Gov’t planning to create eco-peace area in the DMZ
Published: 02 Dec. 2009, 22:57
The South Korean government is planning to change the demilitarized zone, the military buffer that divides North and South Korea, into an eco-peace belt.
Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Dal-gon disclosed the outline of a plan to renovate the DMZ during the third meeting of the Presidential Committee on Regional Development which took place at the North Gyeongsang provincial office yesterday.
According to the plan, the government will designate the entire DMZ area as a biosphere preservation region in order to use the rare ecological resources and cultural heritage found in the zone as international common property.
A bike trail, stretching 495 kilometers (307 miles) from Ganghwa, Incheon, at the far west end of the zone, to Goseong, Gangwon, in the far east, will be built and the government is expected to hold international mountain bike racing competitions there.
In addition, the government wants to create a peace park in the zone as well as a UN peace conference hall and a UN peace university at the truce village of Panmunjom.
The plan would establish a rehabilitation center for people from underdeveloped countries who are victims of land mines.
The government is also mulling over constructing an inter-Korean road and railway as well as a bridge connecting Incheon International Airport and Kaesong in North Korea, depending on progress of relations between the two countries.
The Public Administration Ministry will prepare a comprehensive plan by May and is scheduled to introduce a special law that includes specific policies, administrative support and financing during the latter half of next year. Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2011.
Experts say that controversy over the feasibility of the DMZ project is highly likely due to costs.
They also assume that details of the plan could change during construction since it is a long-term project that could last 20 to 30 years.
Moreover, specialists said that environmental groups could rally against the project citing potential ecosystem damage.
“It is just a rough idea that was presented,” said Kang Byung-kyu, deputy minister of public administration.
He added that the government is going to carry further develop the plan based on the initial outline.
“Officials from the central and local governments as well as other experts will cooperate in creating the blueprint and expected budget by May of next year.”
By Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Dal-gon disclosed the outline of a plan to renovate the DMZ during the third meeting of the Presidential Committee on Regional Development which took place at the North Gyeongsang provincial office yesterday.
According to the plan, the government will designate the entire DMZ area as a biosphere preservation region in order to use the rare ecological resources and cultural heritage found in the zone as international common property.
A bike trail, stretching 495 kilometers (307 miles) from Ganghwa, Incheon, at the far west end of the zone, to Goseong, Gangwon, in the far east, will be built and the government is expected to hold international mountain bike racing competitions there.
In addition, the government wants to create a peace park in the zone as well as a UN peace conference hall and a UN peace university at the truce village of Panmunjom.
The plan would establish a rehabilitation center for people from underdeveloped countries who are victims of land mines.
The government is also mulling over constructing an inter-Korean road and railway as well as a bridge connecting Incheon International Airport and Kaesong in North Korea, depending on progress of relations between the two countries.
The Public Administration Ministry will prepare a comprehensive plan by May and is scheduled to introduce a special law that includes specific policies, administrative support and financing during the latter half of next year. Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2011.
Experts say that controversy over the feasibility of the DMZ project is highly likely due to costs.
They also assume that details of the plan could change during construction since it is a long-term project that could last 20 to 30 years.
Moreover, specialists said that environmental groups could rally against the project citing potential ecosystem damage.
“It is just a rough idea that was presented,” said Kang Byung-kyu, deputy minister of public administration.
He added that the government is going to carry further develop the plan based on the initial outline.
“Officials from the central and local governments as well as other experts will cooperate in creating the blueprint and expected budget by May of next year.”
By Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)