Gyeonggi-do Forms TF for Early Return and State-led Development of US Military Base Sites

[Asia Economy (Uijeongbu) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has formed a public-private collaboration task force (TF) to expedite the return of U.S. military bases scheduled for return and to promote state-led development tailored to local conditions.

On the 8th, Gyeonggi Province held a plaque ceremony for the formation of the "U.S. Military Base Early Return and State-led Development Promotion TF" at the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Office in Uijeongbu and held its first meeting.

The TF was established in connection with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's launch of a policy research project last November titled "Policy Study for Early Revitalization of Returned Military Base Areas" aimed at state-led development, to prepare effective alternatives considering local circumstances.

The TF is co-led by the 2nd Deputy Governor of Gyeonggi Province and the Deputy Governor for Peace, and includes the Director of Balanced Development Planning, Director of the Environment Bureau, deputy heads of six cities and counties with returned military base areas or surrounding regions?Paju, Uijeongbu, Yangju, Pocheon, Dongducheon, and Yeoncheon?as well as research fellows from the Gyeonggi Research Institute and university professors.

The TF will hold regular meetings every three months and ad hoc meetings as needed to explore policy directions for the returned U.S. military base areas and discuss development plans.

Additionally, it will gather opinions proposed by local governments and experts to actively suggest them to the government, cooperating with government agencies to promote legal revisions and institutional improvements for attracting private investment and expanding national funding support.

Through monitoring of areas surrounding U.S. military bases, the TF will also identify the status of environmental pollution and prepare countermeasures to prevent the spread of contaminated areas.

Lee Hwa-young, Deputy Governor for Peace of Gyeonggi Province, emphasized, "Just as fairness is necessary among people, there should be no grievances among regions," adding, "State-led development of returned military base areas must be carried out for the residents of northern Gyeonggi who have endured sacrifices for national security."

The U.S. military bases in the Gyeonggi area scheduled for return cover 22 sites across 5 regions, totaling 72,435,312㎡, of which one site has been fully developed. Development projects are underway at nine sites, six sites remain undeveloped, and six sites have not yet been returned.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.