Hi-Rises on the DMZ
Anyone that has spent lots of time in 2ID should be able to verify the fact of the amazing development and construction currently happening in northern Kyongi province near the DMZ:
Ten kilometers from the heavily mined and guarded zone that divides North Korea from South Korea, workers at LG.Philips LCD are finishing a $5 billion plant that will produce liquid crystal display screens.
Nearby, apartment buildings are on the rise. And in the shadow of an old hilltop machine-gun nest, a cheery blue and red billboard announces that English Village, a new language teaching theme park, will open in March.
For two generations, the about 50 kilometers, or 30 miles, between the demilitarized zone and Seoul were intentionally kept sparsely developed, a kind of buffer zone against a North Korean attack. But the political détente between the two countries is bearing economic fruit as South Korea’s economic expansion washes away psychological barriers and now laps at the southern edge of the long-feared DMZ.
The development in the 2ID area is really amazing for those who have spent enough time in the area to appreciate it. The area had long been a back water of the country, but is now quickly becoming more and more developed. If you don’t believe it, check out the affluent Ilsan area north of Seoul. The new apartments, shopping malls, and parks near the DMZ are really amazing.
The construction in Uijongbu and Dongducheon are almost as equally impressive. Heck there is even an amusement park near the DMZ now. I wouldn’t be surprised if a Starbucks opened at the JSA next.
