SMG seeks to change name of Gimpo Airport

By Kim Se-jeong

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is pushing to change the name of Gimpo International Airport to Seoul International Airport in an effort to improve its global reputation, officials said Monday.

But the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation is opposing the idea, saying a name change would create confusion.

SMG sent a formal request to the ministry on Dec. 17, asking for permission to change the name. This was the second time the city has made such a request. The first was submitted in 2004, but the ministry refused, saying changing an airport’s name was “unprecedented.”

SMG argues that the current name was not helping the airport’s business.

“Gimpo is an old name from the 1930s. But, now, things have changed a lot. The airport is now part of Seoul, and keeping the name won’t help the airport expand its business,” said an official.

Gimpo International Airport was opened in 1939. In 1958, it became an international airport, which belonged to Gyeonggi Province until 1963 when it became part of Seoul.

The ministry said it won’t allow the change.

“Changing the name is not a good idea, and this has been the ministry’s point of view,” a ministry official said. He added that any name change would create confusion because the name “Seoul” is already in use. The Air Force base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, is usually called Seoul Airport, and is used by the President and foreign heads of state.

Gimhae International Airport attempted to change its name to Busan International Airport in 2011, but gave up after meeting strong opposition from the city council.