Gyeonggi-do Designates Additional Border Area in Gapyeong-gun... Boosting Regional Development Projects

Legislative Notice of Enforcement Decree Amendment for 'Special Act on Support for Border Areas'... 8th Border Area Designation
Expanded Administrative and Financial Support Including National Funding, Tax Reduction, and Infrastructure Development from the Government

Gapyeong-gun in Gyeonggi Province will receive administrative and financial support from the government as it is newly designated as a border area. This marks the 8th border area designation in Gyeonggi Province, and various regional development projects promoted by Gapyeong-gun are expected to be actively pursued.

Notice of Legislative Amendment for the Enforcement Decree of the "Special Act on Support for Border Areas." Provided by Gyeonggi-do

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 13th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a legislative notice for the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the "Special Act on Support for Border Areas," which includes this content. The legislative notice includes the addition of Gapyeong-gun and Sokcho-si to the existing 15 border areas.

The Special Act on Support for Border Areas is a law that stipulates necessary matters for the sustainable development of underdeveloped border areas. Currently, there are 15 cities and counties designated by presidential decree, including 10 cities and counties adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone or Northern Limit Line such as Ganghwa-gun, Ongjin-gun, Gimpo-si, Paju-si, Yeoncheon-gun, Cheorwon-gun, Hwacheon-gun, Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, and Goseong-gun, as well as 5 cities including Goyang-si, Yangju-si, Dongducheon-si, Pocheon-si, and Chuncheon-si. In Gyeonggi Province, 7 cities and counties have been designated as border areas.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained that although Gapyeong-gun has similar geographical conditions to other border area cities and counties, it was not included in the border areas. Therefore, a research project was conducted through the Korea Institute of Public Administration, and the review of additional area designation was deemed reasonable. The Ministry plans to collect various opinions during the 40-day legislative notice period until January 22, 2025, and reflect them in the amendment.

Once designated as a border area, Gapyeong-gun will be eligible for increased financial support from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (raising the national subsidy rate from 50~70% to 70~80%, including special grants). Temporary tax benefits such as comprehensive real estate tax and capital gains tax exemptions will be applied by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Additionally, reductions in local taxes and various charges, as well as support for infrastructure and funding, will be provided by the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Gyeonggi Province received a cooperation request from Gapyeong-gun in March last year and subsequently requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to consider Gapyeong-gun’s proposal in June. Assemblyman Lim Gwang-hyun urged the prompt designation of border areas through a five-minute speech. The province conducted a research project through the Gyeonggi Research Institute on the necessity and objective justification for designating Gapyeong-gun as a border area and submitted the results to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in December last year. In April this year, former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor Kim Hyun-gon met with Seo Tae-won, the mayor of Gapyeong-gun, to support consultations with the Budget Office of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Yoon Sung-jin, Director of the Balanced Development Planning Office of Gyeonggi Province, stated, “Currently, Gapyeong-gun is facing a population decline and is at risk of regional extinction. However, with this additional designation as a border area, it is expected to receive new inclusion in national subsidy projects under the ‘Comprehensive Development Plan for Border Areas,’ an increase in the national subsidy rate, and additional allocation of ordinary local grants, among other financial supports.” He added, “We will actively support Gapyeong-gun in creating new growth engines and discovering new welfare projects for residents after the confirmation of the additional designation.”