Pohang Airfield was originally developed during the
Japanese Imperial period.
Military Pre-Korean war of
VMF-311 at Pohang in 1951 In early July 1950 Pohang airfield was identified as a potential base for
USAF operations. On 7 July,
Brigadier-General Timberlake deputy-commander of the
Fifth Air Force ordered the development of the base. Company A 802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion landed at Pohang and began improving the airfield on 12 July by added a
PSP extension and building hardstands for 27
F-51 Mustangs. The airfield was designated by the
USAF as
K-3. Troops of the
Korean People's Army (KPA)
12th Division infiltrated the Pohang area in early August and made guerrilla attacks against the airfield. By 12 August KPA troops entered Pohang and so on 13 August the
35th Fighter-Interceptor Group evacuated to
Tsuiki Air Field in Japan. ROK and U.S. forces routed the KPA several days later, but the continued presence of guerrilla units mitigated against an early return to the base.
Post-Korean War In October 2008 the
United States Navy relocated a permanent detachment of
MH-53E Sea Dragons assigned to
HM-14 from
Iwakuni, Japan. This detachment provides
Seventh Fleet with a forward-deployed AMCM and heavy-lift asset. Because Pohang Gyeongju Airport is sharing with military, taking photograph or video of apron, runway and military facility is strictly prohibited.
Civil operation in the 1970, Pohang Airfield developed capacity for civil operations. Civil operations begain in 1986 with a route from
Seoul route operated by
Korean Air. This was completed in May 2016. In 2020,
Pohang and
Gyeongju cities submitted a proposal to change the name of the airport from
Pohang Airport to
Pohang Gyeongju Airport to the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In 2022, government approval for the request was granted and the airport received its current name,
Pohang Gyeongju Airport. ==Airlines and destinations==