Gyeonggi Province Prepares Comprehensive Development Plan for Areas Around U.S. Military Bases in Korea (2018~2022)... Pursues Ministry of the Interior and Safety Approval

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Ah-hyun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 5th that it has prepared a 'revised comprehensive development plan for areas around U.S. military base sites in Korea (2018~2022)' taking into account changed local conditions, and plans to pursue Ministry of the Interior and Safety approval after gathering opinions from residents and experts.

The 'comprehensive development plan for areas around U.S. military base sites in Korea' is a comprehensive plan for support for returned base sites and surrounding areas in five cities and counties—Uijeongbu, Paju, Dongducheon, Hwaseong, and Hanam—from last year through 2022.

The revised plan reflects items gathered from each city and county, taking into account changed local conditions as of the time following the comprehensive plan revision in June last year.

As a result, six projects were added and eight were excluded from the existing 240 projects, with 17 projects modified, bringing the total to 238 projects. The budget increased by 572.1 billion won, from the existing 39.1228 trillion won to 39.6949 trillion won, as major development projects were newly reflected.

Key changes include: First, among 'returned base site development projects,' Camp Kyle in Uijeongbu and Colburn in Hanam had their utilization plans changed to urban development projects as plans to attract public institutions and universities fell through.

Camp Guantia in Uijeongbu changed plans to develop an available district redevelopment promotion area as a park for efficient land use, with the originally planned park area now to be developed as an urban development project. For Kunsan Air Base in Hwaseong, new content was added to establish a peace memorial hall within Maehyang-ri Peace Ecology Park.

For 'surrounding area support projects,' a new interchange connection project between Uijeongbu Ho-won and Seobu-ro was newly included to improve accessibility to Seoul Outer Ring Expressway Ho-won Interchange. For Pocheon Soseul-eup Urban Planning Road opening project, as the central investment review determined reconsideration, it was decided to replace it with Pocheon Gomo Interchange to Songwoo Road expansion.

For 'related ministry, local government projects, and private investment projects,' approximately 144 billion won of Yangju Techno Valley and approximately 380 billion won Yangju Eunnam General Industrial Complex development project were newly added to establish a foundation for fostering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Additionally, the utilization of Ho-won Reserve Forces Training Center as an urban development project was also included.

Apart from this, seven projects including Pocheon Shinbuk Resort development project are planned to be excluded from the comprehensive plan due to project cancellations or insufficient funding conditions of private project operators and lack of project feasibility.

On the 5th, the Province gathered and reviewed opinions from residents and experts through a 'public hearing on revisions to the comprehensive development plan for areas around U.S. military base sites in Korea' held at the Grand Hall of the Uijeongbu Clean Water Environment Project Office, and plans to supplement the revised plan and request approval from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Meanwhile, as of January this year, returned base sites subject to return in Gyeonggi Province total 34 locations covering 173 km², which corresponds to 96% of the nationwide total of 179 km².

Jung Sang-kyun, Director of Balanced Development Planning at the Province, stated, "This revised plan aims at revitalizing the regional economy and enhancing resident welfare in line with changed circumstances," and added, "We will make efforts to ensure that projects reflected in the comprehensive plan are implemented promptly and contribute to regional balanced development."