Defense Ministry lifts flight safety restrictions over area 6.8 times the size of Yeouido

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense will reclassify Susaek Airfield in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, from a "support aviation operations base" to a "helicopter-only operations base."

The ministry said Tuesday that following the Cabinet's approval of an amendment to the enforcement decree of the Military Bases and Installations Protection Act, it will lift flight safety zone restrictions covering 19.8 square kilometers — 93 percent of the existing 21.3-square-kilometer zone — and redesignate the remaining 1.5 square kilometers to reflect the airfield's new helicopter-only status.

The Military Bases and Installations Protection Act classifies aviation operations bases into four categories: tactical aviation operations bases, support aviation operations bases, helicopter-only operations bases and reserve aviation operations bases. The act's enforcement decree specifies the location of each type.

The amendment reflects the fact that Susaek Airfield no longer needs to be maintained as a support aviation operations base, given changes to its actual operational use and mission planning.

"Even after the reclassification, Susaek Airfield will continue to carry out necessary military operations as a helicopter-only base, and missions that previously required transport aircraft can be handled at nearby installations — so the change will have no impact on our military's operational capabilities," the ministry said.

The reduction in the flight safety zone is expected to ease building height restrictions in the area, improving conditions for residents to exercise their property rights and supporting local development and urban renewal projects.