[Column] Dongducheon: From Sacrifice to Opportunity... The Defense Industry Cluster Is the Answer

Hyungdeok Park, Mayor of Dongducheon.

The security of South Korea has been maintained through the sacrifices of specific regions. Dongducheon is a prime example of such a city. Dongducheon has provided 42% of its land area as sites for U.S. military bases, and even now, 70% of all unrestituted U.S. military base land nationwide is concentrated in this city.

For decades, Dongducheon has had to endure enormous economic losses for the sake of national security. The accumulated losses over the past 74 years amount to 25 trillion won. As a result, Dongducheon’s fiscal independence remains the lowest in Gyeonggi Province, and its gross regional product is also at the bottom.

Now, it is time for ‘special compensation’ that matches this ‘special sacrifice.’ The answer lies in the creation of a national defense industry cluster led by the central government.

The “Dongducheon Defense Industry Promotion Policy Forum” held at Dongducheon City Hall on September 15 sought solutions to this issue. Experts at the forum unanimously emphasized that “Dongducheon is the optimal location for a defense industry cluster.”

There were calls to attract a Defense Venture Center centered on the second phase of the national industrial complex, and to establish a cooperative ecosystem among industry, academia, research institutions, and the military to concentrate advanced new defense industries. Currently, defense innovation clusters have been designated in Changwon, Daejeon, and Gumi, yielding positive results, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to expand the number to six by 2026. Dongducheon’s accessibility to the capital region and proximity to military units are unique advantages that set it apart.

In particular, attracting a Defense Venture Center is both a prerequisite and a core pillar for establishing a defense industry cluster. The Defense Venture Center is operated through cooperation between the Agency for Defense Development and local governments, systematically supporting small and venture companies in entering the defense sector by assisting with technology development, project discovery, combat experimentation, and participation in patents and exhibitions.

If a Defense Venture Center is established in Dongducheon, it will be possible to foster tailored talent in partnership with local universities and to rapidly apply new technologies in the field through practical cooperation with the military. Small businesses, which would find it difficult to enter the defense market on their own, can gain global competitiveness with the support of the Venture Center. This will lead to the strengthening of both the local economy and national industrial capabilities.

Once a defense industry cluster is established in Dongducheon, more than 900 jobs will be created annually, and opportunities will open for small and venture companies to enter the defense sector. A systematic ecosystem will be formed, combining talent development in collaboration with nearby universities, technology development partnerships with companies and research institutes, and field testing with military units. This will serve as a catalyst for fundamentally transforming Dongducheon’s economic structure and aligns with the national balanced development strategy.

I plan to personally deliver a petition reflecting these expert recommendations and the aspirations of local citizens to the Minister of National Defense. I will strongly urge that the government fulfill its promise of “national industrial complex development led by the central government” and ensure that the Dongducheon defense industry cluster is included in this initiative.

Dongducheon should no longer be forced to bear sacrifices alone. It must now be reborn as a strategic hub leading South Korea’s self-reliant defense, based on its dedication to national security. This is justice, fairness, and a duty the nation must fulfill. The establishment of the Dongducheon defense industry cluster is necessary as special compensation for special sacrifice, and I earnestly request the understanding and support of all citizens to realize this historic mission.