Han Dong-hoon Visits Uijeongbu: "Gyeonggi Northern Region Has Sacrificed for 70 Years to Defend the Capital"

22nd National Assembly's 'One-Shot Law for Seoul Annexation and Gyeonggi Division' Proposal Push
"Not Sorry to Former Activists but Sorry to Youth"
Presidential Security Guard Who Dragged KAIST Student Out: "Difficult to Respond Due to Not Seeing"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, to listen to local public opinion and announced a pledge to develop the returned U.S. military base land, a long-standing wish of the citizens. He also expressed his intention to propose the 'One-Shot Law for Seoul Incorporation and Gyeonggi Province Division,' which simultaneously promotes Seoul incorporation and Gyeonggi Province division as soon as the 22nd National Assembly convenes.

On the 16th, Chairman Han visited Camp Red Cloud, a U.S. military base in Uijeongbu, to hear about the need for development of the returned camp site. Afterwards, he moved to Uijeongbu Jeil Market and answered questions from local residents. At the market, he ate small gimbap and fried snacks while conversing with merchants. Chairman Han, who also purchased rice cakes, raw chicken feet, and nuts, was seen taking photos while holding a child and bowing to greet elderly people at their height.

At a citizens' meeting held at the market, he said, "The northern Gyeonggi region, including Uijeongbu, has devoted itself for over 70 years to the important mission of division and capital defense," adding, "However, it has not received appropriate words of gratitude or compensation for that."

He continued, "No one expected Gyeonggi Province to grow this large about 60 years ago," and said, "Administrative district reorganization reflecting the current reality is necessary." This was based on the idea that it is difficult to choose ways to improve citizens' lives because the northern and southern parts of Gyeonggi Province, which have different interests and regulations, are grouped into a single administrative district. He added, "Now that the U.S. military is withdrawing, military regulations are being resolved, and overlapping regulations are being clearly removed, we need to consider how to develop," and said, "We intend to actively promote the division of Gyeonggi Province."

Chairman Han also emphasized, "The division of Gyeonggi Province is not an issue first raised by Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province," adding, "Candidates such as Roh Tae-woo in 1987 and Kim Young-sam, from the predecessor party of ours in 1992, also promised this, so this issue is not a matter of political parties."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He declared that he would propose and promote the 'One-Shot Law for Seoul Incorporation and Gyeonggi Province Division' as soon as the 22nd National Assembly opens. The People Power Party advocates for Seoul incorporation, and the Democratic Party of Korea talks about Gyeonggi Province division, but the plan is to propose a bill that promotes both pledges together. Chairman Han explained, "If different forces push separate pledges, neither will clearly succeed," adding, "I believe actively promoting both equally is the only deal to solve this issue."

In response to a question from a young job seeker who wished for many jobs to be created in Uijeongbu, he said, "I am not sorry for the activist generation, but I am sorry for the youth," explaining, "Because although we had difficulties, it was much easier to be young in my generation than it is now."

After the meeting, when asked by reporters about President Yoon Seok-yeol's bodyguard dragging a KAIST student out, he replied, "I did not see that, so it is a bit difficult to comment on it now."