From a Symbol of National Security to a Symbol of Uijeongbu's Future:
70 Years of Transformation at Camp Redcloud
CRC Through Road Opens: "From Closed Land to Citizens' Embrace"
Design Cluster Initiative and Free Economic Zone Candidacy Lay New Foundations
Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province, led by Mayor Donggeun Kim, is accelerating development to transform Camp Redcloud (CRC)?a key national security base for 70 years?into a central hub of a self-sustaining city where citizens and businesses grow together.
Mayor Donggeun Kim spent time discussing the past and future of the CRC while walking the entire section of the CRC through road with residents on the 9th. Photo by Uijeongbu City
According to Uijeongbu City on June 10, CRC is a site of approximately 836,000 square meters (250,000 pyeong) located in Ganeung-dong, Uijeongbu. Since 1953, it has served as the headquarters for the U.S. I Corps and the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, making it a historically significant location. Since its return in 2022, CRC has remained largely preserved in its original form and is now recognized as a core asset with unique historical value, poised to shape the future of Uijeongbu City.
"From Closed Land to Open Space"... CRC Through Road Opening Achievements
Uijeongbu City does not view CRC as merely a returned military site, but is pursuing development with the vision of creating an open space returned to its citizens. As part of this initiative, the CRC through road was opened in July 2023, significantly improving accessibility and transportation convenience.
Before the opening, about 30,000 vehicles per day were concentrated on the eastbound one-way road, causing severe traffic congestion. After the through road opened, travel time was reduced by 63%, from 5 minutes 23 seconds to 2 minutes 1 second.
According to a recent simplified traffic survey, more than 10,000 vehicles now use the through road daily.
Analysis by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport estimates that this road will generate annual cost savings of KRW 7 billion due to reduced travel time and decreased CO₂ emissions.
Designation as a Candidate for Free Economic Zone... What Is the Future of CRC?
Even after its return, CRC continues to attract attention as a unique historical site and a future growth engine for Uijeongbu City. The city plans to establish a "Design Cluster," a core infrastructure for future industries, within CRC to prepare for the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The city aims to create a design cluster and a media content and AI business hub on the site, transforming it into a center for advanced industry development and job creation.
Additionally, in consultation with the Ministry of National Defense, the city is working to preserve 16 buildings of high modern historical value, such as the chapel, headquarters, and vehicle maintenance facilities. By leveraging the historical significance of these structures, Uijeongbu plans to develop CRC with its own unique character.
Uijeongbu City aims for official designation as a free economic zone by 2027. In the second half of this year, the city plans to revise its comprehensive development plan and establish a basic concept and development plan for CRC.
Notably, in April, CRC was designated as a candidate site for the Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone, marking a significant achievement. The city plans to establish a media content and artificial intelligence (AI) business hub at CRC, positioning it as an innovation base for advanced industry development and high-quality job creation.
To realize this vision, the city is pursuing changes to the comprehensive development plan in the second half of this year and will actively coordinate with the central government to ensure that CRC's development plan is reflected in national policy.
CRC: The Land of Opportunity Opening Uijeongbu's Future... Leap Toward a Self-Sustaining City
The city is focusing its administrative efforts on CRC, a representative "land of opportunity" for Uijeongbu's future, to drive its leap toward becoming a self-sustaining city.
Soil remediation work is scheduled to begin in October, and the city is currently conducting a basic planning study and formulating a development plan for free economic zone designation by 2027.
CRC boasts excellent transportation infrastructure and is ideally located to attract global companies and talent. With tax incentives and investment support systems, CRC has great potential to create a business-friendly environment. The city plans to leverage these strengths to develop CRC as the center of a city where businesses and citizens grow together.
"Two-Year Anniversary On-Site Inspection of the Through Road Opening" with Local Residents
To mark the second anniversary of the CRC through road opening, the city conducted an on-site inspection with local residents on June 9 as part of its "Warm Companionship" initiative.
This on-site inspection involved nine residents from the Ganeung, Nokyang, and Heungseon neighborhoods, who started at the entrance of the through road (Ganeung-dong) and walked together along the road, reflecting on the value of CRC.
On this day, Mayor Donggeun Kim walked the entire 1-kilometer section of the through road with residents, sharing thoughts on CRC's past and future.
Since the opening of the through road, the city has been developing CRC as a space nurtured together with citizens, based on active participation and communication with local residents. The city plans to continue this field-oriented communication approach in advancing the CRC development project.
Mayor Donggeun Kim stated, "The opening of the Camp Redcloud (CRC) through road was more than just an improvement in transportation infrastructure; it was the first step in returning CRC to the citizens. Moving forward, we will continue to develop CRC as an open space that everyone can experience, through communication and cooperation with residents. We will do our utmost to achieve designation as a free economic zone and attract businesses, enabling Uijeongbu to take a leap forward as a self-sustaining city."
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