"CRC as an Economic Free Zone, Camp Jackson for Daewoong Group"... Uijeongbu’s Remarkable Transformation of Former U.S. Military Bases

Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) is accelerating its transformation into a self-sufficient city by turning former U.S. military return sites, which had hindered urban development for decades, into hubs for advanced industries.

On April 14, Uijeongbu City officials visited the Camp Red Cloud (CRC) and Camp Jackson sites to inspect the current status of soil contamination remediation and review the implementation system for development projects. This inspection was conducted to reaffirm the vision of establishing the returned sites not simply as development zones, but as economic hubs that will drive Uijeongbu’s sustainable growth.

Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu, is conducting an on-site inspection of the Camp Red Cloud (CRC) site on the 14th. Provided by Uijeongbu City

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Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu City, conducted an on-site inspection of the Camp Red Cloud (CRC) site on the 14th. Photo by Uijeongbu City

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Located in Ganeung-dong, Camp Red Cloud (CRC) is a symbolic site of the Korea-U.S. alliance, having once hosted the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division headquarters. The city is pursuing a plan to preserve its historic value while developing it into an economic free zone (FEZ) that leads the way in future advanced industries.

Uijeongbu City has carried out various initiatives to ensure CRC is recognized not as a closed U.S. military base, but as an open space for citizens. In July 2023, the city opened a through road crossing the site and, by naming the road “Into Citizens’ Arms,” further fostered a friendly image of CRC for local residents.

Additionally, cultural events such as the “2025 Black Music Festival (BMF)” and “2025·2026 Uijeongbu Walking Festa” have been held at CRC, focusing on promoting the site’s historical and cultural significance.

In April 2025, CRC was selected, together with Camp Kyle, as a candidate site for additional designation as part of the Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone. In collaboration with Gyeonggi Province, the city is now working to concretize development plans for CRC and Camp Kyle as economic free zones centered on design, media content, AI, and biomedical industries as core strategic sectors.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense is overseeing soil contamination remediation work at the CRC site. Once a detailed investigation is completed, there will be final consultations and confirmation regarding which buildings will be preserved.

Accordingly, during the recent on-site inspection, the city checked the status of buildings slated for preservation and discussed future utilization plans and directions for space usage. Based on a blueprint to leverage historical and cultural spaces as assets for future industries, the city aims to create an economic free zone at CRC where history and advanced industries coexist.

Kim Donggeun, Mayor of Uijeongbu, conducted an on-site inspection of the Camp Jackson site on the 14th. Provided by Uijeongbu City

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Kim Donggeun, Mayor of Uijeongbu, is conducting an on-site inspection of the Camp Jackson site on the 14th. Provided by Uijeongbu City

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Camp Jackson, bordering Seoul, is considered to have the most favorable location in Uijeongbu. The city is promoting projects to develop the site into a forward base for advanced industries that will create high-value jobs.

With the recent completion of remediation work at Camp Jackson, the city is now closely coordinating with relevant ministries to resolve overlapping regulations, such as greenbelt restrictions and overpopulation control zones, to foster advanced industry at the site.

Notably, on March 31, the city signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Daewoong Development Co., Ltd. to establish a future industry hub. Daewoong Group plans to build pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) and production facilities on the Camp Jackson site. The city will provide administrative support for permits and approvals, as well as a foundation for industry-academia-research collaboration.

Previously, the city had continuously petitioned the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to lift greenbelt restrictions for returned sites under 200,000 square meters. As a result, regulatory easing for the development of U.S. military return sites was achieved, laying the institutional groundwork for Camp Jackson’s utilization.

The ongoing push for designation as an economic free zone, attraction of businesses, and regulatory improvements are changing the environment for corporate investment in Uijeongbu City.

Although the city’s image as a military and security town had previously hindered efforts to attract companies, its excellent transportation access, proximity to Seoul, and extensive available land are now driving the shift toward being recognized as a business-friendly city.

An official from Uijeongbu City stated, “We plan to focus our capabilities on becoming a self-sufficient city that attracts outstanding companies through the designation of economic free zones and the development of returned military sites. We will continue our efforts to improve regulations and attract investment, so that Uijeongbu becomes an even better city for doing business.”

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