Gyeonggi-do Creates 'Safe DMZ from Dangerous DMZ'

5 Major Promotion Strategies · 34 Promotion Tasks Set, Comprehensive Plan Established
Peace Ecological Park · Development into a World-Class Attraction... Total Investment of 170 Billion Won

Typhoon Observatory [Provided by Gyeonggi-do]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Youngcheol] Gyeonggi Province has established the 'Gyeonggi Province DMZ Area Development Comprehensive Plan (2021~2025)' containing a future blueprint for the DMZ over the next five years.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 16th, this comprehensive plan was prepared to present the policy direction for the province over the next five years based on the future vision for the DMZ.

To this end, under the vision of "From Dangerous DMZ to Safe DMZ," five major promotion strategies and 34 promotion tasks reflecting regional characteristics with high public awareness were set.

The total budget is 170 billion KRW, with 21 billion KRW this year, 63 billion KRW next year, 35 billion KRW in 2023, 27 billion KRW in 2024, and 24 billion KRW in 2025, focusing on creating a space where humans and nature coexist as a peaceful and ecological community in the DMZ.

First, under "DMZ Environment and Ecology Conservation and Value Enhancement," about 78.5 billion KRW will be invested from this year until 2025 to carry out a total of nine tasks.

As part of establishing an institutional foundation to promote the environmental and ecological value of the DMZ domestically and internationally, the province plans to apply for designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and registration as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Additionally, to make it a place where culture and education flourish, ecological education and ecotourism programs will be operated, and projects related to DMZ environmental art will be promoted.

Next, about 52.9 billion KRW will be spent over five years to foster cultural and artistic content such as developing tourism hub villages in the DMZ area and creating walking (and bicycle) trails to enjoy nature.

Furthermore, the province plans to organically connect its Peace Nuri-gil trail with the central government's 'DMZ Peace Trail,' establish hub centers for each section, and create convenience facilities to revitalize tourism in the border area.

In preparation for a shift in inter-Korean relations, there is a plan to create a 'DMZ Peace Park' to serve as a stepping stone for international peace zone designation and permanent peaceful coexistence.

In addition, the province plans to develop hub facilities linked to tourist sites in the DMZ area, such as Camp Greaves, a US military return site within the Civilian Control Line, and establish a peace ecological park, aiming to elevate the DMZ as a world-class attraction.

To ensure smooth implementation of this comprehensive plan, the province has established annual implementation plans (linked plans) and concretized and quantified performance indicators to enable performance measurement over five years through governance built in collaboration with the private sector, government, and academia.

Shin Junyoung, Director of the Peace Cooperation Bureau, stated, "The core of this comprehensive plan is to harmonize existing projects with new ones," adding, "We will strive to create a safer and richer DMZ through thorough and continuous management over the next five years."