The South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced on Monday plans to lift military protection zones over 131 square miles (339 square kilometers) of land, the largest such release since 2007. This move, aimed at facilitating public use and development, will affect areas around military airfields and border regions, including Seosan and Cheorwon County, and is part of efforts to address complaints from residents about development restrictions.

President Yoon Suk-yeol detailed a broader strategy to repurpose the military-protected land for economic development. The initiative focuses on fostering regional growth, particularly in South Chungcheong Province, by transforming it into an economic hub with a free economic zone and specialized industrial complexes.