DMZ’s 60-Year History
(Published September 25, 2012)

25^th Division Guksabong Battalion and Provincial Government agree to collaborate
 

◇ Governor Kim Moon-soo visited the Guksabong Barracks Library of the Guksabong Battalion, 25^th Division, in Paju City on September 25^th. ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun
 
Gyeonggi Province announced its plans to commemorate the DMZ’s 60^th anniversary this coming 2013 by promoting the DMZ around the world, hosting cultural events in the name of Korea’s peaceful unification, and utilizing national security resources as tourist sites. Its first action involves the appointment of a 60^th Anniversary Project Committee to serve at the forefront of close collaboration with the military.
 
The provincial government assembled a meeting of approximately seventy people ranging from the governor himself, Vice Governor I for Political Affairs Kim Seong-ryeol, Vice Governor II Choi Seung-dae, Spokesperson Kim Yong-sam, Gyeonggi Provincial Council Member Kim Gwang-seon, Deputy Mayor Cho Cheong-sik, 25^th Division Commander Byeon Jae-seon, 3^rd Military Headquarters Planning and Organizing Sector Chief Kim Jeong-su, and 25^th Division 70^th Regimental Commander Na Ik-seong, along with soldiers and local residents at the 25^th Division Guksabong Battalion Barracks Library to discuss military-related collaborative projects and future tasks.
 
The provincial government explained its plan to commission the DMZ 60^th Anniversary Project Committee and allocate a budget of KRW 18.2 billion for twenty-three projects across four categories.◇ Governor Kim Moon-soo poses for a photo commemorating the donation of 1,000 books to the barracks library of the Guksabong Battalion. ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun
 
The details of the plan include a budget of KRW 2.6 billion for the opening of an international symposium on the DMZ and securing UNESCO designation of the DMZ as a biosphere reserve; a budget of KRW 12.54 billion for nine projects aimed at developing the DMZ as a tourist attraction, including the redevelopment of the Imjingak area and the relocation of Dora Observatory; DMZ North-South collaborative research sponsored by the North-South Exchange and Collaboration Fund, the hosting of a peace marathon between Imjingak and Gaeseong (NK); funds of KRW 3 billion for a DMZ peace concert and art exhibitions using barbed-wire across the border; and two other programs.
 
A provincial government official said, “We have prepared this project to organize sporadic DMZ-related development projects across the relevant departments and institutes. We need to implement a systematic development plan to effectively manage the DMZ area, which is visited by more than six million people a year.”
 
The local government also suggested utilizing army barracks as accommodations for tourists; allowing civilians into Tongilchon and Haemaruchon in Paju to participate in weekend farming programs; and developing accommodation programs for foreign tourists. The core idea was to alleviate the Joint Chiefs of Staff regulations on civilian business activities in border-adjacent areas to facilitate the introduction of entry and lodging facilities.◇ Governor Kim Moon-soo and soldiers from the 25^th Division pose for a photo. ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun
 
The local government also agreed to offer customized job training programs for soldiers on active service as well as career soldiers and their families.
 
Gyeonggi Province has been offering school qualification programs for soldiers on active service who have not finished high school in a drive to spread the culture of lifelong study, along with humanities and life coaching courses for 19 units comprised of 2,200 soldiers. It also recommends computer-aided design and electrical work certification courses, and filial piety instructor and counselor classes so that young soldiers can apply their skills to the job market once they are discharged.
 
The provincial government also plans to expand the number of barrack libraries to five, and to operate a mobile library (“Book Bus”) that will tour the official residential areas of soldiers’ families.
 
The Guksabong Barracks Library, where the meeting was held, has a collection of 3,700 books. Built in February of 2011 with a budget of KRW 500 million, which was split equally between Gyeonggi Province and Paju City, the facility has become very popular among soldiers. Governor Kim donated 1,000 books to the library before going to the meeting.
 
Soldiers were given the chance to make suggestions at the meeting. Headquarters Company Private Kim Hwan-yong said, “I am studying movies at school. It’s great that I can read and watch the latest movies here at the library.” Private First Class Jeong Hun-tae said, “I started participating in book discussions here at the army. It has given me a sense of both fulfillment and achievement. I think this experience will help me when I look for a job.”
 
During the meeting, Governor Kim Moon-soo emphasized that: “Our government and military must work closely in order to develop Gyeonggi Province and make it a safe and happy place in which to live. We must ask for support in order to speed up our problem-solving process.”
 
After the meeting, Governor Kim and his associates visited the Jeoksong Five-Day Market to interact with merchants and shoppers and find out about their living expenses.◇ Governor Kim Moon-soo and his associates interacting with local residents at Jeokseong Five-Day Market. ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun