Questions/Answers

Korea is the world’s last divided country. Although 65 years have passed since the armistice agreement brought a temporary cessation to the Korean War (1950-53), the wounds of war are still very much present in many areas of Korean society. The most obvious of the countless surviving vestiges of the Korean War are: the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) separating the two Koreas; the demilitarized zone (DMZ), a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) wide strip of land centered on the MDL; and the Civilian Control Line (CCL), which forms the adjacent area. Camp Greaves is also a symbol of the pain of war (both civil war and the Cold War) and national division. After serving as the 506th U.S. 2nd Infantry Division’s base for approximately 50 years following the armistice, Camp Greaves was returned to the Korean government in 2007 following the relocation of U.S Forces Korea (USFK) in 2004. In recognition of Camp Greaves’ historical and cultural value, Gyeonggi Province worked with the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Paju City to transform the former military base into a comprehensive cultural and artistic facility that is composed of exhibition areas and interactive accommodations. Today, Camp Greaves is the only accommodation facility in the CCL. It not only offers opportunities for young people to gain a balanced understanding of peace while experiencing the surrounding area but also contributes to local economic revitalization by transforming the area around the DMZ into a tourism resource. Now that it is possible for visitors to stay overnight in this area, Camp Greaves has become a key tourist attraction for the province. Gyeonggi Province will also create a history park with minimal renovations that can serve as a landmark of the Korean Peninsula in terms of “peace tourism” for South and North Korea.

The Camp Greaves project is linked to Category 2 based on the cooperation and supplementary teamwork of diverse stakeholders. The first step taken was the signing of a four-party memorandum of understanding (MOU) — the Ministry of National Defense, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, and Paju City Hall — on the utilization of an area granted to U.S. Forces Korea that has since been returned to the Korean government. Cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism resulted in the transformation of an idle military facility into a space for cultural and artistic creation and exhibition.

This project is related to four Sustainable Development Goals. The first is Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): In the process of constructing a history park in the DMZ area, we are establishing tourism infrastructure that prioritizes preservation above all else. The second is Goal 10 (Reduced Inequality): This project provides increased profits and access to cultural benefits to residents of the Civilian Control Line area who have long been forced to endure various inequalities (military regulations, etc.). The third is Goal 15 (Life on Land): We are currently carrying out remodeling activities that first and foremost protect DMZ ecosystems. To restore terrestrial ecosystems, we are in the process of increasing the ratio of green space so as to enable consistent management of forests. The fourth is Goal 16 (Peace and Justice Strong Institutions): We formed councils based on public-private-military cooperation that are open to participation by local residents, nearby military bases, self-governing bodies, and public institutions that have built up a system of coexistence based on trust.

Funds to maintain and manage the facilities are self-generated through the operation of a youth hostel and diverse programs. Once the history park is complete, we expect to see an increase in operational profit through the park’s various amenities. The increase in “staying tourists” and the recent creation of a peace-friendly atmosphere between the Koreas is also leading to increased economic gain by local communities (restaurants, markets, etc.). Accordingly, Camp Greaves is emerging as a model of local coexistence.

This project addresses three limitations that have thus far been ignored because of the realities of national division. The first is the creation of a tourist attraction where visitors can experience the importance of peace. Since the armistice, the Civilian Control Line (CCL) has only been used as an educational tool for national security. Today, many tourists directly experience the value of true peace through the Camp Greaves project. The second is development policy that is nature-friendly. By recognizing the historical value and preserving the original structures of a returned U.S. military facility, environmental damage has been kept to a minimum by only engaging in renovation work that was absolutely necessary. The third is coexistence with local residents. Residents of areas that border the CCL have had to make many sacrifices over the past decades for the sake of national security. Restricted by numerous regulations (military facilities, etc.), residents were treated unfairly. The revitalization of stay-based tourism in the CCL area made possible by the Camp Greaves project is leading to the highly positive outcome of returning land development profits to citizens (increased profits for local residents through revitalized tourism, etc.).

Peace is a key premise and goal of a free democracy that guarantees gender equality. Women and children are deemed to be the greatest victims of war. In Korea, due to the existence of a centuries-old culture that is deeply rooted in patriarchal Confucian values, the role of women in the rebuilding of the country after the Korean War (1950-53) was minimal. This project, which aims to transform a military facility into one of peace by combining it with cultural and artistic works, will strengthen the peaceful mood that is permeating Korean society and increase women’s social participation.

This project’s first target group are people throughout the world who pray for peace. Until very recently, the Civilian Control Line (CCL) was virtually inaccessible to ordinary citizens because of strict visitation procedures. Through this project, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government has successfully simplified the administrative steps required for entry into the CCL area through an agreement with the Ministry of National Defense. The second target group are locally based military personnel. Thus far, such military personnel have been forced to bear immense responsibilities and a sense of duty regarding national security while living in dilapidated facilities. However, through endowment and concession projects, military personnel can receive facilities that offer enhanced living and working environments, which can lead to increased focus on the tasks of maintaining a high level of defensive readiness. The last target group are those who live in the CCL area. A primary goal of the Camp Greaves utilization project is the revitalization of stay-based tourism through the construction of hotel accommodations. The generation of profits from restaurants, souvenir shops and other facilities operated by local communities is leading to the auxiliary effect of a “virtuous cycle” of profit return for local residents.

