Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police to Crack Down on Illegal Activities in Development-Restricted Zones from September 1

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police announced on the 11th that it will conduct an intensive crackdown on illegal activities in development-restricted zones across the province for three weeks, from September 1 to 18.

The development-restricted zones within the province cover 1,126㎢ across 21 cities and counties, including Suwon. Over the past three years, the number of illegal activities detected in development-restricted zones has remained high each year, with 7,768 cases in 2023, 8,050 cases in 2024, and 7,810 cases in 2025. The province plans to focus its crackdown on habitual offenders in development-restricted zones, corporate-style offenders acting for profit, and those who fail to comply with corrective orders.

The main targets of the crackdown include acts carried out without permission, such as △constructing buildings or installing structures △changing the use of facilities related to plants and animals or storage facilities for agricultural and marine products into logistics warehouses or factories △altering the character of farmland or forests into parking lots and the like △piling up objects △felling bamboo and trees.

Anyone who, without permission, constructs a building, changes its use, installs a structure, or alters the character of land within a development-restricted zone shall, under the Development-Restricted Zone Act, be subject to imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won. In cases involving profit-seeking or habitual offenses, the penalty is imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Kwon Mun-ju, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police, said, "Development-restricted zones are precious green spaces that must be protected to prevent the disorderly expansion of cities and to respond to the climate crisis and achieve carbon neutrality," adding, "We will carry out continuous crackdowns on indiscriminate illegal activities to create a safe living environment in which residents can feel secure."

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police is receiving reports of illegal activities from residents through its website (gg.go.kr/gg_special_cop) or the Gyeonggi Province call center (031-120).