"25% of Gyeonggi Province Classified as Undevelopable Land"

It has been pointed out that 25% of Gyeonggi Province is undevelopable due to high elevation.

The Gyeonggi Research Institute announced on the 25th that based on elevation data for Gyeonggi Province generated through analysis of digital topographic maps using Geographic Information System (GIS), areas with elevations of 200 meters or higher that cannot be developed account for 25% of the total provincial area, or 2,537.4 square kilometers.

Digital topographic map analysis is a method that calculates elevation and slope by analyzing contour line data rather than through actual surveying methods.

According to this analysis, the elevation distribution of Gyeonggi Province shows that the northeastern region relative to Seoul has higher elevations due to high mountains, while the southwestern region exhibits relatively flat and gentle terrain.

By region, areas in the northeastern part of Gyeonggi Province—including Gapyeong (360.3m average elevation), Yangpyeong (239.1m), Pocheon (252.5m), and Dongducheon (209.4m)—show elevations of 200 meters or higher, making development difficult.

The report pointed out that due to their high terrain, these areas have lower output effects relative to development costs, and with favorable natural environments, they have greater conservation value than development potential.

In contrast, regions with low average elevations include Pyeongtaek (21.8m), Gimpo (25.7m), Siheung (27.5m), Ansan (32.4m), and Bucheon (34.5m), with Pyeongtaek and Gimpo, representative plains areas of Gyeonggi Province, showing the lowest elevations.

The Gyeonggi Research Institute stated that since there are significant differences in elevation distribution by municipality and substantial regional variations in topographical characteristics, development standards should not be uniformly set based on elevation. Rather, each municipality should consider local conditions in accordance with their respective urban planning ordinances.