This project began in March 2012 when the 1st Division proposed the installation of a military life experiential facility (DMZ Experience Zone) inside Camp Greaves. In April 2012, the project was expanded due to the Gyeonggi Provincial Government’s proposal to utilize Camp Greaves in its entirety. In 2014, a memorandum of agreement was signed with the Ministry of National Defense (MND) for the project’s implementation. The DMZ Experience Center, which is located inside Camp Greaves, was born from an agreement signed by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, the First Division of the ROK Army, Paju City Hall, and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (GTO) on the use of an experiential national security facility. In November 2013, approval was granted for a plan to construct and operate a youth hostel, which opened its doors in December 2013. The exhibition area, one of the most important spaces in Camp Greaves, was created after being selected in 2014 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism through the “Industrial Complex and Discarded Industrial Facility Cultural Regeneration” contest. In February 2015, a consultation team on cultural regeneration projects from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism visited Camp Greaves and offered guidance on various aspects of the project. In January 2016, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government signed a consignment agreement with the GTO for the implementation of a cultural regeneration project, after which it established an implementation structure for cultural regeneration (overall planning, construction, exhibition area personnel designation, etc.). In July 2016, in accordance with the implementation plan for cultural regeneration, the initial round of exhibition area construction began (completed in November), after which the first exhibition was held. A second exhibition space was constructed from January through July 2017, after which a second exhibition was held.

The Camp Greaves utilization project is conducted as an endowment and concession initiative by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Ministry of National Defense (MND) inside the Civilian Control Line, an area which is strictly off-limits to civilians. The cooperation of military authorities with jurisdiction is essential. There are some concerns that the project may be delayed due to the protracted formation of cooperative relations, but this will most likely be overcome through the formation of public-private-military councils.

The Camp Greaves project began with the “inverse concept” of transforming a U.S. military base into an interactive facility that promotes peace through the cultural and artistic features. The project was successfully carried out thanks to bold strategic decision-making by both the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Ministry of National Defense. Considering that the Korean Peninsula still technically remains in state of war, this project format is especially revolutionary given that it supports the maintenance of military capabilities at the DMZ while also using military infrastructure as a resource for tourism.

Given that the Camp Greaves project focuses on reusing idle space (industrial, military, etc.) through culture and the arts, the following example was benchmarked. In terms of the transformation of a military facility into a space for culture and the arts, we were inspired by Museum Insel Hombroich (Germany). The museum, which is comprised of 15 exhibition spaces (each in a separate building), purchased a former NATO missile base and military facility in 1994. The facilities were merged and expanded, and today constitute a world-renowned attraction that offers diverse programs, including exhibitions, festivals (Inselfestival), and concerts.

The endowment and concession project was previously implemented by other local governments (Gimpo City Hall and Yangpyeong County Office). Yangpyeong County relocated a military facility (which had consistently impeded urban development due to its occupation of a key urban site) to an outlying area, after which the land upon which the facility had stood was transformed into a residential area, leading to improved living conditions as well as urban beautification. Gimpo City is creating an ecology peace park on the land it has received. The greatest merit of this project format is that military bases can obtain renewed environments that help military personnel better focus on their duties while the party receiving the land can use it according to plan — resulting in mutual benefit. We strongly recommend that this project be undertaken in cities, regions and countries where it has not yet been introduced and are confident that it is an essential endeavor.

Of the 93 U.S. military bases nationwide that have been returned to the Korean government, 51 are located in Gyeonggi Province. The combined area of these is 172 square kilometers (66 square miles), comprising 96 percent of the total area of returned military sites in Korea (179 square kilometers). Despite the fact that the utilization of such sites is an important agenda item for local and central government authorities, there are still virtually no examples of successful development due to the complicated entanglement of interests of the central government, local governments, and local residents. The Camp Greaves project is an exemplary model of coexistence between the central government, regional governments, local governments, and local residents. By emphasizing the facility’s original historical value through a cultural and artistic regeneration project that carries out minimal remodeling without damaging the natural surroundings, Camp Greaves has become a key landmark of peace tourism in northern Gyeonggi Province. The way in which this project was conducted can be used as a model for developing and modifying returned U.S. military bases in other regions.

The Camp Greaves and Majeong-ri Company project is expected to require a budget of over KRW 100 billion (USD 86 million). This takes into account the creation of replacement facilities (approximately KRW 50 billion) and a history park (approximately KRW 11.5 billion), as well as smaller future projects utilizing the history park and the Majeong-ri Company (approximately KRW 41.2 billion). The construction of replacement facilities for the Camp Greaves military base and a history park is expected to create at least 348 new jobs.

