Gangwon Province Holds DMZ Deregulation Forum: "Border Region Undergoing Major Transformation Thanks to Special Act"

Gangwon Accelerates DMZ Deregulation
Development Strategy Forum Announces Plan to Lift Restrictions on Area Equivalent to 4,000 Soccer Fields

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced that it held the "2025 DMZ Deregulation and Development Strategy Forum" at the Liberty Hall of the Gangwon Research Institute on the 27th.

Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and other attendees are holding the "2025 DMZ Deregulation and Development Strategy Forum" on the 27th at the Liberty Hall of Gangwon Research Institute. Provided by Gangwon Province

This forum was hosted by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and organized by the Gangwon Ilbo. It was arranged to seek new development strategies by redefining the border region from an area of restrictions to a center of opportunity, in line with the implementation of the Gangwon Special Act and the full-scale deregulation that has begun as a result.

More than 100 people attended the forum, including Governor Kim Jin-tae, local residents, experts, and officials from cities and counties in the border region. They exchanged a variety of opinions on ways to develop the border area.

The forum began with a keynote speech by Kim Yeol-su, Director of Security Strategy at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, titled "Prospects for Inter-Korean Relations after the Launch of the Lee Jaemyung Administration." This was followed by a presentation by Professor Kim Chang-hwan of Kangwon National University on "Practical Strategies for Regional Development through Deregulation in Border Areas."

In the comprehensive discussion session, Yang Cheol, Research Fellow at the Gangwon Research Institute; Kim Jin-moo, former Director of the North Korea Center at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses; Kim Deok-yong, Chairman of the Sokcho City Prosperity Association; and Professor Ryu Jong-hyun of Kangwon National University participated. They discussed topics including changes and strategies for the border area following deregulation, ways to capitalize on the convergence of ecology and technology in the DMZ, improving residents' quality of life and governance innovation, and strategies for military-local government cooperation and security-autonomy coordination.

The province plans to use this forum to develop new directions for the region's growth from various perspectives, such as utilizing the DMZ's natural and cultural heritage as future assets, establishing a mutually beneficial system between the military and local governments, and designing resident-centered policies, so that the border area can become a symbolic space that goes beyond military and security functions to encompass ecology, culture, and tourism.

Governor Kim Jin-tae stated, "The border area, which was once a symbol of regulation, is now becoming its biggest beneficiary." He added, "Under the Gangwon Special Act, we have lifted military restrictions on an area equivalent to about 1,818 soccer fields, and we are planning to lift restrictions on an additional area equivalent to around 2,200 soccer fields in the future."

He also emphasized, "Goseong Unification Observatory has been designated as the first Forest Utilization Promotion District, and seven out of nine Agricultural Promotion Areas are located in the border region. Moving forward, I will take the lead with all of you to ensure that the border area becomes a symbol of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province."

In addition, for the first time in the province's history, Gangwon has established a special account for the border area and is investing 50 billion won over five years from 2024 to 2028. The province has also secured 100 billion won in national funding from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for border area projects next year.

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