Governor Kim Dongyeon: "Gyeonggi Region Unification Plus Center, the First Step in Paving the Way for Inter-Korean Relations"

Uijeongbu Camp La Guardia Transformed into the Gyeonggi Region Unification Plus Center
Gyeonggi Province Establishes Unification Plus Center on Returned Camp La Guardia Site
Regional Adaptation Center for North Korean Defectors and Peace/Unification Education Programs
Governor Kim: "Gyeonggi Province Will Serve as a 'Pace Maker' Supporting the 'Peacemaker'"

The former U.S. military base Camp La Guardia, once a symbol of division and military tension, has been transformed into the "Gyeonggi Region Unification Plus Center," symbolizing peace and unification, and has been returned to the residents of the province.

Minsheng Economy Field Tour - Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon, who visited Uijeongbu on the "Daldal (Different at Every Destination) Bus," is delivering a greeting at the opening ceremony of the Gyeonggi Region Unification Plus Center on the 15th. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

On September 15, during the Minsheng Economy Field Tour-arriving in Uijeongbu on the "Daldal (Different at Every Destination) Bus"-Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon stated, "The opening of the Unification Plus Center marks the first step in paving the way for dialogue and cooperation in inter-Korean relations," adding, "As the nation’s primary partner in governance, we will serve as a 'pace maker' to support the administration."

That morning, Gyeonggi Province held the opening ceremony of the "Gyeonggi Region Unification Plus Center" on Sinheung-ro in Uijeongbu, with over 150 attendees, including Governor Kim Dongyeon, Minister of Unification Jeong Dongyoung, National Assembly members Lee Jaekang and Park Jihye, Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Donggeun, Gyeonggi Provincial Council Planning and Finance Committee Chairperson Cho Sunghwan, and North Korean defectors.

This event, held as part of the 80th anniversary of Liberation, was organized to share the opening of the Gyeonggi Region Unification Plus Center with residents and to serve as a symbolic starting point for a new era of social integration.

In his welcoming remarks, Governor Kim said, "Gyeonggi Province, as a border province, has lived with North Korea at its doorstep for 80 years. This site, once home to a U.S. Army 2nd Division engineering unit with heavy equipment, steel, and weapons, is now home to a beautiful and clean building with excellent software, and I am pleased about this transformation. Looking back, inter-Korean relations were extremely tense and chilly during the previous administration. During that period, Gyeonggi Province exercised patience, waiting for a time of dialogue and cooperation, and made many efforts in its own way."

He continued, "The new administration has set a direction of pursuing patient dialogue and cooperation in inter-Korean relations, and the President has repeatedly expressed his commitment to developing returned U.S. military sites. In line with this people-sovereignty government direction, Gyeonggi Province will serve as the primary partner in governance, supporting the 'peacemaker' as a 'pace maker.'"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon attended the opening ceremony of the "Gyeonggi Region Unification Plus Center" on the 15th along with Unification Minister Jeong Dongyoung and Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Donggeun, participating in the ribbon-cutting. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

He further emphasized, "Today, through the opening of the Unification Plus Center and the upcoming September 19 Camp Greaves commemoration ceremony, we hope to show the public that we are taking the first step in patiently paving the way for dialogue and cooperation in inter-Korean relations. As the nation’s primary partner, Gyeonggi Province will do its utmost to ensure the success of the people-sovereignty government and to build a new Republic of Korea."

In his congratulatory address, Minister of Unification Jeong Dongyoung stated, "Gyeonggi Province has six Hana Centers: in the east, west, south, north, central, and northwest regions. The Unification Plus Center in Uijeongbu will serve as the command center. Of the 34,000 North Korean defectors, about 10,000 live in Gyeonggi Province. I hope that this center will serve as a hotline connecting these 10,000 people."

He continued, "The suicide rate in our country is 28 per 100,000 people, but among North Korean defectors, it is 54-twice as high. They came here to live, but ending their lives in the South is the worst tragedy. I believe this is the issue the Unification Plus Center must focus on. The key is jobs. If there are jobs, people have somewhere to go in the morning, which can prevent extreme thoughts. I hope this place becomes the headquarters of humanitarianism, ensuring that none of the 10,000 North Korean defectors take their own lives. I would like to ask that this be the center’s first mission."

The center, the fourth of its kind after those in Incheon (2018), Jeonnam (2023), and Gangwon (2024), was built with a total investment of 14.8 billion won (4.19 billion won from the national government and 10.61 billion won from the province). The facility, with one basement level and three above-ground floors, covers a total area of 2,083 square meters and includes a Peace Lounge, exhibition and experience hall, performance venue, Hana Center, and more. Camp La Guardia, where the center is located, was established in 1951 as a 51,510-square-meter base for a U.S. 2nd Division engineering unit and was returned in April 2007.

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, and Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, are attending the opening ceremony of the Gyeonggi Region Unification Plus Center on the 15th and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Provided by Gyeonggi Province

At the opening ceremony, Governor Kim Dongyeon and Minister Jeong Dongyoung signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ensure the stable operation of the center. Under the agreement, the Ministry of Unification will support the establishment and operation of a regional adaptation center for North Korean defectors, provide materials on unification and North Korea, and operate peace and unification education programs. Gyeonggi Province will support the center’s active operation by developing resident participation programs, building public-private cooperation networks, and conducting promotional activities.

During the event, Minister Jeong Dongyoung presented Governor Kim Dongyeon with a puzzle piece shaped like Gyeonggi Province, which Governor Kim then placed into the Gyeonggi Province section of a map of the Korean Peninsula. This performance, symbolizing Gyeonggi Province’s completion of the "final piece of the puzzle for unification" due to its close ties to peace and unification, was met with enthusiastic response from attendees.

Gyeonggi Province plans to operate the center as an open platform, allowing all residents to receive education and participate in experiences and various programs related to peace and unification.