In its early stages, the Camp Greaves project successfully secured national funding from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and a matching donation from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government. In terms of operations, efforts were made to establish a stable structure as swiftly as possible by matching support from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government with operational profits. We will continue to use this system until the history park project is completed — that is, using profits from operating Camp Greaves as a base and supplementing areas that require more funding with support from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government.

Yes

As a youth training facility based on the Juvenile Activity Promotion Act, the Camp Greaves Youth Hostel is subject to the “Comprehensive Evaluation of Youth Training Facilities” conducted once every two years by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Since Camp Greaves opened, this evaluation has been conducted twice (top grades received both times). The evaluation is carried out as follows: An outcome or performance report for each item of assessment (encompassing two years) is submitted, after which the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (proxy: National Youth Policy Institute) conducts documentation and on-site evaluations the following year.

The Comprehensive Evaluation of Youth Training Facilities consists of 24 evaluation indices, nine components, and five areas. There are five grades (Best, Excellent, Adequate, Inadequate, Poor), each of which is given based on the total score for all facilities. Facilities that receive at least 90 points out of 100 are given the highest grade. Evaluation tools are quantitative and qualitative indices pertaining to all facility operation areas. Indices are determined based on feedback from and information sessions for evaluees on the indices before being confirmed. The user satisfaction survey is comprised of 14 indices in three areas.

The Camp Greaves Youth Hostel (DMZ Experience Center) received the highest grade twice consecutively in assessments conducted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. It received 99.2 points out of 100 in the comprehensive assessment of 2016 (based on outcomes from 2014 and 2015), and 98 points in the comprehensive assessment of 2018 (based on outcomes from 2016 and 2017). Camp Greaves was able to achieve such positive outcomes in assessments that include detailed inspections of many areas (operation/management system, offered programs, HR affairs/organization, facilities and safety, facility operation improvement factors, etc.) due to the Gyeonggi Provincial Government’s recognition of the special sustainability and high future value of Camp Greaves and its role in strengthening the public nature of the former military base. The survey also conducted in the second half of 2018 (203 participants) resulted in an average score of more than nine in each of three areas for an overall satisfaction level of 9.11 points. Based on the results of this annual survey, Camp Greaves is incorporating suggestions for improvement into actual program operations. This has resulted in user satisfaction levels that increase each year.

The Camp Greaves project is a development initiative that requires a substantial investment of national and provincial funds. It is also a project that is geared to revitalize tourism for (and bring attention to the value of) the DMZ’s northwestern area through interaction between government and institutions. More specifically, the Korean central government provided national funding based on inspections of investment preparedness and will conduct assessments based on the extent of progress. The Gyeonggi Provincial Government is responsible for overall implementation, including project plan formulation, actual project implementation, and follow-up assessments. The Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) First Division is responsible for providing land, supervising and managing visitors entering and leaving the Civilian Control Line area, and providing content on the DMZ and military to be used at Camp Greaves. Paju City Hall, the local government stakeholder, supervises and manages the development project licenses and business permits. The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, which is responsible for managing and operating the DMZ Experience Center and exhibition areas, is cooperating closely with the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, Paju City Hall, the First Division, the Ministry of Unification, KORAIL and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

To ensure sustainable development and the realization of a long-term plan for Camp Greaves, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government works closely with relevant institutions and experts The roles of stakeholders in the Camp Greaves project are as follows: The Gyeonggi Provincial Government, the primary agent of responsibility for this project, undertakes overall supervision. The Ministry of National Defense’s First Division, the current possessor of the Camp Greaves site, assists with efforts necessary to enable utilization of Camp Greaves. Paju City Hall, the local government stakeholder, directed the construction of the youth hostel (with budgetary support from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and consignment of construction work) and continues to be responsible for tasks related to development-related permits and cooperation with other demilitarized zone (DMZ) tourism projects (i.e., joint operation with the Third Tunnel of Aggression and Dora Observatory). Cooperative efforts are consistently made with local villages (Unification Village, etc.) to ensure the sustainability of Camp Greaves. Through a public-private-military cooperative system, we will execute various activities (tourism product development and operation, joint PR, employment of local residents, etc.) for the cooperative management and operation of all Camp Greaves facilities.

This project is a coexistence model created through the efforts of many stakeholders. Many parties participated in this project, including not only government ministries (the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) but also the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, Paju City Hall, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, environmental experts, and artists. The first lesson learned while implementing this project is the importance of allowing local players to participate in local government-led projects in clearly defined roles. Through private participation, we hope to expand this project in new directions and maintain long-term cooperative relationships with local players. The second lesson learned is the importance of maintaining a balance between the preservation and development of cultural heritage assets of historical significance. Through this project, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government did its utmost to preserve the historical significance of Camp Greaves while minimizing remodeling, especially in terms of preserving original building appearances to the fullest extent possible. The Gyeonggi Provincial Government learned how to work together with others for mutually beneficial results while also frequently negotiating with the other stakeholders. It will search for ways to make systemic improvements in the process of inter-organizational cooperation and partnerships.