The governor of North Jeolla Province is calling on the U.S. government to expedite the operation of international commercial flights at a U.S. air base in Gunsan.

Kim Wan-joo conveyed a letter to that effect to Representative Eni Faleomavaega at the office of the congressman, who is also the chairman of the House Asia-Pacific subcommittee.

In the letter to be delivered to U.S. President Barack Obama, the governor sought the U.S. president’s help in revising the Status of Forces Agreement governing U.S. deployments in Korea.

A revision of the SOFA will enable the air base in Gunsan to service international commercial flights.

The governor said that international flight services at the air base are crucial for the success of the province’s project to develop the Saemangeum area.

With a delay in the operation of international commercial flights at the base, which is also known as Gunsan Airport, some U.S. companies have halted their investments in the Saemangeum area.

The current SOFA allows Gunsan Airport to service some domestic flights operated by South Korea’s national flag carriers. But the governments of South Korea and the U.S. have failed to make progress on the approval of international flight services at the base.