Paju Accelerates Development of U.S. Military Returned Sites and Designation as Peace Economic Special Zone

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province is accelerating preparations for the full-scale development of U.S. military returned sites and the designation of a Peace Economic Special Zone, in line with the government's national philosophy of "special compensation for special sacrifice." The city aims to secure leadership in economic growth for border regions.

Location map of U.S. military returned and granted sites in Paju City. Provided by Paju City

The plan is to transform the northern part of Paju, which has faced growth restrictions due to overlapping regulations as part of the Seoul metropolitan area and a border region, into a complex urban space where industry, housing, and tourism coexist, focusing on the development of U.S. military returned sites and the designation of a Peace Economic Special Zone.

First, the city intends to convert the U.S. military returned sites-previously seen as symbols of underdeveloped border areas-into industrial complexes, apartment complexes, and parks, thereby shifting to a mixed-use development project that combines industry, housing, and green spaces. Currently, the U.S. military returned sites in Paju include: "Camp Howz" (park and urban development), "Camp Edwards" (university and urban development), "Camp Stanton" (industrial complex), "Camp Giant" (urban development), "Camp Garry Owen" (under review), and "Camp Greaves" (tourism complex, operated by Gyeonggi Province). The city is establishing customized development plans for each site, taking into account their unique characteristics, and is proceeding with phased development.

In addition, since the enactment and implementation of the Peace Economic Special Zone Act in 2023, Paju is the only local government among border regions to have independently completed a basic development plan study (scheduled for March 2025). The results of this study reportedly include a large-scale mixed-use development plan encompassing industry, tourism, and housing.

Howz Urban Development Bird's-Eye View. Provided by Paju City

Paju is considered the optimal location for a Peace Economic Special Zone in terms of feasibility, thanks to its excellent transportation network-including Tongil-ro, Jayu-ro, expressways, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, and GTX-A-as well as its display industry ecosystem, with companies such as LG Display and LG Innotek.

Jung Haeo, Director of the Peace Economy Division, stated, "The development of U.S. military returned sites and the designation of a Peace Economic Special Zone are essential projects to ensure balanced development for border regions that have endured special sacrifices without proper compensation. Furthermore, these efforts aim to transform the border area into a key growth hub for the Korean economy. We will do our utmost to ensure the success of these projects."

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