Seoul Air Base (sometimes K-16 Air Base, Seoul Airport or Seongnam Air Base) is located in

Seongnam Seongnam () is the fourth largest city in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province after Suwon and the 10th largest city in the country. Its population is approximately one million. Seongnam is a satellite city of Seoul. It is largely a residential c ...

city near

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the Capital city, capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea ...

in South Korea. Runway 19 and 20 are equipped with an ILS.

History

Korea under Japanese rule Between 1910 and 1945, Korea was ruled as a part of the Empire of Japan. Joseon Korea had come into the Japanese sphere of influence with the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876; a complex coalition of the Meiji government, military, and business o ...

constructed 여의도 비행장(

Yeouido Yeouido ( Hangul: 여의도, en, Yoi Island or Yeoui Island) is a large island (or eyot) on the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It is Seoul's main finance and investment banking district. Its 8.4 square kilometers are home to some 30,988 peo ...

Air Base).

Korean War

The USAF designated the Yeouido air base at K-16 during the Korean War. USAF units based here included: *

35th Fighter-Interceptor Group Military units *35th Fighter Wing, an air combat unit of the United States Air Force *35th Infantry Division (United States), a formation of the National Guard since World War I *35th Infantry Regiment (United States), a regiment created on 1 July 1 ...

operating F-51s from 8 April 1951. *Detachment F, 3rd Air Rescue Squadron operating

Sikorsky H-5 The Sikorsky H-5 (initially designated R-5 and also known as S-48, S-51 and by company designation VS-327Fitzsimons, Bernard, (general editor). ''Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare'' (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 20, ...

s from 19 October 1950 * 2157th Air Rescue Squadron operating

Sikorsky H-19 The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw (company model number S-55) was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom ...

Postwar

Yeouido Air Base closed as 1970, moved garrison to current Sinchon-ri, and named it ''Seoul Air Base''. The base is home to the ROKAF 15th Special Missions Wing. The US Army's 2nd Battalion (Assault), 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division operating

Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System ( ...

s is based there. The Seoul Air Show is held annually in this airfield. The base is used as a VIP airfield by the President of Republic of Korea and other VIPs and heads of state.

Construction of a Lotte World Tower

On the survey conducted by Sisain Press, 86% of military pilots and air traffic controllers opposed the construction of a

Lotte World Tower The Lotte World Tower () is a 123-story Megatall skyscraper located in Sincheon-dong, Songpa, Seoul, South Korea. It opened to the public on April 3, 2017, and is currently the tallest building in South Korea and the sixth tallest in the wor ...

because of a safety hazard. They were concerned that it would interfere with the flight path. President Lee Myeong Bak (2008-2012) got the green light for a 555 meter tall skyscraper after rebuilding the airfield to deviate from the 123-story tower in Jamsil, Seoul. The building now operates as Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in any OECD country.

References

{{authority control South Korean airbases Korean War air bases Buildings and structures in Seongnam

History

Korean War

Postwar

Construction of a Lotte World Tower

See also

References