Mayor Park Hyeong-deok Shares Vision for Dongducheon’s Growth and U.S. Military Base Land Issues on KBS 1TV
Highlights Economic Losses, Calls for Special Support Law, and Unveils International Skating Rink Plan
Mayor Park Hyeong-deok of Dongducheon appeared on the KBS 1TV programs ‘Inside Gyeongin’ and ‘News In’ on the 11th to share the vision necessary for resolving current issues and future growth of Dongducheon.
Mayor Park Hyung-deok of Dongducheon appeared on KBS 1TV's "Inside Gyeongin and News In" broadcast on the 11th, sharing the vision necessary to resolve current issues and promote future growth in Dongducheon. Photo by Dongducheon City
The broadcast focused on the current situation of Dongducheon, which has provided 42% of its total area to the U.S. military over the past 74 years, resulting in enormous damages exceeding 26 trillion won, as well as future response plans and strategies to attract an international skating rink.
Mayor Park explained the efforts made so far to resolve the U.S. military base land issue, including visits to central government ministries, meetings with the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defense, and holding five large-scale citizen rallies to push government demands.
He then detailed the economic damages caused by delays in the return of the base land, including an annual local tax loss of at least 30 billion won and opportunity costs of development amounting to 527.8 billion won each year. He also pointed out that the government’s promised creation of a 300,000-pyeong national industrial complex has not been implemented at all.
Mayor Park emphasized, “The only solution to resolve our damages is the enactment of a special law. Since Pyeongtaek has received 18.8 trillion won in support through a special law and has grown remarkably, a special support law for Dongducheon must also be enacted.”
Mayor Park revealed a strategy to attract an international skating rink to Dongducheon, a city known for its ice sports. Dongducheon was the first to enter the international skating rink competition and has drawn attention by proposing the North Castle, a U.S. military return base site, as the location. Additionally, it boasts excellent transportation accessibility with Line 1 subway and the upcoming GTX-C line opening.
Moreover, Dongducheon is the only local government among the applicants operating an ice skating team and has already prepared a blueprint linked to the expansion development project of Soyo Mountain. Furthermore, all citizens are united in their wish to attract the international skating rink, and especially in March, after completing the formation of the International Skating Rink Attraction Promotion Committee, they plan to launch large-scale activities.
Mayor Park Hyeong-deok stated, “I am satisfied that through the Inside Gyeongin broadcast, we were able to raise awareness of the importance of the U.S. military base land issue and the sincerity of attracting the international skating rink,” adding, “During the remainder of my term, I will fulfill my promises to the citizens by not only resolving the base land issue but also completing current tasks and campaign pledges, turning dreams into reality.”
Meanwhile, the ‘Inside Gyeongin’ broadcast filmed on this day is scheduled to air on KBS 1TV at 11:30 PM on the 13th.
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