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Gyeonggi Vice Governor for Peace Lee Jae-gang holds a press conference on the Unification Bridge in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 10 criticizing the UN Command for overstepping its authority on inter-Korean activity unrelated to military affairs. (Yonhap News)

A local government near the inter-Korean border is criticizing the United Nations Command (UNC) amid an outcry over what is seen as abuse of its use of authority to control access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), arbitrarily restricting even visits for non-military purposes.

In an emergency press conference held on the morning of Nov. 10 in front of the Unification Bridge in Paju, Gyeonggi Vice Governor for Peace Lee Jae-gang stressed that the establishment of an office for him at Dora Observatory was a “legitimate administrative act by Gyeonggi Province to open up a new path amid the strain in inter-Korean relations, including the pursuit of a declaration of resuming operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.”

“We reject the UN Command’s improper interference in non-military administrative affairs proper to Gyeonggi Province,” he added.

On Oct. 23, Gyeonggi Province proceeded with efforts to establish an office for its vice governor of peace after sending an official message requesting cooperation to the 1st Infantry Division. In the message, it explained that a Mongolian-style tent would be placed in front of Dora Observatory -- which looks out over the Kaesong Industrial Complex -- and a total of six people would be working there in the interest of urging the resumption of the complex’s operations, including the vice governor and other government employees and support staff.

The supervising military unit granted its “conditional approval,” saying it would permit access if seven rules were observed in areas including prohibitions on individual departures and strict COVID-19 prevention guidelines. But on Nov. 9, the installation of furnishings was disallowed on the grounds that UNC approval had not been granted.

Gyeonggi Province objected vehemently to what it called an “act of infringement on sovereignty.” Lee said, “It is a terrible thing when we cannot install simple furnishings on South Korean land — something that does not involve any items sent to North Korea or any military purpose — without the permission of the UN Command.”

“This is an unjust act of infringement on our sovereignty by the UN Command,” he insisted. His argument is that while the UNC’s powers of jurisdiction over the DMZ are meant to regulate and stop hostile acts, it oversteps the command’s authority for it to regulate other unrelated activities.

For now, Gyeonggi Province is operating the Office within Pyeonghwa Nuri Park at Imjingak, with plans to relocate it to Dora Observatory once UNC approval is granted at a later date.

Currently, UNC approval is required in accordance with UNC regulations on DMZ security visits for access to locations within the DMZ for non-security tourism purposes, including Dora Observatory and the 3rd Tunnel. Based on these regulations, the city of Paju is also required to obtain the UNC’s approval to access the DMZ to use, maintain, and repair facilities operated there. Restrictions also apply to cultural events such as performances and exhibitions within the DMZ security tourism area.

A UNC official explained that it had “received the approval request from the 1st Infantry Division” for the installation of a Vice Governor for Peace office in front of Dora Observatory and was “currently reviewing it.”

Park Kyung-man, North Gyeonggi correspondent

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