for residential areas between 85 and below 95 decibels in mitigation projects.

This represents the second largest scale nationwide, following Daegu Air Base's 145.32 billion won. Following Suwon Air Base, Cheongju Air Force Base is expected to require 71.76 billion won.

In Suwon, for public facility countermeasure projects in areas between 75 and below 95 decibels, schools will receive 6.3 billion won, medical facilities 9.38 billion won, and welfare facilities 14.38 billion won, totaling an estimated 30.06 billion won.

Related to this, Osan U.S. Air Force Base is expected to require 95.02 billion won in mitigation project funds for private residences and 35.85 billion won for public facilities.

● Support Should Be Phased Based on 75 Decibel Standard

Under the bill submitted by the government this time, the noise mitigation project standard for private residences is set at 85 decibels.

In other words, the project standard for residents suffering noise damage is limited to areas of 85 decibels or higher.

However, as it is set higher than the 75 decibels demanded by Suwon City Council's airfield special committee and affected residents, controversy over relaxing noise standards is expected to continue.

If the standard is expanded to 75 decibels or higher, noise mitigation projects for private residences in Suwon areas between 75 and below 85 decibels are expected to reach 264.9 billion won, bringing the total to approximately 358.67 billion won.

If a 75 decibel or higher standard is applied nationwide to all military airfields and military firing ranges, a total of 3.38 trillion won would be needed for noise mitigation projects, according to calculations.

In other words, analysis shows that using a 75 decibel or higher standard would increase the government's budget burden.

Lee Jong-pil, chair of Suwon City Council's special committee, emphasized regarding the government's support bill for military airfields that "as seen in the cases of Japan and Taiwan, establishing damage countermeasures for military airfields is an international trend."

Lee stated, "I believe measures should be prepared to provide phased support to areas of 75 decibels and beyond in the future."