Gyeonggi-do to Directly Promote 'Gaeseong Tourism'

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is shifting its efforts to realize tourism in Kaesong from 'confidential' to 'public.' Instead of the government, which is tied up, the local government of Gyeonggi Province will take the lead in promoting the project. In addition, previously suspended projects such as the Kaepung Nursery and the creation of the DMZ Peace Park will be actively pursued.

On the 13th, Gyeonggi Province announced the '2020 Gyeonggi-style Peace Cooperation Policy and Inter-Korean Exchange Project Promotion Direction,' which includes ▲realization of Kaesong tourism ▲prompt promotion of the Kaepung Nursery project ▲pursuit of exemption from North Korea sanctions for the North Korean rural development pilot project ▲peaceful utilization of the Han River Estuary inter-Korean joint water area ▲promotion of the DMZ as an international peace zone.

According to the promotion direction, the province decided to make the previously unofficial Kaesong tourism public to realize Kaesong tourism. To this end, the province plans to join hands with civic groups to launch a 'Gyeonggi Province Residents' Signature Campaign for Pre-application for Kaesong Tourism.' The province intends to spread the signature campaign nationwide and use it as a catalyst to thaw the frozen inter-Korean relations.

The province has steadily worked to realize Kaesong tourism, including submitting a project proposal to the Ministry of Unification in June last year. On the 10th, the province met with Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul along with local inter-Korean related organizations, Kaesong displaced persons, and companies operating in the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and delivered the pre-application forms for Kaesong tourism.

The province also decided to actively promote the 'Kaepung Nursery Project.' Since it received exemption approval from the UN North Korea Sanctions Committee in December last year for 152 items necessary for the Kaepung Nursery Project, the province plans to proceed with inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects with a development cooperation character beyond simple humanitarian aid through active consultations with the North.

The province will also actively pursue exemption from North Korea sanctions for the rural development pilot project. The province has experience successfully implementing the 'Pyongyang Dangok-ri Rural Modernization Project' from 2006 to 2008.

In addition, the province will continue without interruption the projects to create a foundation for peaceful inter-Korean unification by peacefully utilizing the Han River Estuary inter-Korean joint water area and establishing a peace park in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the South and North participate together.

To this end, the province plans to form an inter-Korean joint promotion committee through additional consultations with the North and actively proceed with administrative procedures through approval from the United Nations Command.

Lee Hwa-young, Deputy Governor for Peace of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Since being designated as a North Korea aid project operator by the government in November last year, we have had the opportunity to fully exercise autonomy and creative capabilities instead of the central government, which is tied up by external circumstances," adding, "The peace cooperation policy unique to Gyeonggi Province, which is conceived, planned, and promoted by Gyeonggi Province, will not be interrupted in 2020."

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