On the 18th, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty and Innovation Party, held a press conference at the Pyeongtaek City Hall briefing room regarding his candidacy for the Pyeongtaek B by-election on June 3rd. The photo shows Representative Hwang explaining his plan for Pyeongtaek's development, the 'Korea-US Global Security and Economic Special Zone.' [Photo = Hankook Ilbo]Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty and Innovation Party, announced his pledge to foster Pyeongtaek as a ‘Korea-US Global Security and Economic Special Zone’ at a press conference on the 18th at 10:30 AM in the Pyeongtaek City Hall briefing room, Gyeonggi Province, for his candidacy in the Pyeongtaek B National Assembly by-election.

Representative Hwang stated that Pyeongtaek already possesses strategic assets such as Camp Humphreys, the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus, and Pyeongtaek Port. He plans to integrate these under a single special law framework, transforming Pyeongtaek into a central hub for South Korea's security and economy, and for the industrialization of the Korea-US alliance.

"Pyeongtaek is a city of alliance, a city of semiconductors, and a city of ports," Hwang said, adding, "Now, I will bind these three together with a single promise." He pledged that if elected, he would propose the 'Pyeongtaek Korea-US Global Security and Economic Special Zone Special Act' as his first legislative initiative.

The core issue of this pledge ultimately lies in legislation. Simply making political pronouncements is insufficient to designate Pyeongtaek as a special zone, create clusters for semiconductors, advanced defense, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and incorporate incentives for attracting businesses as well as reflecting metropolitan transportation and living infrastructure in national plans. The enactment of a special law, consultation with government ministries, budget allocation, and attraction of corporate investment must all align.

The special law proposed by Representative Hwang is expected to include provisions for the designation of the Pyeongtaek Korea-US Global Security and Economic Special Zone, the basis for creating clusters for semiconductors, advanced defense, and AI applications, an incentive package for attracting businesses, proactive promotion of metropolitan transportation and living infrastructure, and citizen feedback clauses to ensure that the zone's benefits are returned to the citizens of Pyeongtaek.

The three assets of Pyeongtaek that Representative Hwang has chosen as the starting point for his pledge are:

First, Camp Humphreys. This signifies Pyeongtaek as a city that accommodates the security needs of the Korea-US alliance.

Second, the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Godeok. Given that semiconductors are a core foundation for advanced defense and AI industries, the logic is that Pyeongtaek's semiconductor production base can be expanded into security industries.

Third, Pyeongtaek Port. The combination of semiconductor production, security needs, and port export functions within a single city is a unique condition that Pyeongtaek possesses.

Representative Hwang's vision emphasizes structuring through special legislation rather than simply listing individual pledges.

The intention is to bind the existing structures, where military bases, semiconductors, and Pyeongtaek Port have operated independently, under a single legal framework.

However, feasibility is a separate point of verification.

Representative Hwang is currently the leader of Liberty and Innovation, a minor party, not a party with a majority in the National Assembly. While proposing a special law is possible, its passage requires negotiation within the National Assembly, cooperation between ruling and opposition parties, persuasion of government ministries, and budget acquisition. Based solely on political standing, it is difficult to conclude that the pledge has a high likelihood of realization.

Nevertheless, Representative Hwang also has clear strengths. He has served as Prime Minister and Acting President. His administrative experience, gained from understanding the decision-making structures of the central government, inter-ministerial consultations, legislative drafting, and budget allocation processes, sets him apart from other candidates from minor parties.

If the Pyeongtaek special zone initiative is predicated on special legislation and national plans, rather than being a mere slogan for regional development, this administrative experience can serve as a logical basis for pursuing the pledge.

A noteworthy aspect of the pledge is 'citizen feedback.'

Representative Hwang emphasized that the effects of attracting businesses should not be limited to external capital and companies, but should include the circulation of jobs, education, consumption, tax revenue, and living infrastructure within Pyeongtaek.

He also revealed a plan to initially create a foundation for 10,000 jobs for Pyeongtaek citizens and to aim for an ecosystem of tens of thousands of jobs once the cluster is complete.

Pledges for education and living infrastructure were also presented.

The plan includes establishing a specialized high school related to AI and semiconductors in Godeok, and linking it with Pyeongtaek University's establishment of AI and semiconductor departments.

He also stated that the KTX Gyeonggi Southern Station, extension of the Sinan-san Line to Anjung Station, direct airport buses to Incheon Airport, metropolitan roads, and medical and cultural infrastructure would be prioritized for inclusion in national plans under the special law.

Ultimately, the essence of this pledge is not about "what to build in Pyeongtaek," but "whether it is possible to create a law that elevates Pyeongtaek's existing assets to national strategy."

Pyeongtaek already possesses assets in its military bases, semiconductors, and port. Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn's vision for Pyeongtaek proposes to bind these assets within the legal framework of a 'Korea-US Security and Economic Special Zone.'

The remaining issue is not the scale of the pledge, but the path to execution. The political limitation of being a leader of a minor party, and the administrative experience of having served as Prime Minister and Acting President, are expected to be the two pillars that determine the feasibility of this pledge.