'Paju Matson Talk' Kim Dong-yeon: "Inter-Korean Peace Is Economic Growth"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is attending the Paju Matson Talk on the 27th and taking a commemorative photo with the participants.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon held the '8th Matson Talk' on the 27th at the Imjingak DMZ Ecotourism Support Center in Paju City, meeting with local residents to discuss peace economy and development plans for the border area.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated, "Today marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice. Although inter-Korean relations remain difficult and tense, Gyeonggi Province continues to talk about peace because peace is economy. There is no greater national interest than peace. I am very pleased to be able to talk about peace in Paju, a border area, on the 70th anniversary of the armistice," he said.

The Matson Talk was organized to deliver a message of peace in Paju, a border area, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement, and to discuss development plans for the border area to move toward a 'greater peace' region.

The event was attended by Governor Kim Dong-yeon, Paju Mayor Kim Kyung-il, provincial assembly members Lee Yong-wook and Lee Han-guk, Vice President Kim Jeong-no of the Korean Unification Association, Lee Jeong-hoon, head of the Northern Gyeonggi Special Self-Governing Province Research Team at the Gyeonggi Research Institute, and about 250 residents of the border area.

During the dialogue with residents, Kim Jeong-no, Vice President of the Korean Unification Association, shared his views on what the DMZ border area and Gyeonggi Province should do.

He said, "The border area is a precious space that makes us realize the importance of spatial and relational peace. Gyeonggi Province, which encompasses more than half of the border area, is a blessed local government. There is a need to develop this area into an international peace training (education and tourism) site where people from around the world can experience the pain of conflict and the necessity of peace," he proposed.

Kim Dong-gu, a resident of Daeseong-dong, the only village in the Demilitarized Zone, shared the lives of residents living within the Civilian Control Line, while In Cheong-sik, CEO of Seongwon Co., Ltd., spoke as a representative of border area businesses about the realities of regulations in the border area.

Research Team Leader Lee Jeong-hoon presented a blueprint for designating the border area as a special zone, expressing expectations by saying, "If designated as a Peace Economy Special Zone, various tax benefits and reductions in support fees can be received, which will attract many companies. By attracting advanced companies in renewable energy, digital, and bio sectors to create a carbon-neutral digital city, and by establishing plans to combine tourism complexes, MICE, and international exchanges to activate the international functions of the border area, good results can be expected."

Paju residents proposed ▲practical unification education ▲support for the Peace Economy Special Zone ▲revision of the enforcement decree of the Border Area Special Act ▲expansion of metropolitan buses during the event.

In response, Governor Kim Dong-yeon promised, "Gyeonggi Province’s key projects are economic revitalization, climate change response, and peace, and Paju is related to all of these. I will not neglect any of these, will keep channels open, listen carefully, and do my best to meet your expectations."

Governor Kim Dong-yeon has been presenting region-tailored provincial visions and strengthening communication with residents by holding Matson Talks on themes such as 'Climate Crisis Response' in Gwangmyeong City in March and 'Tourism Industry Revitalization' in Gapyeong County in May.

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