Ministry of National Defense Lifts Protection Zones Covering 630,000 Square Meters in Yeoncheon and Cheorwon Areas

The Ministry of National Defense announced on January 14 that it will lift the military facility protection zones covering approximately 630,000 square meters in the areas of Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Cheorwon, Gangwon Province.

Previously, at the end of last year, the Ministry of National Defense finalized the "4th Basic Management Plan for Protection Zones and Others (2025-2029)" after a review by the Military Base and Military Facility Protection Review Committee, and took this action accordingly. The areas in question include 7,497 square meters in Yeoncheon and 622,000 square meters in Cheorwon.

Yonhap News Agency

The Chatan-ri area in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province, is already an established residential district and serves as the location of the Yeoncheon County Office. Similarly, the Odeok-ri, Ipyeong-ri, and Hwaji-ri areas in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon Province, have developed into local transportation hubs and residential complexes, including an intercity bus terminal. The Guntan-ri area in Cheorwon-gun has become a tourist district, and the lifting of the restricted protection zone is expected to facilitate the development of tourist amenities and revitalize the local commercial area.

Meanwhile, prior to the Ministry of National Defense's review, on December 19 last year, the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved the delegation of licensing authority for construction and other permits in 12.44 million square meters of protection zones in border areas to local governments. As a result, construction and other activities are now possible without consultation with the relevant military unit, as long as the height does not exceed the limits previously set by the military, effectively lifting the protection zone restrictions in those cases.