The "Gyeonggi-do Comprehensive Plan (2021~2040)," which outlines the development direction and future blueprint for Gyeonggi-do over the next 20 years, has been released.
On June 19, Gyeonggi-do announced the Gyeonggi-do Comprehensive Plan, which presents "Sustainable Innovative Growth, Gyeonggi of Inclusion and Opportunity" as its future vision, on the provincial website.
This plan, established in accordance with the "Framework Act on the National Land," serves as the highest-level spatial plan at the provincial level and provides a comprehensive blueprint for the development direction and policy guidelines of the province's 31 cities and counties over the next 20 years. It is linked to the 5th National Comprehensive Territorial Plan (2020~2040).
Gyeonggi-do first changed the vision of the comprehensive plan from the previous "Center of the Pan-Yellow Sea Region, A Society Living Together" to "Sustainable Innovative Growth, Gyeonggi of Inclusion and Opportunity."
Accordingly, six major goals have been set: ▲Creation of Happy Spaces (restructuring station areas for compact growth and establishing living zones, alleviating regional disparities and ensuring balanced housing supply, etc.); ▲Establishment of Future-Oriented Transportation and Safety Infrastructure (completion of an efficient metropolitan transportation system centered on railways, establishment of a proactive disaster prevention system, etc.); ▲Balanced Development through Solidarity and Cooperation (advancement of innovation hubs, improvement of four major regulations in the northeastern region, etc.); ▲Creation of Carbon Neutral and Green Spaces (implementation of the Gyeonggi-do Mountain Belt, establishment of a foundation for carbon neutrality, etc.); ▲Economic Revitalization through Culture and Tourism (fostering globally renowned tourism content, etc.); and ▲Establishment of a Hub for Inter-Korean Peace and Cooperation (promotion of inter-Korean exchanges, etc.).
The spatial structure has been reorganized from the previous five regions (Gyeongui, Gyeongwon, Eastern, Gyeongbu, West Coast) to six regions by dividing the Eastern region into Southeastern and Northeastern areas. Forty-seven central areas across four levels (metropolitan hubs, regional hubs, local centers, strategic hubs) and eleven development axes have been designated to promote balanced regional development.
Looking at the development plans for each region: the Gyeongui region will be developed as a convergence industry hub for broadcasting, video, culture, and bio-medical clusters; the Gyeongwon region will be developed as a new growth hub through the development of an inland distribution and logistics complex. The Northeastern region will focus on the development of station areas centered on the Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX) and other railways, while the Southeastern region will focus on station area development centered on the GTX and Gyeonggang Line. The Gyeongbu region will see the creation of innovation clusters in the city center focused on the fourth industrial revolution and advanced service industries, and the West Coast region will be fostered as a new growth hub for convergence and new industries in the southwestern coastal area.
Gyeonggi-do expects that, if development proceeds as planned, the population will increase by more than 1 million from the current 13.69 million to 14.79 million by 2040.
A Gyeonggi-do official stated, "This comprehensive plan is Gyeonggi-do's strategic roadmap to proactively respond to various future changes, such as population decline, climate crisis, and changes in industrial structure," and added, "We will actively coordinate and support the plan so that it can be effectively implemented in cities, counties, and on the ground."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
