Gangneung Airbase (IATA: KAG, ICAO: RKNN) is an airbase holding the 18th fighter wing of the Republic of Korea Air Force. It is located in Gangneung, Gangwon-do. The airfield has one runway (8/26), and is ILS equipped on runway 23. In the past, this airfield also used to handle civilian air traffic. The passenger handling functions of this airfield were closed prior to the opening of Yangyang International Airport.
Gangneung Airbase 강릉공항 | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Republic of Korea Air Force | ||||||||||
| Location | Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 35 ft / 11 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°45′12″N 128°56′37″E / 37.75333°N 128.94361°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  Gangneung Airbase  Gangneung Airbase  Gangneung Airbase .svg) Gangneung Airbase | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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History
During the Korean War, the USAF designated the base as K-18.
In 1969, Korean Air Lines YS-11 flying from Gangneung Airbase to Gimpo International Airport in Seoul was hijacked by a North Korean agent and forced to land in the North; seven of the passengers and all four crew members among them did not return to South Korea.[3]
On 5 October 2022, due to the failed ballistic missile test, a major explosion occurred at the air base.[4]