Kunsan Air Base

Kunsan Air Base, also known as Kunsan K-8 Air Base, is a United States Air Force installation situated at Gunsan Airport on the west coast of the Korean peninsula, near the Yellow Sea. Located approximately 180 kilometers south of Seoul, it serves as one of two primary Air Force installations operated by United States Forces Korea. The base was constructed in 1938 by Japanese forces for fighter-interceptor aircraft. The United States first utilized the base in 1945 on a limited scale. During the Korean War, Kunsan Air Base was captured by North Korean forces in July 1950 before being retaken by the 24th Infantry Division in October 1950. Significant US operations commenced in 1951, with the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing arriving in April 1951. Subsequent improvements included the construction of a 5,000-foot runway by the Army's 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion. The 3rd Bombardment Wing was stationed at Kunsan from August 1951 to October 1954. During the Korean War, Kunsan was assigned the alphanumeric identifier K-8. After the war, the base hosted periodic rotations of fighter and light bomber squadrons. In 1965, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) assigned an F-86 squadron to the base. The 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, known as "The Wolf Pack," transferred to Kunsan in September 1974 and has since served as the host unit, continuously improving facilities. Kunsan Air Base is currently home to the 8th Fighter Wing, assigned to the Pacific Air Forces Seventh Air Force, and the 38th Fighter Group of the Republic of Korea Air Force. Approximately 45 F-16 aircraft are stationed at the base. It supports operations for various aircraft types, including F-16 Fighting Falcons. The airfield is shared with Gunsan Airport for civilian use. In February 2018, 12 MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS were deployed to the base.