Seo Taewon Marks Three Years as Gapyeong Governor
Designation as Border Area Fuels Growth... Foundation for a Self-Sufficient City with 100,000 Residents
Successful Hosting of Gyeonggi Sports Festival Inspires Possibility and Pride
Gapyeong County will mark the third anniversary of the 8th popularly elected administration on July 1. On June 30, County Governor Seo Taewon described the past three years as "a period in which we discovered potential and built growth engines despite various regulations," adding, "We will create changes that residents can truly feel as we move toward a 'Better Gapyeong, Greater Leap Forward.'
Despite overlapping development restrictions and regulations in the Seoul metropolitan area, Gapyeong County has achieved notable results in areas such as its designation as a border area, the lifting of military facility protection zones, and the expansion of transportation, medical, and tourism infrastructure. Building on these foundations, the county is now formulating a long-term vision to realize a 'self-sufficient city with a resident population of 100,000.'
In March, the government revised the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Support for Border Areas, officially designating Gapyeong County as a border area. Previously, Gapyeong had been classified as part of the Seoul metropolitan area and subjected to various regulations, but was excluded from support for border areas. This long-standing 'policy neglect' has now ended, opening the way for securing national funding and pursuing special projects.
To achieve the border area designation, the county launched a county-wide signature campaign in April, with a participation rate of 71.5% (45,370 residents), reflecting strong interest and aspiration among residents.
Gapyeong County has long suffered from a variety of regulations, including the Seoul Metropolitan Area Readjustment Planning Act, the Han River Water System Act, and the Military Facilities Protection Act, all of which have imposed overlapping restrictions on development.
In February 2023, a 10.4 million square meter military facility protection zone in the Sang-myeon and Jojeong-myeon areas was lifted for the first time in 25 years. This was the result of ongoing consultations with the Ministry of National Defense and other relevant agencies, and marked a turning point by creating practical conditions for development in areas such as streamlining permits, expanding infrastructure, and building residential and industrial complexes.
One of the core tasks for Gapyeong's development has been the expansion of transportation infrastructure. The county's narrow and disconnected road network had long restricted residents' daily lives and the influx of tourists. In response, the county has actively promoted the 10 billion won 'National Road No. 75 Cheongpyeong-Gapyeong Road Improvement' project and the 4 billion won 'National Road No. 75 Majang-Mokdong Road Improvement' project. As a result, the Seoul Regional Land Management Office has begun basic and detailed design services, laying the groundwork for alignment improvement projects on two sections: a total length of 11.9 kilometers from Goseong-ri Gapyeong Bridge in Cheongpyeong-myeon to the entrance of the Waterworks Office in Daljeon-ri, Gapyeong-eup, and a total length of 7.3 kilometers from Majang-ri, Gapyeong-eup to Mokdong-ri, Buk-myeon.
Governor Dongyeon Kim of Gyeonggi Province and County Governor Taewon Seo of Gapyeong County holding hands and entering at the opening ceremony of the 71st Gyeonggi Province Sports Festival held last May. Provided by Gapyeong County
In addition, at the end of last year, the county completed the improvement of dangerous roads in the Daljeon and Bokjang districts, greatly enhancing traffic safety.
Efforts are also underway to extend the Seoul Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX-B) to Gapyeong and Chuncheon, as well as to have trains stop at both Gapyeong and Cheongpyeong stations. This is expected to significantly improve access to Seoul and serve as a key pillar in realizing the 'self-sufficient city with a resident population of 100,000.'
The county is also moving forward with the establishment of a county-run clinic to address the lack of public medical services. The plan is to invest 26.3 billion won to construct a new public medical institution on the site of the former Armed Forces Cheongpyeong Hospital in Cheongpyeong-myeon by 2028, with facilities equipped for 24-hour emergency medical care. This is expected to play a major role in eliminating the long-standing healthcare blind spots in Gapyeong County.
In addition, preparations are underway to launch a 'Talent Development Foundation.' Following the enactment of related ordinances in May, the foundation is scheduled to be established within the year and will serve as a hub for educational welfare, integrating scholarship programs, lifelong learning, and youth welfare.
This year, Gapyeong County successfully hosted both the '15th Gyeonggi-do Sports Festival for the Disabled' and the '71st Gyeonggi Province Sports Festival.' These were the largest comprehensive sports events ever held in Gapyeong in over 70 years, and are regarded as examples of organizational strength demonstrated by residents, volunteers, and public officials working together as one.
Jarasum, Gapyeong's premier tourist destination, has emerged as a key pillar of the local economy. This year's 'Jarasum Flower Festa' attracted about 140,000 visitors during the spring festival alone, including approximately 93,000 paying visitors from outside the county, setting a new success model for county-level festivals. The Jarasum Flower Festa has also been selected as a representative Gyeonggi tourism festival for three consecutive years.
The county is also working to register Jarasum as a 'local garden,' with the ultimate goal of being designated as a national garden. As a first step, the county will complete the riverside ecological tourism belt connecting Seodo and Jungdo by the end of this year, and operate the 'Jarasum Workation Center' to establish the island as a hub for stay-type tourism.
At the same time, the county is pursuing a variety of strategies to expand tourism, including regular operation of the Bukhangang Millennium Waterway cruise, expanding the use of digital tourism resident cards, and developing tourism products linked to railways. The 'Gapyeong US-UK Alliance Security Park,' with a total project cost of 29.6 billion won, is also attracting attention as a future-oriented content combining security and tourism.
Gapyeong County also boasts an outstanding 'survival rate'?the proportion of small business stores that remain in operation without closing for a certain period. According to the 'Status of Small Business Survival Rates in Gyeonggi Province' surveyed by the Gyeonggi-do Market and Commercial Area Promotion Agency, as of 2024, the average three-year survival rate for small businesses in the province is 50.9%, while Gapyeong County recorded 61.1%, ranking second among 31 cities and counties. In particular, the three-year survival rate for the service sector was 84.3%, ranking first in the province (average 63.2%). The high three-year survival rate, despite the ongoing economic downturn and reduced consumption, is attributed to the combined efforts of small business owners and county support.
To realize the 'self-sufficient city with a resident population of 100,000,' the county is focusing on upgrading water supply and sewage infrastructure. By 2028, the county plans to expand seven sewage treatment plants and renovate 259 kilometers of sewage pipelines, aiming to improve both urban infrastructure and the environment. In addition, through the 'Military Personnel as Our Residents Campaign,' the county is implementing policies to attract about 10,000 soldiers to the region, linking county policy promotion, tours of major tourist attractions, and settlement induction programs.
Governor Seo Taewon emphasized, "While the past three years have been a time to discover potential and find growth engines amid various regulations, it is now time to turn that potential into tangible changes that residents can experience. I will do my utmost to ensure that the true strength of Gapyeong County can be felt in the daily lives of our residents."
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