The Gyeonggi provincial government will build an ecological park in a region near the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas.

Located near an island on the Imjin River in the northern part of the province, the park will symbolize peace on the Korean Peninsula.

After the creation of the park, boats will shuttle between the island and the mainland.

The local government hopes to attract private investment for the project. It has already signed a memorandum of understanding on investment with a private investment firm called BLA, which will inject 160-billion won, or nearly 140-million U.S. dollars, into the project.

Provincial authorities have also obtained a military agreement on the removal of barbed wire fences in the region.

The province also seeks to have the demilitarized zone designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.