Gyeonggi governor asks to designate peace zone as North-South cooperation project

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon has called on the central government to officially designate the planned Northern Gyeonggi Peace Economic Zone as a North-South cooperation project. The proposal, presented at the second Border Region Peace and Security Joint Conference, aims to provide tangible development opportunities to areas that have long shouldered national security burdens.

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Today, the Republic of Korea's national standing is different from when the Armistice Agreement was signed. We have the capability to actively dismantle the limitations imposed by the division structure. We must now change the name of the border region to a peace zone and initiate a shift in perception.

Speaking at the conference, attended by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and other officials, Governor Kim highlighted the sacrifices made by residents in the border region. He invoked President Yoon Suk Yeol's principle that "special sacrifices must be met with special compensation," urging that this not remain a mere slogan but translate into practical benefits for the province's residents. Kim stressed that both central and local governments must now reciprocate the long-standing dedication of the people in Northern Gyeonggi with concrete development and opportunities.

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We hope that the principle, as the President said, 'special sacrifices must be met with special compensation,' does not remain a slogan but leads to practical measures that benefit the citizens.

If approved as a North-South cooperation project, the Peace Economic Zone would gain access to the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund. This designation would also unlock financial support for businesses, including guarantees and loans, and potentially exempt the project from preliminary feasibility studies, significantly boosting its momentum. Governor Kim also proposed changing the status of military-controlled areas near cities like Dongducheon and Uijeongbu to a low-cost lease system rather than outright sale by the Ministry of National Defense.

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The border region residents have endured great sacrifices for many years for the Republic of Korea. Now, both the central and local governments must repay the devotion of the people in Northern Gyeonggi and guarantee practical development opportunities.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young responded positively to the proposal, stating that designating the zone as a North-South cooperation project is an "excellent point." He indicated that the ministry would explore ways to explicitly list the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund as a source for supporting the zone's infrastructure. The meeting also included discussions on sustainable peace maintenance and economic revitalization strategies for border regions involving national ministries and local governments.

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The suggestion to designate the Peace Economic Zone as a North-South cooperation project is an excellent point.