![President Lee Jae Myung inspects Muan International Airport during an aerial tour of the southwestern region on June 30. [Provided by Cheong Wa Dae. Redistribution and DB prohibited] (Yonhap)](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/21/rcv.YNA.20260630.PYH2026063020790001300_P1.jpg)
Repair and reinforcement work to address deteriorating durability at the runway of Muan International Airport is now moving forward.
Korea Airports Corporation said Wednesday that a detailed design contract for the runway resurfacing project was awarded Monday.
The contract covers the scope, construction methods and timeline for the resurfacing work and will run for 90 days from its start date.
Once the detailed design work is complete, the project will proceed through the necessary administrative steps before breaking ground, with construction set to finish by the second half of next year.
The durability problems were identified during a routine inspection conducted in June. The inspection found delamination and inter-layer separation in the upper asphalt layer of the runway's center section — the area that bears direct aircraft loads — at a depth of about 15 centimeters.
A decision on reopening Muan airport is expected only after both the runway repairs and all remaining safety measures are completed, including improvements to the localizer at the site of the Jeju Air passenger jet crash, which is currently undergoing a renewed search.
The planned transfer of domestic flights from Gwangju Airport is also expected to be completed on the same schedule.
sij@heraldcorp.com
