The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 12th that it will issue a legislative notice from the 13th to partly revise the 'Special Act on Support for Border Areas Enforcement Decree' to additionally designate Gapyeong County in Gyeonggi Province and Sokcho City in Gangwon Province as border areas.
The main point of the proposed legislative notice is to add Gapyeong County and Sokcho City to the existing 15 border areas.
Border areas include regions adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone and the Northern Limit Line at sea (Ganghwa County, Ongjin County, Gimpo City, Paju City, Yeoncheon County, Cheorwon County, Hwacheon County, Yanggu County, Inje County, Goseong County), and areas designated by presidential decree (Goyang City, Yangju City, Dongducheon City, Pocheon City, Chuncheon City).
Gapyeong County and Sokcho City have claimed to have similar geographical conditions to the existing border areas but were not included as border areas. In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducted a feasibility study through research services for additional designation as a border area.
As a result, the feasibility of additionally designating Gapyeong County and Sokcho City as border areas was recognized. They met criteria such as being within 20 km of the Civilian Control Line and satisfying regulations derived from military facilities.
Once designated as a border area, special support can be received according to the 'Comprehensive Plan for Border Area Development.' Financial support includes new incorporation of national subsidy projects, an increase in national subsidy rates from the existing 50–70% to 70–80%, and additional allocation of ordinary local grants.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to gather opinions from the public and stakeholders during the legislative notice period of 40 days, until Jan. 22 next year, and reflect them in the revised proposal.
The revised proposal will undergo an advance impact assessment, regulatory review, legislative review, and other legislative procedures before being published and announced in the official gazette following resolutions by the state council and vice-minister's meeting.