1.1
Comprehensive Management Plan for the Border Region
접경지역 종합관리계획
Young-Bong Kim and Won-Sup Lee 1999. 6·3 vols.(Main Report 300 pages,
Summary Report 56 pages, Data Book 102 pages)·Korean
Objectives
This is a study for the comprehensive management plan of the border region in Gangwon province. Its Major objectives are: 1) the effective management and use of the ecosystem in the border region; 2) the improvement of living conditions and infrastructure deteriorated by consistent controls and regulations; and 3) the establishment of bases for the reunification of the nation and multilateral trades between North and South Korea.
Major Areas of Analysis
The research has two major contents. The first is the analysis of existing conditions of the border region. Various data on physical geography and socio-economic conditions including legal and institutional devices are examined.
The result shows that the border region, in spite of the well preserved natural environment, has not been given opportunities for regional development. One major reason is the existence of military installation protection areas, in which economic activities such as land development and industrial location are prohibited.
The border region is considered to have promising opportunities for regional development in the future. The improvement of the relationship between north and south Korea reflected on the increasing human and commodity exchanges is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the border region.
Policy Recommendations
For its effective management, the study proposes to divide the border region into three parts. They are a conservation zone including the DMZ and the Civilian Control Area, a semi-conservation zone including part of the Civilian
Control Area and ecologically valuable areas in the south of the Civilian Control Line, and a development zone including urban and semi-agricultural areas.
Emphasis is laid on the latter two. For the semi-conservation zone, the promotion of environment-friendly tourism and military tourism is proposed. For the development zone, deregulation for land use and economic activities is important for the improvement of living environment. The development of the border region is important both for residents living there and the nation.
Deregulation for land use and economic activities the establishment of transportation infrastructure, and the improvement of living and production system are essential for the development of the border region. Disconnected transportation routes across the DMZ need to be restored step by step according to the development of South and North Korea‘s relationship.
Special attention is also paid on devising measures for the conservation of natural resources and ecosystem in and around the DMZ. By applying the biosphere conservation concept developed by the UNESCO, ecologically valuable areas are proposed to be classified into core areas, buffer areas, and transition areas. Differentiated regulations and land use patterns are proposed for each area. In addition, joint projects and cooperation between south and north Korea are required for the effective management of natural environment as well as resource management and development along the border.
