Choi Mi-ae and Woo Sang-ho signed a border area agreement
Announced plans for ‘Peace Economy’ in border areas
“We will make it a zone of peace, not a land of sacrifice”
Emphasized solidarity among Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon
Park Chan-dae, a member of the National Assembly and the Democratic Party’s mayoral candidate for Incheon (Yeonsu-gap), is committed to cooperation among border regions to revitalize the local economy through peace. On the 23rd, at the National Assembly Communication Center, Park pledged a ‘Covenant for New Changes and Coexistence in Border Areas’ with Democratic Party candidates Choo Mi-ae for Gyeonggi Governor (Gyeonggi Hanam-gap) and Woo Sang-ho for Gangwon Governor.
According to the agreement, they plan to designate Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon as a ‘Zone of Peace for Coexistence and Prosperity’ and to seek institutional improvements to enhance residents’ rights and revitalize the local economy. They also plan to redefine the area adjacent to the DMZ as a key hub for the Korean Peninsula Peace Economy and to strengthen policy cooperation for activating ecological peace tourism that coexists with nature, security, and tourism in the DMZ. Furthermore, they intend to continuously activate the ‘Peace Zone Regional Heads Council’ to promote solidarity.
Park stated, “Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon have pledged to charge ahead on the vast path of peace with great passion and determination.”
On this day, Park unveiled the ‘Peace Initiative’, which aims to transform border areas from a ‘land of sacrifice and regulation’ to a ‘zone of peace for coexistence and prosperity’. To achieve this, he emphasized the solidarity and cooperation of the three regions: Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Incheon.
Park mentioned, “Gyeonggi Province linked the broken railway following President Kim Dae-jung’s footsteps, and Gangwon Province opened the gate to Mount Kumgang tourism, providing a touching moment for inter-Korean exchanges.” He added, “I am firmly embracing President Roh Moo-hyun’s October 4 Declaration to make Incheon the ‘Sea of Peace’.” He explained, “Although the landscapes of the roads, mountains, and seas we face differ, our longing for peace is the same.”
He also said, “During the previous administration, residents in border areas had to endure too much suffering,” referring to incidents involving balloon leaflets and loudspeakers.
Park continued, “With the start of the Lee Jae-myung administration, the dark times are over, and we cannot return to an era of anxiety and tension.”
In particular, Park emphasized, “For border area residents, peace is livelihood, survival, and economy,” pledging to strongly support the path of reconciliation and cooperation being opened by the government with local governments being a solid ‘one team.’ He added that he will put forth all efforts to fiercely connect the mountains of Gangwon, the railroads of Gyeonggi, and the sea of Incheon, thereby realizing a grand peace on the Korean Peninsula. “We will change systems, bring in budgets, and lay infrastructure,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Park has been actively addressing border region issues, including a visit to Baengnyeongdo last March.