Kim Dong-yeon, "Will Completely Transform Northern Gyeonggi Province's Geography, Industry, and Residents' Daily Lives"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon announced the 'Northern Gyeonggi Major Development 2040 Vision,' which commits to mobilizing all of Gyeonggi Province's capabilities to transform the geography of northern Gyeonggi and substantially change the lives of northern residents.

Governor Kim stated at the 'Northern Gyeonggi Major Development Vision Declaration Ceremony' held at the Gender Equality Paju Exhibition and Education Center on the 18th, "Northern Gyeonggi Province has entered a new opportunity for development since the launch of the citizen-sovereignty government," and "Gyeonggi Province has also prepared special plans for northern Gyeonggi. Through the Northern Gyeonggi Major Development 2040 Vision, we will awaken the potential of northern Gyeonggi and create a new growth axis for the Republic of Korea."

Governor Kim continued, "The Northern Gyeonggi Major Development 2040 is not simply a regional development project, but a long-term comprehensive development strategy that transforms northern Gyeonggi, with unlimited potential, into the center of peace, balanced development, and innovative growth," and explained, "By 2040, through SOC expansion, industrial infrastructure innovation, and overlapping regulation innovation, we will completely transform the geography, industry, and daily lives of northern Gyeonggi residents."

Governor Kim explained the Northern Gyeonggi Major Development 2040 Vision by dividing it into four aspects on that day.

First, he announced that the allocation of industrial complex capacity will be prioritized for the northern regions including Uijeongbu and the U.S. military return-transfer areas to lay the foundation for advanced industries, and second, for the first time as a local government, direct financial investment will be made in the development of return-transfer areas to make the U.S. military return-transfer zones into future growth hubs.

Third, he explained that convenience for movement of northern residents will be enhanced through the extension of Incheon Line 2 to Goyang, extension of KTX to Paju, extension of SRT to Uijeongbu, and extension of GTX to Dongducheon, and fourth, centered on the Pocheon Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center that opened last month, northern Gyeonggi will be cultivated as a core hub of the K-defense industry.

Governor Kim also announced plans to accelerate the timeline for the Northeast Innovation-Type Public Medical Center by two years to begin construction in 2028, and also plans to significantly strengthen administrative support for northern economic revitalization, including support for early industrial complex sales and financial support for small and medium enterprises.

Governor Kim emphasized, "I am confident that northern Gyeonggi Province is a powerful engine that awakens the Republic of Korea's growth potential. The development of northern Gyeonggi will lead the growth of the Republic of Korea," and stated, "Through the Northern Gyeonggi Major Development 2040, we will open a new era for northern Gyeonggi Province."

This plan is a long-term development project to establish growth foundations for northern Gyeonggi Province with SOC expansion, industrial infrastructure innovation, and overlapping regulation reduction as implementation strategies.

The northern development plan, which was established in 2023 and has been managed with 165 agendas, will be reorganized to pursue 378 detailed projects across 7 key tasks by 2040.

Looking at the seven key tasks, first, in the ①roads sector, △expressways centered on northern Gyeonggi (targeting opening in 2034) △16 key local roads totaling 63.68㎞ and 20 provincial roads totaling 87.95㎞ will be constructed. ②In the railways sector, △KTX extension to Paju/SRT extension to Yeoncheon △GTX-A to H line expansion △Yangju Deokjeong-Okjeong line and the seamless promotion of the Second Gyeonggi Province Urban Rail Transit Network Plan are targeted.

③In the urban development sector, △a 300 billion won scale Gyeonggi Province U.S. Military Return-Transfer Area Development Fund will be established over 10 years to proactively develop U.S. military return-transfer sites, and ④in the jobs and industrial infrastructure sector, △establishment of the Northern Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center △defense innovation cluster (space, robotics, AI, drones, semiconductors) △Goyang Ilsan and Yangju Techno Valley △Yangju Hoecheon and Namyangju Wangsuk Smart Industrial Complex development are being promoted. ⑤In the improvement of settlement conditions sector, △early establishment of Namyangju and Yangju Innovation-Type Public Medical Centers △promotion of relocation of public institutions to the north ⑥In the ecology, environment, and tourism sector, △climate tech cluster △DMZ peace tourism hub development are included.

Finally, ⑦regulation reduction and institutional improvement will prepare balanced development and development foundations for northern Gyeonggi Province through △establishment of a peace economy and opportunity development special zone △reorganization of customized deregulation ordinances for northern Gyeonggi.

The province expects that when the Northern Gyeonggi Major Development 2040 Vision is realized, approximately 160 trillion won in production ripple effects and 68 trillion won in added value ripple effects will occur.

The province plans to continuously check and manage the progress of each project and, through communication with municipal governments and residents, continuously develop the major development plan.