Gimpo Air Base

Gimpo Air Base
Name	Gimpo Air Base
Native name	김포기지
Caption	Aerial view of the airfield and terminal area
Type	Military airfield and former international airport
Owner	Republic of Korea Air Force
Operator	Republic of Korea Air Force
Location	Gimpo, Seoul, Gyeonggi Province
Built	1939
Used	1939–present

Gimpo Air Base is a military airfield located near Gimpo in Gyeonggi Province adjacent to Seoul and the Han River. Originally developed during the Japanese occupation of Korea and later expanded under United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force control, it served as Seoul–Gimpo International Airport until the opening of Incheon International Airport in 2001. The installation has been central to Korean War air operations, postwar United States Forces Korea basing, and contemporary Republic of Korea Air Force activities.

History

The site was established in 1939 under the Empire of Japan as an airfield associated with the Manchukuo and Imperial Japanese Army Air Service expansion, later seized by United States Army forces following World War II. During the Korean War, Gimpo became a forward hub for United Nations Command air operations, hosting squadrons of the Fifth Air Force and elements of the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force. Post-1953 armistice, the base functioned in conjunction with Seoul Station transport nodes and Osan Air Base logistics, while becoming a focal point for US-South Korea relations and Northeast Asia air traffic. In the 1960s–1980s, Gimpo accommodated commercial growth tied to Korean Air and Asiana Airlines expansion, regional ties to Tokyo International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport, and visits by heads of state, including delegations from United States presidents and Republic of Korea presidents. The shift of major international operations to Incheon International Airport followed international aviation planning coordinated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (South Korea) and municipal authorities of Seoul Metropolitan Government and Gyeonggi provincial government.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The airfield comprises a runway complex, military hangars, control tower, apron areas, and support facilities adjacent to the former international terminal precinct near Gimpo International Airport Station. Runway alignment historically matched standards used by Pan American World Airways, Korean Air Lines, and regional carriers such as Asiana Airlines and Japan Airlines. Navigation aids and air traffic services have interfaced with Incheon Control Center, Seoul Flight Information Region, and International Civil Aviation Organization procedures. Ground links include proximity to the Gyeongin Expressway, Seohae Expressway, AREX rail line, and the Seoul Metropolitan Subway network, integrating with transport nodes like Gimpo International Airport Station and Seoul Station. Support infrastructure has housed maintenance depots similar to those at Osan Air Base and Kadena Air Base.

Military Units and Operations

The base hosts Republic of Korea Air Force units responsible for air defense of the Seoul Capital Area and training detachments that have coordinated with United States Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command. Units historically operated aircraft types such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Boeing 737, and liaison types used in metropolitan airlift missions, paralleling roles seen at Kunsan Air Base and Daegu Air Base. Gimpo has supported joint exercises including Foal Eagle and combined readiness drills with rotational presence of United States Air Force squadrons and allied detachments from Japan Self-Defense Forces and Australian Defence Force. Air traffic control units at the base cooperate with Incheon International Airport Corporation procedures and ICAO standards to manage mixed military and restricted civilian movements.

Civil Aviation and Commercial Use

Until the transfer of most international routes to Incheon International Airport in 2001, Gimpo served as Seoul's principal international gateway, supporting airlines such as Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, JAL, China Eastern Airlines, and multiple low-cost carriers. After 2001, Gimpo retained domestic and short-haul international services linking Jeju Island, Busan, Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Shanghai, with operators including T’way Air, Jeju Air, and Eastar Jet. The terminal precinct interfaced with urban transit projects like the AREX and major metropolitan redevelopment initiatives led by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Commercial activity at the site has been subject to aviation policy by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (South Korea) and infrastructure investments mirroring airport modernization programs seen in Hong Kong International Airport and Narita International Airport.

Incidents and Accidents

The airfield has been the scene of several notable incidents, including aircraft accidents involving regional carriers and military airlift operations comparable to events investigated by authorities akin to the Korean Transportation Safety Authority and procedures referenced by the International Civil Aviation Organization. During the Korean War, air operations at Gimpo experienced combat-related losses similar to engagements documented in histories of the Battle of Incheon and Operation Chromite. Postwar safety investigations have involved agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (South Korea) and led to procedural changes echoed in reforms at Incheon International Airport and other East Asian aviation hubs.

Future Development and Redevelopment Plans

Plans for the area surrounding the base have been discussed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Gyeonggi provincial government, and national authorities, contemplating mixed-use redevelopment, greenbelt conversion, and transport-oriented development influenced by projects like Songdo International Business District and urban regeneration examples from Singapore and Tokyo Bay. Strategic options include civilian reuse components, continued military retention under the Republic of Korea Air Force, and integration with regional rail projects such as extensions of the Seoul Subway lines and high-speed rail connectivity akin to KTX service patterns. Proposals have intersected with considerations from international partners including United States Forces Korea and domestic stakeholders like the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (South Korea) and municipal planning bodies.

Category:Airports in South Korea Category:Installations of the Republic of Korea Air Force