Splitting South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province Into North And South?

The Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Kim Dong-yeon, Is Pushing For A Division Of Gyeonggi Province Into North And South Along The Han River

The Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Kim Dong-yeon, is pushing for a division of Gyeonggi Province into north and south along the Han River. In this process, the new name for the northern part of Gyeonggi Province has been announced as “Pyonghwanuri Special Autonomous Province (평화누리특별자치도).” The winner of the competition is a 91-year-old citizen from Daegu, who received a prize of 10 million won.

However, shortly after the announcement, a petition titled “Oppose Pyonghwanuri Autonomous Province” was posted on the Gyeonggi Province Citizens’ Petition website. 

The petitioner listed reasons for opposing the division, stating, “Isn’t it right to reflect the opinions of the residents? I, along with a majority of neighboring residents, oppose the separation policy.” Other netizens expressed reactions such as, “Just looking at the name makes it seem closer to North Korea. It doesn’t sound like South Korea. Are you joking with the name? It sounds like a North Korean apartment name.” The opposition petition has garnered approximately 23,000 signatures so far, and it is expected that Governor Kim will respond directly soon.

Why Divide Gyeonggi Province?

Governor Kim has explained that if Northern Gyeonggi Province is designated as a “special autonomous province,” it will be able to receive many central government authorities and functions, thereby normalizing regulations that are not suitable for the region and laying a solid foundation for regional development.

Over time, Northern Gyeonggi province has been marginalized in various policies due to being subject to regulations as part of the capital region. As a result, the gap between the southern and northern Gyeonggi regions has widened. Recognized more as a “border area” than part of the “capital region,” it has been excluded from national policies.

Northern Gyeonggi province boasts industrial complexes and relatively cheap land prices due to its proximity to Seoul, making it an area with high development potential. Additionally, it possesses globally significant legacies, such as the preserved ecological environment of the DMZ, with a brand value of 209 trillion won.

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