Gyeonggi Province Forms 'Returned USFK Site TF' in Follow-Up to President Lee's Directive

Gyeonggi Province will establish a dedicated task force (TF) to develop a plan for the redevelopment of land returned by the United States Forces Korea (USFK).

On August 5, Gyeonggi Province announced that it had held a policy meeting presided over by Governor Kim Dongyeon, during which it decided to form the "Gyeonggi Province Returned USFK Site Development TF." The task force will be led by Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Kim Daesoon and will include participation from cities with returned USFK sites, such as Uijeongbu, Dongducheon, and Hanam.

This move is a follow-up measure to President Lee Jaemyung’s directive on July 1, instructing the Ministry of National Defense to proactively review the issue of handling returned USFK bases in northern Gyeonggi Province.

The TF will be responsible for reviewing development plans for the returned sites, identifying necessary policies and special institutional provisions for implementation, and coordinating with the central government, the National Assembly, and other relevant bodies.

Governor Kim Dongyeon stated, "The President’s special attention to the issue of returned USFK sites in northern Gyeonggi Province presents a truly valuable opportunity for our province," and added, "The development of these sites will be guided by three key principles: initiative, forward-thinking, and a focus on local communities."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim is presiding over the Gyeonggi Province Current Issues Countermeasure Meeting on the 5th. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

He continued, "Gyeonggi Province will take the lead in actively identifying tasks, and organizations such as the Gyeonggi Research Institute will develop specialized development strategies tailored to each region’s unique theme. We must establish development plans that prioritize the wishes of local residents and the characteristics of each area."

He particularly emphasized, "I hope that the launch of the new administration will mark a turning point for the development of returned USFK sites. We must break away from the somewhat passive and centrally dependent approach we have taken so far and use this as an opportunity to fundamentally change the framework."

Regarding flood recovery, Governor Kim explained that there is a possibility that Pocheon will also be additionally designated as a special disaster area.

He added, "I have submitted a request to the President for Pocheon to be additionally designated as a special disaster area, and the Minister of the Interior and Safety responded positively, so a decision is expected soon. Today, we also decided to provide a daily life recovery grant of 6 million won to residents affected by the floods."

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