Seoul to ease restricted zone for civilians near North Korean border
by Thomas Maresca · UPISEOUL, June 17 (UPI) -- South Korea's Defense Ministry announced plans Wednesday to reduce the size of the military-controlled buffer zone along the heavily fortified border with North Korea, easing decades-old restrictions on access to frontier areas in a move aimed at promoting regional development.
The ministry said it would begin a phased adjustment of the Civilian Control Line, or CCL, from 2027, allowing greater civilian access to areas near the Demilitarized Zone that have long been subject to military controls.
Established following the 1950-53 Korean War, the CCL restricts civilian access to sensitive areas south of the DMZ. The line currently extends as far as 6.2 miles south of the Military Demarcation Line in some areas.
The Defense Ministry said changing security conditions, advances in surveillance technology and a shrinking pool of military manpower have prompted a reassessment of the decades-old system.
"The military facility regulations of the past were appropriate for the environment of that time, but today's reality demands a new approach," Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said during a press briefing in Seoul.
Under the plan, the Civilian Control Line would be adjusted to an average distance of about 3.7 miles from the Military Demarcation Line, opening roughly 100 square miles of land to civilian use and development.
Officials said new control measures, including the relocation of checkpoints and the installation of security fencing and CCTV systems, would allow the military to maintain operational effectiveness while expanding civilian access.
The ministry also said it plans to lift military protection designations on additional land south of the border, potentially freeing another 168 square miles for development. In total, nearly 270 square miles of land could see controls relaxed under the broader package of reforms.
The measures respond in part to long-standing requests from residents and local governments in border regions, where restrictions on development, agriculture and land use have been a source of frustration for decades.
Ahn said the reforms were designed to preserve the effectiveness of military operations while easing burdens on residents and supporting local development.
"The Ministry of National Defense and our military have prepared policies that can enhance residents' convenience while ensuring the effectiveness of military operations," he said.
The announcement comes as President Lee Jae Myung's administration pursues a broader effort to improve inter-Korean relations and lower tensions along the border.
Since taking office last year, Lee has halted anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts and moved to restrict the launch of propaganda leaflets across the border, arguing that such activities risk provoking military confrontation and harming residents in frontline communities.
The Defense Ministry said it would fully fund the costs associated with adjusting the Civilian Control Line and would work closely with local governments on implementation. Additional measures announced Wednesday include the removal of obsolete military obstacles, streamlined approval procedures for agricultural drone flights in border areas and a new digital entry management system for the control zone.