Gyeonggi Province Pushes for Ministry of Interior and Safety Approval of Revised Comprehensive Development Plan for Areas Around U.S. Military Bases...Budget Increased by 1.44 Trillion Won

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Nohun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 12th that it has prepared a revised comprehensive development plan for areas surrounding U.S. military bases and returning areas (2008-2022) with a budget increased by 1.44 trillion won from the previous plan, and will pursue approval from the Ministry of Interior and Safety after gathering opinions from residents and experts.

The 'Comprehensive Development Plan for Areas Around U.S. Military Bases and Returning Areas' is a comprehensive plan from 2008 to 2022 for support to returning areas and areas surrounding U.S. military bases.

In this revision, considering changed regional conditions since the comprehensive plan revision in September last year and matters collected from each municipality and county, the province will proceed with plan changes for nine cities and counties: Hwaseong, Namyangju, Pyeongtaek, Paju, Uijeongbu, Yangju, Yangpyeong, Dongducheon, and Yeoncheon.

Accordingly, four projects have been added to the existing 239 projects, one project has been excluded, and 14 projects have been modified, resulting in a total of 242 projects. The budget increased by 1.44 trillion won from the previous 39.6979 trillion won to 41.1389 trillion won as new large-scale development projects are reflected.

Looking at the main contents of the revision, first, Camp Stantion in Paju, among 'returning area development projects,' has added industrial complex development in addition to the existing educational facilities urban development project.

Camp Howze in Paju and Camp Essayons in Uijeongbu reflect changes in project period extension and adjustments to facility costs and land acquisition expenses.

As for 'surrounding area support projects,' a park development project in areas surrounding Camp Essayons in Uijeongbu has been newly added. Additionally, the project cost for the road expansion construction connecting Hwaseong's Gungpyeong Tourist Area will be increased, and due to delays in the return of Camp Hovey in Dongducheon, the existing road development project connecting Soemok Village will be converted to the National Route 3 road expansion project.

For 'related government agencies, local government projects and private investment projects,' large-scale local government and private investment projects such as Paju Medical Cluster with 1.5 trillion won invested, Yeoncheon Movix World Theme Park valued at 1.1071 trillion won, and Paju Unjeong Techno Valley worth approximately 205.8 billion won have been newly included.

In addition, Dongducheon Video Culture Tourism Complex is planned to be removed from the comprehensive development plan due to private contractors' failure to meet project implementation conditions.

The province held a 'public hearing on the revised comprehensive development plan for areas surrounding U.S. military bases and returning areas' at the Grand Hall of Uijeongbu City's Clean Water Environment Project Office on the 11th, and plans to review opinions from residents and experts, supplement the revision, and then request approval from the Ministry of Interior and Safety.

Lee Han-gyu, Director of the Balanced Development Planning Division, stated, "The province is making efforts toward early return of U.S. military bases, nation-led development, and activating private investment in line with the policy philosophy of 'special sacrifices deserve special compensation' of the 7th civilian-elected administration," and added, "We will strive to ensure that projects reflected in the comprehensive development plan draw national attention and contribute to regional balanced development."

Meanwhile, as of January 2020, returning areas targeted within Gyeonggi Province consist of 34 sites covering a total area of 173 square kilometers, which corresponds to 96% of the nation's total 179 square kilometers.