Military Restrictions Lifted on Land 11 Times the Size of Yeouido... Gangwon Special Act's Military Provisions Hit the Jackpot

Gangwon Achieves Second Milestone Under Military Special Provisions of the Gangwon Special Act
10 Million Pyeong Freed?Equivalent to 11 Times the Size of Yeouido
"Area of 4,500 Soccer Fields" Returned to Local Residents
32.47 Square Kilometers Across Nine Areas in Cheorwon, Yanggu, and Goseong
Governor Kim Jin-tae: "We Will Actively Pursue a Third Proposal"

The map of the border areas in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province is being redrawn.

Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, is holding a press conference on the 14th. Provided by Gangwon Province

With the implementation of military special provisions, a core aspect of the Gangwon Special Act, vast tracts of land-equivalent to 11 times the size of Yeouido-are being freed from decades-long military restrictions.

On January 14, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province announced that it has lifted military restrictions in nine areas across three cities and counties (Cheorwon, Yanggu, and Goseong), covering a total of 32.47 square kilometers (approximately 9.82 million pyeong, the size of 4,548 soccer fields, or 11 times the area of Yeouido). This marks the second major achievement following the northward adjustment of the Civilian Control Line in Cheorwon and Hwacheon in March last year.

With these regulations lifted, local residents can now exercise their legitimate property rights, such as constructing new buildings or expanding existing ones, and large-scale tourism infrastructure projects led by local governments have received a significant boost.

In Cheorwon, the following measures are being implemented: the lifting of restricted protection zones around the Drini Columnar Jointing Trail in Guntan-ri and the residential area in Odeok-ri; the relocation of the Civilian Control Post in Yangji-ri, Geunnam-myeon; and the lifting of restricted protection zones in Yukdan-ri, Geunnam-myeon.

Thanks to these changes, the Drini Columnar Jointing Trail area, which attracted about 660,000 visitors in 2024, will be able to expand amenities and develop tourism infrastructure, accelerating local tourism revitalization. In addition, the densely populated residential area of Odeok-ri, home to 186 households, will now allow construction activities, improving residents' property rights and living conditions.

Furthermore, the approximately 600 residents of Mahyeon 1-ri and 2-ri in Cheorwon, who have faced daily inconveniences and disruptions to farming due to restricted access at the Civilian Control Post, will be able to move freely once the relocation is completed.

In Yanggu County, the following measures are underway: delegation of certain consultation work regarding the flight safety zone at Andaeri Airfield, and the northward adjustment of the Civilian Control Line (from controlled area to restricted protection zone, with conditional approval) in areas such as Dutayeon. In Goseong County, the northward adjustment of the Civilian Control Line (with conditional approval) is being applied to seven villages, including the Unification Observatory and Geonbongsa Temple in Hyeonnae-myeon.

2025 Military Facility Protection Zone Regulation Improvement Status. Provided by Gangwon Province

The Andaeri Airfield flight safety zone in Yanggu, which was visited on July 29, currently requires consultation with the Ministry of National Defense or military units for any new construction or expansion. However, if consultation authority is delegated to the local government, the consultation period could be shortened by up to 30 days, providing momentum for regional development.

For areas where the northward adjustment of the Civilian Control Line was conditionally approved, further regulatory easing may be possible once budgets and conditions are secured. The province and local governments plan to work together to secure as much national funding as possible and to implement preliminary measures without delay.

National Assembly member Han Kiho (representing Chuncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, and Yanggu) stated, "With this second achievement under the military special provisions, a core feature of the Gangwon Special Act, we are breathing new life into the border areas. I would like to thank the Ministry of National Defense and military personnel, and we will continue to minimize inconvenience for residents by lifting and easing military facility protection zones and adjusting the Civilian Control Line."

Governor Kim Jin-tae said, "This time, in three cities and counties and nine areas, a region of about 10 million pyeong-11 times the size of Yeouido-has been freed from military restrictions. Thanks to the Gangwon Special Act, which allows the governor to directly propose the lifting of restrictions and requires explanations for any rejections, we were able to achieve these results." He added, "We plan to actively pursue a third proposal and hope for the proactive participation of the cities and counties."