Gwangju's fast-track chip hub hinges on airport relocation

South Korea’s recent decision to build a semiconductor cluster on Gwangju’s military air base rests on an attractive premise: the vast state-owned site could be developed faster than most alternatives.

Whether that speed advantage holds will depend on the next phase of the project — relocating the active air base and advancing talks with Muan, South Jeolla Province, the preliminary relocation site.

Earlier this week, the government confirmed the 8.26 million-square-meter site as a key base for t