Gyeonggi Northern Region Major Development Paju City Tour Meeting... Presenting the Vision of 'Northeast Asia Economic Gateway'

Securing Future Growth Engines for Paju City, Gyeonggi Province
Presenting the Vision of an AI-Digital Industry New Growth Hub
Expansion of SOC Including the 1.5 Ring Expressway
Fostering Mobility Clusters and Designating Special Zones
Promoting DMZ Tourism as a Global Landmark

On the 11th, Gyeonggi Province held the ‘Gyeonggi Northern Cities and Counties Vision Tour Meeting’ at Paju City Hall to promote the large-scale development of northern Gyeonggi and to discuss Paju City's ‘2040 Future Development Plan.’

Aposeok, Deputy Governor of Gyeonggi Province for Administration 2 (fourth from the right in the front row), Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City (fifth from the right in the front row), and other attendees are cheering "Fighting" at the Gyeonggi Northern City and County Vision Tour Meeting held at Paju City Hall on the 11th. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

This meeting was the seventh in a series, following the first held in Pocheon City last July, and subsequent meetings in Uijeongbu, Dongducheon, Yangju, Yeoncheon, and Gapyeong.

About 60 Paju citizens participated alongside Oh Hu-seok, the 2nd Deputy Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju, Park Dae-sung, Chairman of the Paju City Council, and Lee Yong-wook, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, drawing significant attention.

Dr. Lee Jung-hoon from the Gyeonggi Research Institute presented an analysis of Paju City's current status and shared opinions on future development directions to maximize Paju’s potential. He proposed the promotion of ‘Paju City Development’s 5 Major Strategies and 15 Tasks’ with the vision of ‘Northeast Asia Economic Gateway, AI-Digital Industry New Growth Hub.’

The province also took time to share achievements and communicate regarding the promotion of large-scale development in northern Gyeonggi.

Achievements in the railway and road sectors included the opening of the GTX A line section from Unjeong Central Station to Seoul Station, marking the beginning of a 30-minute commute era in the northern region; the opening of the Paju-Yangju section of the Capital Region 2nd Ring Expressway, continuing the era of 5,000 km of highways in South Korea; early opening of three key local road routes (Munsan~Naepo 1, Munsan~Naepo 2, Jeokseong~Du-il) through concentrated local road budget investment; and the promotion of the northern Gyeonggi 1.5 ring expressway connecting Paju, Yangju, Pocheon, and Namyangju.

Additionally, there were achievements in fostering advanced industries and supporting K-content, including the supply of new industrial complex volumes in Paju, selection of designated startup innovation spaces and mini hydrogen city designation, operation of the Paju Publishing City revitalization program, expanded opening of Camp Greaves, activation of stay-type tourism linked with DMZ-Imjingak-Camp Greaves, and hosting of the DMZ Open Festival.

In particular, Gyeonggi Province forecasted that the large-scale development of northern Gyeonggi would bring significant changes to Paju City in five areas by 2040.

First, ▲the extension of the KTX to Paju will enable half-day travel from Paju to Busan, and the 1.5 ring expressway will greatly reduce travel time between northern cities and counties.

Also, ▲the establishment of the Paju Medical Cluster will play a key role in Paju’s leap as the cutting-edge medical and innovation hub of northern Gyeonggi, and ▲the cultivation of AI (Artificial Intelligence)-display and mobility clusters along with special zone designation is expected to provide excellent groundwork for growth as an advanced industrial hub.

The well-preserved ecological environment and the DMZ will ▲become a global landmark symbolizing peace through the global branding of DMZ tourism, and through the RE100 initiative in the Civilian Control Zone and border areas, Paju is expected to play a gradual role in establishing itself as a sustainable city based on RE100 and new energy.

Oh Hu-seok, the 2nd Deputy Governor, emphasized, “With the enactment of the ‘Gyeonggi Province Regional Large-Scale Development Support Ordinance’ on January 20, a legal foundation for regional large-scale development has been established, creating conditions where the private sector can confidently invest. Gyeonggi Province will work unwaveringly with the Provincial Assembly and Paju City to realize the dream of large-scale development in northern Gyeonggi.”

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province plans to hold the Northern Gyeonggi Large-Scale Development Forum this year to discover specific projects for realizing the large-scale development agenda and to finalize and announce the northern Gyeonggi large-scale development plan for incorporation and promotion in the basic plan.