Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province to Pursue 14 'Mutual Cooperation' Projects

Gyeonggi Province signed a "Gyeonggi Province-Gangwon Province Mutual Cooperation" agreement with Gangwon Province on the 20th at the small conference room in the new building of Gangwon Province Hall.

The signing ceremony was attended by Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon, along with Lee Ki-woo, Vice Governor of Social Integration for Gyeonggi Province, Hwang Sung-tae, Director of Planning and Coordination for Gyeonggi Province, Kim Jung-sam, Vice Governor of Administration for Gangwon Province, and Kim Mi-young, Vice Governor of Economy for Gangwon Province.

According to the agreement, the two provincial governments will pursue 14 mutual cooperation projects including the development and activation of tourism products utilizing the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), rationalization of military facility restrictions, opening of railway lines connecting the two provinces and expansion of road facilities, extension of bicycle paths, and strengthened cooperation in rescue and fire response activities in adjacent areas.

They will also proceed with the creation of a premium trekking course connecting Gyeonggi Province's Pyeongwhang-nuri Trail (which currently runs 191km from Daemyeong Port in Gimpo City to Sintan-ri Station in Yeoncheon County) to Cheorwon and Goseong in Gangwon Province, relaxation of altitude restrictions around airfields, and reduction of military protection zones.

Additionally, the two provinces plan to review discount coupon exchanges for major tourist attractions such as provincial museums and art galleries, and methods to sell agricultural products from each region through Gyeonggi Cyber Market and Gangwon Mart.

Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province have decided to establish a joint implementation body for smooth promotion of these cooperation projects, and to conclude and operate project-specific agreements when necessary.

Governor Nam stated on the occasion, "Finding and cooperating on policies that substantively benefit provincial residents for the capital area and local regions to mutually benefit is the goal pursued by cooperative provincial governance. If cooperation with the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly is cooperative provincial governance 1.0, and cooperation with cities and counties is 2.0, then cooperative provincial governance 3.0 with all metropolitan provincial governments has now begun."

In response, Governor Choi said, "This agreement is more concrete and substantive than ever," and continued, "Gyeonggi Province's integrated politics will become the driving force to overcome the political and economic crisis that our society is currently facing."

Meanwhile, Governor Nam delivered a special lecture to Gangwon Province Hall civil servants for approximately one hour starting at 10 a.m. prior to the mutual cooperation agreement on the theme of "A United Future, Cooperative Provincial Governance with Gangwon, Phase Three."