Gov`t to revoke 12 districts of free economic zone status

The size of Korea`s free economic zones will be reduced for the first time due to delayed development and murky prospects, the Knowledge Economic Ministry said Tuesday.

The country has 93 districts in six such zones with a combined area of 571 square kilometers, and 12 districts in five zones covering 90.51 square kilometers (15.9 percent) will be deprived of their status.

Among the districts slated for removal from the zone list include the airport area of Incheon, green belt regions of Busan and Jinhae, Gwangyang Bay, the Suseong medical area of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the rear Gunsan area of Saemangeum-Gunsan, and the Yeosu Airport area.

The cancellation process is expected to be tough, however, due to opposition from several provincial governments over the revocation.

imsun@donga.com