Water Resources Protection Bans Hynix Icheon Expansion, But Military Unit Deployment Permissible… Gyeonggi Province Raises Questions

Gyeonggi Province has pushed back against the government's decision to relocate military units within Songpa New City.

On the 16th, the province issued a statement regarding the military unit relocation decision within Songpa New City, stating that "Gyeonggi Province opposes the government's unilateral decision." The province added that if the military unit relocation is not withdrawn, it will make all efforts to protect the rights and survival interests of Icheon and Hanam citizens, as well as all citizens of Gyeonggi Province.

The government's military unit relocation plan announced on the 11th involves transferring the Special Warfare Command, Presidential Security Service, and Foreign Language School to Icheon, and the Army Welfare Service Logistics Center to Hanam.

This represents four out of seven military units that the government plans to relocate for Songpa New City development being moved to Gyeonggi Province.

Spokesperson Choi Woo-young criticized the plan during a briefing, stating, "To announce the relocation of military units—a matter that could significantly impact the property rights of local residents and regional development—unilaterally without any prior consultation with the relevant municipalities and provincial authorities devalues the local autonomy system, which is the foundation of democracy."

Spokesperson Choi further stated, "In particular, it is contradictory to deny the expansion of the Hynix Icheon plant, which discharges 24 grams of copper daily, citing the protection of the Paldang water source, while relocating a military unit to Icheon that discharges 800 tons of sewage and 2,000 tons of waste daily."

Spokesperson Choi emphasized, "While we understand the importance of national security and have endured having 22% of the total provincial area (2,213㎢) designated as military facility protection zones and over 90% of U.S. Forces Korea bases located in the province—bearing triple and quadruple hardships—we oppose the government's unilateral, arbitrary policy decisions and inconsistent policies."