Balanced development of the boarder areas in Northern Gyeonggi Province along with changing inter-Korean relations

Kang Min-jo, Associate Research Fellow, Lim Yong-ho, Researcher

Summary

1> There is a need to provide comprehensive strategies and implementation measures for balanced development of the border areas in North Gyeonggi Province as ones leading the efforts of inter-Korean cooperation under the government frameworks such as New Economic Map of the Korean Peninsula and balanced national development policy 

  - It is necessary to provide strategies to transform the backward border areas into ones leading bilateral cooperation between the North and the South in accordance with New Economic Map of the Korean Peninsula and balanced national development policy of the government 

2> Develop a basic framework for comprehensive development of the border areas in North Gyeonggi Province based on the analysis of their surrounding conditions and potentials

 - (Vision) ‘Border areas in North Gyeonggi Province’ leading inter-Korean cooperation and developing as new areas of growth

 - (Three goals) Provide a framework to build Eco-Peace Belt, strengthen competitiveness of the region by securing new growth engines, lead the effort for balanced development of the region by securing infrastructure and institutional improvement

 - (Five basic approaches) Provide a basis for inter-Korean cooperation, strengthen inter-Korean cooperation in economy and industry sectors, cooperation for inter-Korean culture and tourism, ecological and environmental cooperation for sustainable development, job creation and better quality of living for local residents

3> Establishment of a comprehensive plan for balanced development of the border areas in North Gyeonggi Province, legal and institutional improvement, establishment of an efficient governance system, measures to secure the budget are needed

Policy proposals

① (Establishment of a comprehensive plan) A master plan to provide comprehensive and systemic approaches for balanced development of the border areas in North Gyeonggi Province, management and practical inter-Korean cooperation should be developed

② (Legal and institutional improvement) Improve legal and institutional system that hinders balanced development of the region and provide support system in consideration of its unique characteristics 

③ (Efficient governance structure) Install a pan-governmental control tower for efficient development and management of the border areas and cooperative system between agencies and local governments through the control tower including its operating measures 

④ (Financing of budget) Promote the efforts to provide government subsidies proactively for regional development projects in consideration of unique characteristics of the areas that are falling behind compared to other regions due to political and military factors