82% of Capital Region Residents Say 'Environmental Value Should Be Prioritized in DMZ Utilization and Development'

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] As inter-Korean relations improve and development conditions become favorable, arguments have been raised that the DMZ, a globally significant ecosystem, should be preserved and border regions near the DMZ should be used as a central axis for developing a sustainable development model.

The Gyeonggi Research Institute announced on the 26th that it has published a report titled "Research on South-North Environmental Cooperation Plans for Gyeonggi Province," which proposes inter-Korean cooperation measures by environmental sector in preparation for when inter-Korean exchanges become more active, as well as directions for development and utilization of areas near the DMZ.

Prior to the research, a survey on inter-Korean environmental cooperation was conducted in July targeting 1,000 capital region residents. The results showed that 87% of residents responded that the DMZ has high environmental value. When asked about the core value to be prioritized in the utilization and development of the DMZ and border regions, 82% chose the environment over economy (17%). Regarding residential patterns in the inter-Korean border region, 67% of respondents preferred scattered, village-unit residential areas, and regarding energy supply methods in border regions, 66% of respondents selected renewable energy such as solar energy.

Based on the survey results showing that the environmental value of the DMZ and border regions far exceeds their economic value, the report presents the following cooperation measures by environmental sector: ▲(Natural Environment) Recovery from forest pest damage, modernization of tree nurseries ▲(Rivers) Establishment of riparian buffer zones, operation of Han River estuary governance ▲(Water and Sewerage) Determination of water intake sources and intake methods, technical support for sewage facilities ▲(Resource Circulation) Installation of waste treatment facilities and support for resource circulation plan establishment ▲(Atmosphere) Monitoring and emission source investigation, technical support for business facility management ▲(Energy) Small-scale solar power support, construction of an energy-independent village model in the Imjin River Biosphere Reserve ▲(Health) R&D promotion combining southern pharmaceuticals and northern natural material resources, joint inter-Korean response to livestock infectious diseases, and so forth.

Areas near the DMZ, a world-renowned ecological treasure, need to apply a new type of development approach that prioritizes environmental conservation and sustainability after specific DMZ preservation plans are established.
As DMZ preservation measures, designation as a national park and inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site are the most effective. Next, zoning regulations can be applied, or protection areas can be designated by combining linear planning that considers ridgelines, waterways, and the direction of the DMZ with zoning. Additionally, measures such as jointly implementing DMZ protection projects with international organizations after acquiring land with high conservation value can be considered.
Areas near the DMZ need to attempt development methods based on water and energy self-sufficiency. Rather than relying on large-scale water supply systems, water should be supplied by setting appropriate water intake amounts from sources available in the region, and industrial complexes and residential areas using 100% renewable energy should be developed.
Large-scale water supply systems have problems including conflicts between upstream and downstream areas due to regulations and risks from dependence on single water intake sources, and energy supply systems reliant on nuclear power plants or coal-fired power plants are unsustainable due to problems such as nuclear waste disposal, climate change, and fine dust.

Lee Ki-young, Senior Research Fellow at the Gyeonggi Research Institute who conducted the research, stated, "It would be beneficial to establish a 'DMZ Sustainable Development Committee' (tentative name) with broad participation from environmental and development experts and related institutions, to create a sustainable development model that overcomes the limitations of existing southern development methods and creates a new development approach for future generations in the undeveloped areas near the DMZ."