Gapyeong-gun Develops Coexistence Plan for Military Training Ground After 36 Years... Conflict Resolution Expected

Gapyeong-gun Signs Agreement for 'Geojup Training Center Civil-Government-Military Win-Win Cooperation'

On the 7th, Gapyeong held a joint signing ceremony for the "Civil-Government-Military Agreement on the Operation of Geojeop Training Ground" at the Gapyeong County Office large conference room, together with the Geojeop Training Ground Countermeasure Committee and the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division.

Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province (Governor Seo Tae-won) announced on the 8th that on the 7th, a joint signing ceremony for the "Civil-Government-Military Agreement on the Operation of Geojup Training Ground" was held at the Gapyeong County Office large conference room with the Geojup Training Ground Countermeasure Committee and the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division.

The Geojup Training Ground is a military training site located in Sangpan-ri, Jojong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, covering approximately 500,000 pyeong (about 1.65 million square meters). It was established in 1988 for direct-fire small arms shooting. Currently, the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division manages it as a small unit tactical training ground.

The training ground was changed to a tank gun firing range in 2009, but due to increased conflicts with residents in 2013, its name was reverted to a small unit tactical training ground and has been operated as such. Since then, there have been restrictions on training operations due to continuous rallies and protests by residents.

In response, Gapyeong-gun took on the role of mediator in civil-military conflicts at the residents' request, continuing activities such as △forming the "Geojup Training Ground Civil-Government-Military Council" in 2019 △operating regular council meetings △and promoting a Ministry of National Defense-linked feasibility study for relocating the training ground.

This agreement was prepared based on a proposal by Gapyeong-gun at the "Civil-Government-Military Council Regular Meeting" held in February this year. Consequently, a signing ceremony was held based on the agreement content that specifies the roles of each civil, government, and military party by finding a consensus on firearms and operational equipment within the military training ground.

The agreement includes △prior coordination of training schedules to minimize resident damage △prohibition of additional training beyond the specified training △and continuous efforts for civil-military coexistence.

Governor Seo Tae-won stated, "After 36 years since 1988, the residents of Jojong-myeon and the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division are now walking the path of coexistence together," adding, "Gapyeong-gun will also do its best to ensure that civil and military sectors unite and develop further."

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