A Runway Laid as a Beachhead for Continental Invasion

The Yeouido Airfield, built by Japan's colonial government in 1916, was publicly framed as a civilian air route but was actually planned as a military base to support continental invasion.

Key takeaways

In March 1916, Japan's colonial government began building an airfield in what was then Yongmyeon Township, Goyang County — today's Yeouido. Fact It was publicly framed as opening a civilian air route, but the actual purpose was to secure a military base that could be used for continental invasion into China if needed — making it Korea's first airfield. Fact From 1928 onward it operated in earnest as an airfield known as "Gyeongseong Airfield" (Gyeongseong being the colonial-era name for Seoul). Fact It closed in February 1971, when its air force base functions relocated to a new base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province (today's Seoul Airport). Fact

What to look for on site

Sections of Yeouido Park that still show traces of the old runway
Any signage describing the airfield era (if present)
Its historical standing as Korea's first airfield

Editorial note

It's inaccurate to say "Yeouido was always a tourist and financial district." Establish first its origins as an airfield built for military purposes.