Mayor Lee Ki-hyung: "Turning Border Area Sacrifice into a Growth Engine"... Requests Designation as Special Peace Economy Zone

Mayor Lee Ki-hyung of Gimpo Proposes Additional Designation of Special Peace Economy Zone to Ministry of Unification
Suggests Creating a Peace Industry Hub Linked to the Daegot Environmental Regeneration Innovation Complex
Requests National Funding for Bogugot Embankment and Removal of Barbed Wire from Daemyeong Port to Buraedo

Lee Ki-hyung, mayor of Gimpo, officially proposed to the government the "additional designation of special peace economy zones" and called for expanded national-level support for border areas.

Lee Ki-hyung, Mayor of Gimpo, attended the "2nd Border Area Peace and Safety Joint Meeting" held at the Government Seoul Office on the 27th and emphasized the need to establish a peace economy special zone centered on the Daegot Environmental Regeneration Innovation Complex in Gimpo. Provided by Gimpo City

On the 27th, at the "2nd Border Area Peace and Safety Joint Meeting" held at the Government Seoul Office, Mayor Lee emphasized the necessity of establishing a peace economy special zone centered on the Daegot Environmental Regeneration Innovation Complex in Gimpo. He also requested national funding for the Bogugot Embankment maintenance project and the removal of military barbed wire along the Daemyeong Port to Buraedo section.

This meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Unification and attended by the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, metropolitan governments including Gyeonggi Province, Incheon Metropolitan City, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, as well as the Border Area Mayors and Governors Council, was organized to discuss measures for maintaining peace and promoting economic growth in border areas.

Mayor Lee explained, "The Daegot Environmental Regeneration Innovation Complex in Gimpo is a large-scale development project led by Korea Water Resources Corporation. It is also adjacent to major transportation networks such as the Gyeyang–Ganghwa Expressway and the Second Capital Region Ring Expressway. If a policy foundation as a special peace economy zone is added, it will generate synergy with existing development projects, accelerate the establishment of a peace industry foundation, and vitalize the regional economy."

He further stressed, "Border regions have endured various regulations and sacrifices for national security over a long period. Now is the time to transform these areas from zones of regulation and sacrifice into growth hubs where peace and economic opportunity coexist."

Gimpo City expects that if the Daegot Environmental Regeneration Innovation Complex is additionally designated as a special peace economy zone, there will be substantial effects on regional economic revitalization, including fostering advanced and peace industries, attracting businesses, and creating jobs.

Mayor Lee also conveyed the necessity of national funding for the Bogugot Embankment maintenance project.

The Bogugot Embankment is a facility critical for national security and military operations. However, the total costs for its maintenance and management are currently borne entirely by the local government. Due to recent coastal erosion and overtopping, some sections have been damaged, increasing concerns about additional damage in the event of typhoons or heavy rainfall.

Accordingly, Mayor Lee requested national funding for the total 10 billion won maintenance project as well as a review of transferring management responsibility for local embankment facilities in the border areas to the central government.

Mayor Lee remarked, "The Bogugot Embankment is not merely a local facility but a key infrastructure directly linked to national security and the safety of residents. Considering the role that border areas have played for the nation, the government should take proactive steps in its management and provide financial support."

He also formally proposed the removal of military barbed wire extending from Daemyeong Port to Buraedo.

Currently, a first-line barbed wire fence remains in the Daemyeong Port–Buraedo section. By contrast, on the facing Ganghwa Island section, there is no barbed wire, and on the nearby Chojidaegyo Bridge–Incheon boundary section, barbed wire removal is underway in conjunction with the Ministry of National Defense's Border Security Science Project.

Gimpo City explained that the Daemyeong Port barbed wire causes drainage issues and embankment loss, creating safety problems and restricting tourism development in the western region. The city expects that removing the barbed wire will help create waterfront spaces for residents and stimulate tourism in Buraedo.

Lee Ki-hyung, mayor, attends the '2nd Border Area Peace and Safety Joint Meeting' held at the Government Seoul Office on the 27th, shaking hands with Jeong Dong-young, Minister of Unification, while taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Gimpo City

Mayor Lee requested, "Please actively consider gradually removing the barbed wire around Daemyeong Port in line with advanced surveillance systems so that we can ensure both resident safety and regional development."

Additionally, Mayor Lee conveyed the need for the continuous operation of Cheongnyong Hall to improve welfare for border area residents.

Meanwhile, Gimpo City plans to continue closely cooperating with the Border Area Mayors and Governors Council, the central government, and related agencies to propose institutional improvements and national funding aimed at ensuring safety for border area residents and building a region where peace and economic prosperity coexist.

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