Gyeonggi Province Eases Standards for Lifting Development Restrictions on Returned USFK Base Areas

Development of the "Returned USFK Base Areas" in northern Gyeonggi Province is expected to accelerate.

On October 30, Gyeonggi Province announced that it would implement a revised version of the "Gyeonggi-do Integrated Guidelines for Lifting Development Restriction Zones" starting October 31. The revision relaxes the standards for lifting development restrictions in order to revitalize the development of the returned USFK base areas in northern Gyeonggi, which have long hindered regional development.

According to the amendment, Gyeonggi Province has reasonably eased the mandatory ratios for rental housing, parks, green spaces, and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) exclusive complexes when lifting development restrictions on returned USFK base areas and former military sites. This measure aims to strengthen the growth base for high-tech industries and new growth hubs. Former military sites refer to land where, due to relocation, closure, or reorganization of military units, no future units are expected to be stationed.

The relaxed standards are as follows: ▲ The ratio of rental housing has been reduced from 45-50% or more to 35% or more ▲ Parks and green spaces from at least 25% to at least 20% ▲ SME exclusive complexes from at least 13% to at least 10%.

Location of Uijeongbu Camp Stanley

Gyeonggi Province expects that, under the revised integrated guidelines, the business feasibility of returned base areas with long-delayed development-such as Hanam Camp Colbern and Uijeongbu Camp Jackson and Camp Stanley-will improve, accelerating the attraction of growth industries utilizing public land and the supply of housing. In particular, the development potential of northern Gyeonggi, where most military units are located, is also expected to increase.

This integrated guideline is a follow-up measure to the President's instruction at the Cabinet meeting in July to "review forward-looking utilization plans for returned base areas."

At a National Assembly forum in August on "Measures to Revitalize Development of Returned USFK Base Areas," Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dongyeon proposed easing the ratio of public rental housing within development restriction zones as one of four major policy measures, based on the "three principles" of initiative, forward-thinking, and regional focus as the government's primary partner.

He emphasized, "Development of returned base areas is not just 'compensation for sacrifice' but an 'investment' that creates new growth engines for the Korean economy," pledging to actively promote the creation of a 300 billion won development fund, the establishment of nine new provincial road routes to improve transportation infrastructure, and proactive regulatory reforms.

A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "We will attract high-tech industries and create eco-friendly cities so that local residents who have endured special sacrifices can receive tangible benefits, transforming the returned base areas into vibrant growth hubs," adding, "We will further cooperate with the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to improve systems and further promote the development of returned base areas."

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