Defense ministry to redraw Civilian Control Line near inter-Korean border

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaks during a briefing on the military facility regulatory reform plan at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

The Ministry of National Defense unveiled Wednesday a sweeping overhaul of military facility regulations, including plans to redraw the Civilian Control Line and release portions of military protection zones near border areas.

The measures are expected to ease or remove restrictions across approximately 720 square kilometers, an area roughly 240 times the size of Yeouido, Seoul’s main financial district.

The move reflects changes in the security environment, including a shrinking pool of military conscripts and advances in weapons systems, according to the ministry.

Announcing the plan, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back described the initiative as a major overhaul of a long-standing regulatory framework.

“Today, the defense ministry seeks to present a milestone that changes the paradigm of military facility regulations maintained for decades,” Ahn said. He added that regulatory reform had become “an inevitable choice” to respond to changing security conditions and allow the military to focus on its core missions.

At the center of the plan is a proposed adjustment of the Civilian Control Line (CCL), which restricts civilian access to areas near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

The CCL is legally permitted to be set within 10 kilometers of the MDL, but currently sits at an average of around 8 kilometers — already closer than the legal maximum due to previous adjustments made at the request of local governments. The latest plan moves it a further 2 kilometers north, bringing the average to around 6 kilometers from the MDL. Because the new position remains within the legally permitted range, no amendments to existing laws are required.

The change is expected to downgrade about 270 square kilometers from a controlled protection zone to a restricted protection zone. The ministry plans to implement the adjustment in phases starting in 2027, after relocating checkpoints and reinforcing control measures such as fencing and surveillance cameras.

“Some sections have already been moved closer to the MDL over the years, leaving the current average at around 8 kilometers,” an official said during a background briefing. “The latest measure represents an additional adjustment of roughly 2 kilometers on average.”

A section of the Civilian Control Line (CCL) in the border region of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, is seen Wednesday. Yonhap

The ministry also plans to lift restrictions on about 450 square kilometers by reassessing restricted protection zones south of the MDL.

Officials said the review reflects changes in operational requirements, advances in weapons systems and shifts in the battlefield environment. Existing protection zones will be reassessed based on actual operational needs around military installations.

Combined, the measures would affect about 720 square kilometers. Specific locations affected by the changes were not disclosed.

A ministry official said releasing such information before the review process is completed could trigger unintended real estate speculation.

“The measures have direct implications for land use regulations,” the official said. “The locations will be announced after operational reviews, surveys and military facility protection assessments are completed.”

The announcement also included a series of measures aimed at improving convenience for residents in border areas.

Starting in 2027, the ministry plans to remove 23 military obstacles, including anti-tank barriers and other defensive structures deemed to have limited operational value. It will also introduce a digital access management system for the CCL using mobile applications and simplified identity verification procedures.

Approval procedures for agricultural drones operating in border regions will be streamlined, while local governments will receive more detailed information on unused military land that could be used for development projects.

“The operational environment, threat assessments and the military’s capabilities have all changed significantly,” the ministry official said. “The review focuses first on facilities whose military usefulness has declined.”