Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Donggeun: "Laying the Foundation for a Just and Balanced Northern Gyeonggi"

Uijeongbu City Signs MOU with Ministry of Justice, Court Administration Office, and Gyeonggi Province
Agreement Reached on Establishing External Division and Early Development of Legal Town
United Efforts to Fulfill the Long-standing Aspirations of 3.6 Million Northern Gyeonggi Residents

The long-standing aspirations of the 3.6 million residents of Northern Gyeonggi Province for the establishment of an external division of the Seoul High Court and the early development of a legal district are now gaining significant momentum.

Mayor Kim Donggeun is taking a commemorative photo together after signing the "Business Agreement for the Improvement of Judicial Welfare Services in Northern Gyeonggi Province" with the Ministry of Justice, the Court Administration Office, and Gyeonggi Province at the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office on the 18th. Provided by Uijeongbu City

The city of Uijeongbu (Mayor Kim Donggeun) announced on the 18th that it had signed a "Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Improvement of Judicial Welfare Services in Northern Gyeonggi Province" with the Ministry of Justice, the Court Administration Office, and Gyeonggi Province at the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office. This is expected to dramatically improve the rights and interests of Northern Gyeonggi residents, who have suffered from judicial imbalance as the only region among the nation's 18 district courts without an external division of the high court.

At the signing ceremony, Mayor Kim Donggeun, Hwang Byeongheon, Chief Judge of Uijeongbu District Court, Lee Manheum, Chief Prosecutor of Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, Kim Daesoon, Second Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and National Assembly members Park Ji-hye and Lee Jaekang attended, reaffirming their commitment to protecting the rights and interests of Uijeongbu citizens and Northern Gyeonggi residents and to creating a fair judicial environment.

Although Northern Gyeonggi is a large metropolitan area with a population of 3.6 million, it remains the only region among the 18 district courts nationwide without an external division of the high court.

This agreement aims to improve judicial welfare services for Northern Gyeonggi residents and revitalize the stagnant local economy by facilitating the prompt relocation of judicial institutions within the public housing district of Uijeongbu Legal Town in the Gosan-dong area and establishing an external division of the Seoul High Court.

According to the implementation schedule, the development of the Legal Town site is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The design of the new buildings, including the Uijeongbu District Court, the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, and the external division of the Seoul High Court, is scheduled to be finalized between the second half of 2026 and the second half of 2028.

Subsequently, full-scale construction is set to begin with the goal of completion in the second half of 2031, establishing the area as the undisputed legal hub of Northern Gyeonggi Province.

Under the agreement, Gyeonggi Province and Uijeongbu City will provide administrative support, including assistance with urban planning approvals, military consultations, infrastructure connections, and early development of public office sites. The Ministry of Justice will establish relocation plans for the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office and expedite the development of public office buildings. The Court Administration Office will be responsible for the relocation plan for the Uijeongbu District Court, the rapid development of public office buildings, and the establishment of an external division of the Seoul High Court.

Mayor Kim Donggeun is taking a commemorative photo together after signing the "Business Agreement for the Improvement of Judicial Welfare Services in Northern Gyeonggi Province" with the Ministry of Justice, the Court Administration Office, and Gyeonggi Province at the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office on the 18th. Provided by Uijeongbu City

In addition, the four agencies will form a working-level consultative body to hold regular meetings and establish an efficient cooperation system. Through these efforts, the establishment of the external division of the Seoul High Court and the early development of the legal district are expected to accelerate further.

The current site in Ganeung-dong, where the Uijeongbu District Court and the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office are located, will be reviewed for various future development plans. The city plans to utilize this site efficiently to strengthen urban functions and revitalize the local economy.

Mayor Kim Donggeun stated, "Today's agreement marks an important starting point for a greater future for Uijeongbu City. If all participating institutions and citizens unite, Northern Gyeonggi will be reborn as a just and fair city, and Uijeongbu will become the undisputed legal hub of Northern Gyeonggi Province."