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The governor of Gyeonggi Province, welcoming the relocation of U.S. troops to south of the Han River, said Monday that the province would build what it calls an "international peace city" on 5 million pyeong near Osan and Pyeongtaek. Those two cities make up one of the two hubs into which Washington wants to reposition its forces here.
The new city would consist of residential areas for American soldiers and Koreans as well as educational and cultural facilities. ˇ°If the U.S. soldiers wish to move into Pyeongtaek or Osan, we will actively accept it,ˇ± said the governor, Sohn Hak-gyu, in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo.
ˇ°The international peace city will be self-sufficient, with residential areas for the families of U.S. soldiers and regular citizens," Sohn said. "There will also be a golf course and commercial facilities.ˇ±
The branch of Maryland University now at the Yongsan base would be transferred, the governor continued, and the province would consider developing an ˇ°English Village,ˇ± with plans to attract elementary, middle and high schools for foreigners. ˇ°The 8th U.S. Army has been positive about our proposal,ˇ± said an official from the province.
The new city would be between Osan and the Ahnjeong U.S. airfield, the province said. Plans are designed for about 70,000 households and 200,000 persons to reside in the area. The province intends to spend about 4 trillion won ($3.3 billion) through 2010 to realize the plan.
Sohn said that he would try to persuade local residents who oppose the plan by focusing on its brightest side - that the U.S. base will contribute greatly to regional development.
(Lee Tae-hun, libra@chosun.com )
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