The government will subsidize up to 95% of local governments' land purchase costs to spur development of returned sites left after the departure of U.S. Forces Korea in places such as Uijeongbu and Dongducheon in Gyeonggi Province.
At the Cabinet meeting on the 30th, the government approved a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Support for Areas Around U.S. Forces Korea Grant Zones, which provides that when a local government purchases land in a returned U.S. Forces Korea grant zone to create parks, roads, and streams for residents' convenience, the state will subsidize up to 95% of the necessary acquisition costs.
Until now, when local governments purchased U.S. Forces Korea grant areas, the government subsidized 60%–80% of the necessary costs with state funds.
However, voices in the region noted that, given regional development had long stagnated for national security, expanded state-level support is urgently needed to revitalize local development.
In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety prepared a revision raising the subsidy criteria so the state can support up to 95% of the necessary costs when a local government purchases land to develop returned U.S. Forces Korea grant zones into roads, streams, and parks. The revision will take effect immediately upon promulgation.
Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), said, "This enforcement decree revision is the result of realizing the national governance philosophy that 'regions that have made special sacrifices for national security deserve special support,'" adding, "Going forward, we will spare no effort to ensure that development of returned grant zones and the creation of resident convenience facilities proceed with speed so local residents can tangibly feel improvements in their quality of life."