Yoon: "Lifting Military Facility Protection Zones Nationwide Within Limits That Do Not Compromise Security" (Comprehensive)

Presiding Over Public Discussion in Seosan, Chungnam
"Importance of Military-Local Resident Coexistence Environment"
Cheonan, Hongseong, Nonsan Industrial Complex to Form a Composite Cluster
Promises to Improve Medical Care and Education

President Yoon Suk-yeol announced on the 26th that he will lift the military facility protection zone designation on an area totaling 103 million pyeong nationwide. Since more than 50 years have passed since the military facility protection zones were first implemented and the utilization of the national land has changed, the intention is to actively lift restrictions on land within the scope that does not hinder national security.

On the same day, President Yoon presided over the fifteenth public discussion forum under the theme "Chungnam Full of Vitality for People’s Livelihood through Future Industries" at Seosan Air Base in Chungnam, stating, "It is very important nationally to create an environment where the military and local residents coexist harmoniously."

The Seosan Air Base, where the public discussion forum was held, is the largest Air Force base in South Korea and is one of the representative sites of the 'civil-military coexistence development model' where the Seosan civilian airport construction project is being promoted.

In his opening remarks, President Yoon said, "After carefully reviewing the demands of residents within the scope that does not hinder security, we have decided to lift the military facility protection zone designation nationwide on a total of 103 million pyeong (339 km²), including 42.7 million pyeong (141 km²) around Seosan Air Base in Chungnam."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the background of the decision to lift the military facility protection zones, he explained, "Much has changed since the military facility protection zones were first introduced in the 1970s. The entire country has rapidly urbanized, and with technological advancements, there have been significant changes in the military and our national security structure. Since the government’s inauguration, we have been meticulously reviewing the security necessity of all military facility protection zones."

President Yoon emphasized, "With the lifting of the military facility protection zones, the location conditions necessary for Chungnam to soar as the economic center of the Pan-Yellow Sea region are almost fully established. We will support its development as a hub for the future mobility industry and the center of South Korea’s defense industry."

In particular, President Yoon announced that construction work for industrial complexes specializing in the future mobility industry will begin rapidly at the national industrial complexes in Cheonan City and Hongseong County. For Nonsan City, plans are underway to develop it into a 'defense industry specialized cluster' by utilizing Chungnam’s excellent defense infrastructure such as the Third Army Headquarters and the Korea National Defense University. Site preparation design will start this year, with construction beginning in 2026. Additionally, a 'Defense Future Technology Research Center' will be established to firmly grow Chungnam’s defense industry.

Furthermore, the three newly established industrial complexes in Cheonan, Hongseong, and Nonsan in Chungnam will be developed as integrated clusters fully equipped with necessary facilities from the planning stage. If this plan is realized, it is expected to generate a production inducement effect of 24.1 trillion won and an employment inducement effect of approximately 81,000 jobs in the future mobility sector alone.

Regarding this, President Yoon said, "Even if the industrial complexes are designated, it takes a long time for design and site preparation construction. Once the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) is passed, measures will be taken to allow companies to secure land in advance even before site preparation is completed. During the industrial complex development, companies should be able to establish investment plans and immediately start factory construction once site preparation is completed. We will expand institutional conditions to attract corporate investment."

He also promised to establish a 'Corporate Innovation Park' in Dangjin City, where companies can directly acquire land, develop plans, and supply sites, and to spare no support such as financial aid and expedited permits to make Taean County a smart city where future mobility services are realized.

Regarding the 'Corporate Innovation Park,' after listening to opinions from the field, President Yoon said, "If there are inconveniences from the perspective of companies promoting the Corporate Innovation Park, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should further ease regulations. Even if something is necessary, it should not be 'not allowed until fully completed,' but time should be given. Since I said this, it is as if I have also told the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Just proceed. Okay," emphasizing his directive.

He also promised to restore the Free Economic Zone. President Yoon said, "There used to be a Free Economic Zone in Chungnam that provided tax incentives and deregulation to attract foreign investment companies, but it disappeared. We will definitely restore it." Chungnam was designated as the Hwanghae Free Economic Zone in 2008. However, due to difficulties in attracting investment amid the global economic crisis, it was lifted six years later, and recent efforts are underway to re-designate it.

He also pledged to advance medical care and education. President Yoon explained, "By building a police hospital in Asan City to strengthen the regional medical system in Chungnam, both police officers and residents will be able to enjoy high-quality medical services. We will actively support the establishment of Chungnam National University’s Naepo Campus to make it a center for future advanced education."

In his closing remarks, President Yoon said regarding the police hospital construction, "Once the hospital is established, the police town will be completed. If only police officers use it, sufficient benefits cannot be provided even to them. We will invest a large budget to promote it quickly as a large-scale general hospital so that many residents in the western Chungnam region can use it."

Regarding the establishment of Chungnam National University’s Naepo Campus, he said, "We will expedite the Naepo Campus project, and if local universities, talents, and the regional government responsible for the local industrial economy work together to create a customized education system, mutual coexistence will be possible. If local middle and high school talents are educated through a pre-college program at the university, students can be retained. Please enable local middle and high school students to study more deeply through math and natural science programs provided by professors whose level is different from that of general private academies."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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