'Confirmation of the 2023 Power Development Comprehensive Plan Project'
The government announced on the 6th that it will invest a total of 1.9111 trillion KRW (176.6 billion KRW in national funds, 283 billion KRW in local funds, and 1.4515 trillion KRW in private investment) in 101 projects this year to support areas surrounding US Forces Korea (USFK) bases and other related regions.
In this regard, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has finalized the "Comprehensive Development Plan for Areas Surrounding USFK Bases and Related Regions 2023 Project Plan" and plans to implement the projects together with five ministries including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The support projects under the "Comprehensive Development Plan for Areas Surrounding USFK Bases and Related Regions" are government-wide initiatives aimed at developing surrounding areas where regional development has been restricted due to the establishment of US military bases. Since the establishment of the development plan in 2008, 455 projects have been invested with 14.5352 trillion KRW up to 2022, and a total of 532 projects with 47.6276 trillion KRW are planned to be invested by 2026.
This year’s projects are divided into three sectors: ▲support for land acquisition costs in returned USFK base areas, ▲development of returned USFK base areas, ▲and development of areas surrounding returned and granted base areas.
Choi Hoon, Director of the Local Autonomy and Balanced Development Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, “Residents of areas surrounding USFK bases have had to endure stagnation in regional development due to various regulations imposed for national security reasons,” adding, “We will strive to contribute to balanced regional development and the improvement of residents’ welfare through continuous government support and activation of private investment.”
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