Gyeonggi Province to Proactively Lead Development of USFK Returned Land Areas

Gyeonggi Province Launches Task Force for USFK Returned Land Development
President Lee Jaemyung and Governor Kim Dongyeon Join Forces for Comprehensive, Tailored Development
Gyeonggi to Lead Proactive Plans and Seek Special Compensation for Extraordinary Sacrifice

On August 14, Gyeonggi Province held the first meeting of the "Task Force for the Activation of Development in USFK Returned Land Areas" at the Northern Government Complex of Gyeonggi Province.

Daesoon Kim, Vice Governor for Administration of Gyeonggi Province, is holding the first meeting of the "Task Force for the Activation of Development in USFK Returned Land Areas" on the 14th at the Northern Government Complex of Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

The development of USFK returned land areas is a national policy initiative that President Lee Jaemyung has shown deep interest in and is personally overseeing. Governor Kim Dongyeon of Gyeonggi Province also expressed strong determination during an emergency policy meeting on the 5th, stating, "We will create a new turning point for the long-stalled development of USFK returned land areas."

The "Task Force for the Activation of Development in USFK Returned Land Areas" is led by Daesoon Kim, Vice Governor for Administration of Gyeonggi Province. It includes the Director of the Office for Balanced Development Planning, the Director of the Urban Housing Office, the Director of the Economic Office, the Director of the Construction Bureau, the Director of the Railway, Port, and Logistics Bureau, deputy heads of the five cities involved in returned land areas (Uijeongbu, Paju, Dongducheon, Hanam, Hwaseong), the President of the Gyeonggi Research Institute, the Director of Balanced Development at Gyeonggi Urban Innovation Corporation, and external experts (professors). The task force operates with three teams: the General Affairs Team, the Development Strategy Team, and the Research and Advisory Team.

Through the operation of the task force, the province plans to move away from a passive stance of merely requesting support from the central government and instead establish a proactive plan that Gyeonggi Province will implement first.

At the meeting, participants discussed: establishing a comprehensive development direction encompassing the returned land areas and surrounding regions; expanding social infrastructure in connection with major development projects in northern (Uijeongbu, Paju, Dongducheon) and eastern/western (Hanam, Hwaseong) Gyeonggi; supporting development projects by expanding transportation infrastructure such as roads and railways; devising measures to improve residents' quality of life and revitalize the local economy by pursuing both industry- and enterprise-centered as well as culture-centered development tailored to each region's characteristics; and providing tax incentives for development projects in the returned land areas.

The task force will maintain an organic system of cooperation by holding regular monthly meetings and additional meetings as needed, actively gathering opinions from local governments and experts, and proactively submitting proposals for revitalizing returned land areas to the government and the National Assembly.

Daesoon Kim, Vice Governor for Administration of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "As we have endured sacrifices for the national security of the Republic of Korea for the past 70 years, compensation and support must be provided. Gyeonggi Province will more actively identify its responsibilities to accelerate the development of returned land areas and simultaneously achieve balanced development and economic revitalization for both northern Gyeonggi and the entire province."