[Column] Dongducheon: Moving Beyond the Division Line to Become a Center of Peace and Exchange

Heo Sun, Deputy Mayor of Dongducheon City. Provided by Dongducheon City

The peace and security of the Republic of Korea have long been upheld by the extraordinary sacrifices of specific regions. Among them, Dongducheon stands out as a representative city. For the past 75 years, Dongducheon City has provided 42% of its total area as land for U.S. Forces Korea. Even today, nearly 70% of all unreclaimed U.S. military land nationwide is concentrated in this area.

As a result, Dongducheon has endured extensive military restrictions and development limitations for many years, constraining the city's growth and impeding the expansion of its industrial base. This has led to population decline and economic stagnation, with the sacrifices made for national security ultimately restricting the future of the region. Now, it is time for Gyeonggi Province and the central government to respond to these challenges.

One solution is the designation of a Peace Economic Special Zone. This national strategic project aims to foster border regions as hubs for industry, economy, tourism, and peace exchanges. Through regulatory easing, institutional special provisions, and financial support, it can become the institutional starting point for transforming long-constrained border areas and establishing new foundations for growth.

Above all, the current call for proposals for the Peace Economic Special Zone could serve as a crucial turning point for Dongducheon, enabling it to move beyond being a city of security sacrifice to one of peace and growth. This is not merely a regional development project, but a just reward for the communities that have endured extraordinary sacrifices for national security, and a national decision to redesign the future of border regions.

In particular, Dongducheon is highly symbolic because of its potential to transform U.S. military land into a space for peace and economic activity. Repurposing areas previously used for military objectives into future growth zones that combine industry, tourism, and international exchange will provide a meaningful model for a new direction in border area development.

The reasons why Dongducheon is the optimal location for a Peace Economic Special Zone are clear.

First, Dongducheon is well-positioned to develop both industry and logistics simultaneously. Centered around its national industrial complex, the city possesses the infrastructure needed to attract advanced manufacturing and related industries. This is further strengthened by the Gyeongwon Line, a symbolic and strategic railway axis. Should inter-Korean exchanges and railway connections become more active in the future, Dongducheon is likely to emerge as a logistics and industrial cooperation hub linking the two Koreas. With its excellent accessibility to the Seoul metropolitan area and its unique status as a border region, designation as a special zone could propel Dongducheon into a new role as the industrial and logistics center of northern Gyeonggi Province.

Second, the city boasts tremendous potential for tourism development. The natural environment and tourist resources centered on Soyo Mountain are among Dongducheon's key strengths. If these are complemented by expanded development of Soyo Mountain, the creation of wellness and leisure tourism zones, and the enhancement of stay-type accommodation infrastructure, Dongducheon could evolve from a simple sightseeing destination into a stay-over tourism city where visitors spend and consume locally. A tourism model that encompasses peace, ecology, healing, and relaxation would significantly enhance Dongducheon's future competitiveness.

Third, there is substantial potential for peace exchanges facilitated by sports. Dongducheon has the capability to attract an international skating rink and develop related facilities such as athletes' villages, conventions, and a sports industry base. In particular, ice sports can serve as a natural medium for inter-Korean exchanges centered on peace. Should this lead to friendly matches, youth exchanges, and the hosting of international competitions, Dongducheon could grow into a comprehensive hub where industry, tourism, sports, and peace exchange converge.

I believe the Peace Economic Special Zone must not remain merely a regional development strategy. It should serve as an opportunity to transform the sacrifices long endured by border communities into new engines for growth, achieving both balanced national development and the value of peace. In this sense, Dongducheon is a city that embodies symbolism, realism, and growth potential alike.

Now, Dongducheon must transition from being known as a city of U.S. military bases to becoming a key city for the peace economy. The Peace Economic Special Zone is the starting point for turning sacrifices for security into assets for peace, and for transforming development constraints into opportunities for growth. This call for proposals marks an important first step toward that transformation. In this regard, I am confident that Dongducheon is the most prepared city and the optimal location for a Peace Economic Special Zone.

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