Mayor Sung Baechan of Paju: "Compensate for Allocation Tax Reduction and Move the CCL Northward"

Request for 135.8 Billion Won Compensation Raised at Democratic Party Budget Policy Meeting
Proposal to Relocate Unification Bridge Checkpoint
Call for Future Response Fund Compensation and Northward Shift of Civilian Control Line

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province has requested the northward relocation of the Civilian Control Line (CCL) to preserve public finances following the reduction of general allocation tax and to expand the living area for residents in border regions.

Son Baechan, Mayor of Paju City, is presenting a proposal at the "Budget Policy Meeting for Basic Local Government Heads of the Gyeonggi Province Democratic Party" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 30th of last month. Provided by Paju City

Paju City announced on October 6 that it submitted this proposal at the "Budget Policy Meeting for Basic Local Government Heads of the Gyeonggi Party of the Democratic Party of Korea," held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on September 30.

The meeting was held ahead of the National Assembly's budget review and was attended by Seo Youngseok, Chairperson of the Gyeonggi Provincial Party, Lee Kwangjae, Chairperson of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, Sung Baechan, Mayor of Paju City, and 19 other mayors from Gyeonggi Province who are members of the Democratic Party.

The city explained that it expects a reduction of 135.8 billion won in the general allocation tax compared to the previous system due to the establishment of a future response fund. It requested that the reduction be compensated through the local account of the fund. Paju City also argued that these resources should be distributed as autonomous funds that can be used according to local circumstances, and the local matching requirements for individual projects should be minimized. In addition, it recommended that the allocation criteria should reflect the unique circumstances of border areas that have long endured regulations and sacrifices.

The city also requested the northward relocation of the CCL and the Unification Bridge checkpoint. Specifically, this would move the southern limit of the Imjin River CCL 3 kilometers north to areas including Tongilchon, Haemaru Village, and Deokjinsanseong, and relocate the Unification Bridge checkpoint to Gunnai Samgeori.

Paju City requested the prompt removal of landmines and the transfer of military facilities to facilitate this. The city also stressed that areas it proposed—including Heo Junmyo, Jangdan Peninsula, and Chopyeongdo—should be eased from controlled protection zones to restricted protection zones to alleviate inconveniences for residents.

Mayor Sung Baechan stated, "To prevent the reduction of projects essential for citizens' livelihoods and safety due to decreased local allocation tax, we must establish measures to preserve public finances, and we ask for concerted efforts to relocate the CCL northward and ease regulations for residents of border regions who have endured sacrifices for over 70 years."

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