"150 Times the Size of Yeouido"... Development Restrictions Lifted After Decades

[Anchor]

Land spanning 150 times the size of Yeouido, which had been restricted from development for decades due to military purposes, is set to be released from these constraints. The Civilian Control Line will also be adjusted from an average of 8 kilometers south of the Military Demarcation Line to within 6 kilometers.

Defense correspondent Kim Taehun reports.

[Reporter]

Bulam-dong village in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

Although Seoul's Nowon District lies just over the mountain to the west and the neighboring area has been developed into the Byeollae New Town, Bulam-dong remains designated as a "restricted protection zone" for military reasons.

Even when building houses, residents cannot exceed a height of 10 meters, leaving the village filled with aging homes.

[Park Heung-yeol / Resident of Bulam-dong, Namyangju: They designated this area (as a restricted protection zone) saying it is the final line of defense for the approach from the North while protecting the capital.]

The Ministry of National Defense has decided to significantly lift these restricted protection zones, such as the one in Bulam-dong.

The plan is to keep only areas that are militarily essential under protection and lift restrictions on all others to allow for development.

[Ahn Gyu-back / Minister of National Defense: As a result, it is expected that restricted protection zones approximately 150 times the size of (Seoul's) Yeouido will be lifted...]

The Civilian Control Line, which currently extends an average of 8 km from the southern edge of the Military Demarcation Line, will also be reduced to an average of 6 km.

With this change, an area 90 times the size of Yeouido, where access was previously difficult let alone development, will be converted into "restricted protection zones" where access is free and development restrictions are eased.

The total area to benefit from the adjustment of the Civilian Control Line and the lifting of restricted protection zones is 240 times the size of Yeouido. Specific areas for adjustment and release will be confirmed sequentially starting at the end of this year to prevent speculation.

[Ahn Gyu-back / Minister of National Defense: Starting in the latter half of this year, we will proceed sequentially from areas where preparations are complete, through operational reviews by unit and topographical surveys...]

Military obstacles such as anti-tank barriers in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, and Paju, Gyeonggi Province, will also begin to be removed next year, starting with 23 locations where military necessity has diminished.

Furthermore, the Ministry of National Defense plans to minimize civilian inconvenience caused by the military by significantly simplifying flight approval and authorization procedures for agricultural drones and revamping Civilian Control Line access management to be handled via the internet and mobile apps.

(Video reporting: Kim Hyun-sang, Video editing: Jung Sung-hoon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.