[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Shin Eun-seop] Ganghwa County announced on the 14th that it will consolidate and relocate military checkpoints, a long-standing demand of border area residents, and will undertake major expansion of tourism and cultural infrastructure.
The county has completed consultations with the Ministry of National Defense and local military units and plans to complete the checkpoint consolidation during the first half of the year by investing 500 million won in the project.
The Shinbong-ri checkpoint in Hajjeom-myeon, which currently causes considerable inconvenience to residents, will be closed and integrated with the Gyeodong Bridge checkpoint. The checkpoints in Dangsan-ri, Songhae-myeon and Cheolsan-ri, Yangsa-myeon will be relocated near the Peace Observatory and operated as a consolidated facility.
Once the checkpoint consolidation is completed, it is expected that living conditions for border area residents suffering from chronic traffic congestion will improve and visitor satisfaction with tourism will increase.
In line with the military checkpoint consolidation and relocation, the county plans to significantly strengthen cultural and tourism infrastructure lacking in border areas.
In Yangsa-myeon, projects include the North-South 1.8 Center (2 billion won), Sanipo Folk Village Development Project (9 billion won), and Gyo-san-ri Public Parking Lot Construction (1.6 billion won). In Hajjeom-myeon, projects include the Ganghwu Elementary School Cultural Regeneration Project and Stargazing Observatory Construction (6.5 billion won) and Changhu Port Fishing Village New Deal Project (9.4 billion won).
In Gyeodong-myeon, following the completion of the Songam Park Du-sung Birthplace Restoration Project, the county is on the verge of completion of the Hwagae Garden and Observatory Construction Project (38 billion won), which will become a landmark for Ganghwa County.
A county official stated, "We will continue to consult with military units in a manner that does not compromise security and safety to resolve inconveniences for residents," and added, "We will do our best to significantly expand tourism and cultural infrastructure lacking in the northern region to achieve balanced development and growth with the southern region."