Military Restrictions on Land Use in South Korea Lifted

(Source- Channel A News Top Ten 12.5) Military restricted protection zone land released 336,690,000 square meters (total)- (depicted in orange circles) Inchon: 11,370,000 sq meters; Gyeonggido 114,640,000 sq meters; Gangwando 212,020,000 sq meters; much smaller changes listed to locations further south.

Today the South Korean Minister of Defense, Jeong Kyeong Du, announced implementation of military reform 2.0 in the form of the greatest change in military restrictions on land use and development in South Korea since 1994. The overwhelming majority of substantial changes involve lifting of military restrictions of land use in the border provinces of Gyeonggido and Gangwando, and also affect Inchon to some extent as reflected on the map. Private owners, investors and developers will now be able to develop real estate in these areas without consultation or approval from military authorities. It is felt that the freeing of military restrictions on land use will encourage efficient private use and profitable development of these areas.

One criticism of the reform, which will be implemented gradually, is that over the long term development of land in the area near the DMZ will restrict military operations and maneuver in times of a potential military emergency.

Based upon the report that 9000 sq km, of land are designated as military restricted protection zones in South Korea, this easing of the restrictions affects less than four percent of the designated area released for unrestricted private use.