The South Korean Defense Ministry announced on July 21 that it will lift and ease military facility protection zones covering an area of 29.16 million square meters, equivalent to ten times the size of Yeouido.
The areas where restricted protection zones will be lifted include five locations: Goseong County, Sokcho City, Pyeongtaek City, Goyang City, and Yongsan District (862,800 square meters). Additionally, the controlled protection zone in Siheung City (17,000 square meters) will be downgraded to a restricted protection zone, and flight safety zones will be lifted in four areas: Mapo and Eunpyeong Districts in Seoul, Goyang City, and Sejong City (2,051,500 square meters).
The Defense Ministry explained, "We have actively pursued the lifting and easing of protection zones to enhance the rights of citizens and invigorate local communities while maintaining a robust military readiness posture."
Initially, five areas were determined to be suitable for lifting the military facility protection zone without hindering military operations. These include regions in Goseong County and Sokcho City (639,000 square meters), around an ammunition depot in the Godeok Internationalization Planning District in Pyeongtaek City (133,000 square meters), and areas in Goyang City designated for techno valleys and public housing (77,000 square meters).
The restricted protection zone set around the Yongsan Children's Garden, located in the outer perimeter of the Defense Ministry, will also be lifted (137,000 square meters).
As a result, height restrictions in the Jangsa-dong and Yeongrang-dong areas of Sokcho City will be effectively lifted. These areas had been designated as restricted protection zones since 1991 to protect military communication facilities, which limited the construction and expansion of buildings exceeding a two-degree angle within a two-kilometer radius, complicating the development of residential complexes and urban planning.
Additionally, the controlled protection zone in the military housing area of Gojan-dong in Siheung City (17,000 square meters) will be downgraded to a restricted protection zone, considering that residential areas have already formed and the impact on military operations is minimal.
Furthermore, parts of the flight safety zones at Suwon Air Base and Jochwine Air Base will be lifted. The Defense Ministry plans to change the use of the Suwon Air Base area in Mapo and Eunpyeong Districts and Goyang City from a support air operation base to a helicopter-only operation base, and will proceed with the lifting of the flight safety zone (1,982,000 square meters). This change is expected to take effect in the second half of this year following amendments to the enforcement decree.
The flight safety zone (695,000 square meters) around the existing runway at Jochwine Air Base in Sejong City will also be lifted as part of the integration relocation project of Jochwine and Yeongi Air Bases.
The lifting and easing of these protection zones will take effect after the announcement in the official gazette on July 22.
Maps and detailed information regarding the topography of the lifted and eased protection zones can be accessed through the relevant local governments and military units, and the current status of the protection zones applicable to each parcel can also be checked through the 'Internet Land e-um' search.
Last month, the Defense Ministry announced plans to gradually lift and ease military facility protection zones covering an area 240 times the size of Yeouido as part of its 'Military Facility Regulation Improvement Measures,' raising the civilian control line by an average of 2 kilometers.
The Defense Ministry stated, "We will rationally adjust military facility protection zones to improve the lives of residents and develop together with local communities, as long as it does not interfere with military operations."
The areas where restricted protection zones will be lifted include five locations: Goseong County, Sokcho City, Pyeongtaek City, Goyang City, and Yongsan District (862,800 square meters). Additionally, the controlled protection zone in Siheung City (17,000 square meters) will be downgraded to a restricted protection zone, and flight safety zones will be lifted in four areas: Mapo and Eunpyeong Districts in Seoul, Goyang City, and Sejong City (2,051,500 square meters).
The Defense Ministry explained, "We have actively pursued the lifting and easing of protection zones to enhance the rights of citizens and invigorate local communities while maintaining a robust military readiness posture."
Initially, five areas were determined to be suitable for lifting the military facility protection zone without hindering military operations. These include regions in Goseong County and Sokcho City (639,000 square meters), around an ammunition depot in the Godeok Internationalization Planning District in Pyeongtaek City (133,000 square meters), and areas in Goyang City designated for techno valleys and public housing (77,000 square meters).
The restricted protection zone set around the Yongsan Children's Garden, located in the outer perimeter of the Defense Ministry, will also be lifted (137,000 square meters).
As a result, height restrictions in the Jangsa-dong and Yeongrang-dong areas of Sokcho City will be effectively lifted. These areas had been designated as restricted protection zones since 1991 to protect military communication facilities, which limited the construction and expansion of buildings exceeding a two-degree angle within a two-kilometer radius, complicating the development of residential complexes and urban planning.
Additionally, the controlled protection zone in the military housing area of Gojan-dong in Siheung City (17,000 square meters) will be downgraded to a restricted protection zone, considering that residential areas have already formed and the impact on military operations is minimal.
Furthermore, parts of the flight safety zones at Suwon Air Base and Jochwine Air Base will be lifted. The Defense Ministry plans to change the use of the Suwon Air Base area in Mapo and Eunpyeong Districts and Goyang City from a support air operation base to a helicopter-only operation base, and will proceed with the lifting of the flight safety zone (1,982,000 square meters). This change is expected to take effect in the second half of this year following amendments to the enforcement decree.
The flight safety zone (695,000 square meters) around the existing runway at Jochwine Air Base in Sejong City will also be lifted as part of the integration relocation project of Jochwine and Yeongi Air Bases.
The lifting and easing of these protection zones will take effect after the announcement in the official gazette on July 22.
Maps and detailed information regarding the topography of the lifted and eased protection zones can be accessed through the relevant local governments and military units, and the current status of the protection zones applicable to each parcel can also be checked through the 'Internet Land e-um' search.
Last month, the Defense Ministry announced plans to gradually lift and ease military facility protection zones covering an area 240 times the size of Yeouido as part of its 'Military Facility Regulation Improvement Measures,' raising the civilian control line by an average of 2 kilometers.
The Defense Ministry stated, "We will rationally adjust military facility protection zones to improve the lives of residents and develop together with local communities, as long as it does not interfere with military operations."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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