The move to turn over wartime operational control to the ROK military will apparently mean big changes to USFK plans to move its operations from Seoul’s Yongsan Garrison south to Pyongtaek:
A diplomatic source in Seoul said some 20 experts have been called in to help with the move of the U.S. Forces Korea to the nearly 1.3 million sq.m base at Pyeongtaek, but a directive to put the plan on hold was issued as talk of handing over wartime control intensified.
“The plans for the Pyeongtaek base were worked out on the premise that the CFC would be maintained for a substantial period,” the source said. “But if the Korean military ends up exercising independent wartime control, the CFC will be dissolved and one of the main buildings at the Pyeongtaek base will not be needed, so a reworking of the plans seems in order.” In April, the USFK said the building, with Korean-style roofs, would house the CFC, USFK Command and UN Command.
The Chosun Ilbo is reporting that the plans are on hold until after an October meeting in Washington where details for the transfer will be hammered out.
“Many fear the halt of the master plan will mean further cuts to the USFK. Another diplomatic source said perhaps the U.S. Defense Department, seeing a major change in the alliance as inevitable after the return of wartime control, shelved the plans to be prepared for any contingency “including further cuts in troop numbers.”
I can’t help but wonder what this will mean for the Pyongtaek farmers. Both the ones who are currently fighting and the ones who have already been relocated. If the main building is indeed unnecessary, will the planned expansion of Camp Humphreys proceed?
And, what about the plans for a park on what would have been the vacated Yongsan base? As the Chosun reported yesterday, city leaders had some serious problems with the way the national government was proceeding.
[T]he Seoul Metropolitan Government and some activists are up in arms about the plan, saying the central government is trying to legislate a special law to pave the way for development of some portion of the base in a bid to finance the relocation of the U.S. base. In a statement, Seoul City denounced the plan ceremony as ignoring the hopes of Seoul citizens to see the entire base area turned into a park. “The central government says it will turn the whole area of the base into a park, but it turns a deaf ear to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s demand to scrap Article 14 of the special law that would allow it to use the park for other purposes,” the statement says. “It has also rejected our proposal to specify the total scale and boundary of the park in the law.”
The city government worries that the Construction Ministry would develop some portion of the land for commercial and residential purposes to finance the base relocation and wants the ministry guarantee that 810,000 pyeong (one pyeong=3.3 sq.m) of the 870,000-pyeong land will be turned into a park. The ministry rejected the request, saying it will as a matter of principle turn the total area into a park and there is no need to specify the use of the land in the special law since existing law provides a legal basis for establishment of facilities in the park.
Is it all now a moot point?
{ 4 comments }
Jodi 09.01.06 at 10:09 am
Well here is what I know about the issue based on conversations I have had with more than one person who is involved or at least know quite a lot about some of the behind-the-scenes-handling of this uproar. This could just be just gossip for all I know although the people I spoke to about it are connected in some ways to the issue and would know more than the average joe on the street.
In regards to Pyongtaek, I have been told that the U.S. still wants it, despite whatever happens in October (and I think we all know what will happen in October). The only change (as is hinted in this article) is that a lot less people than originally projected will be put there. This should not come as a surprise to those affected by these changes as talks about this were generated as early as July.
About plans for a park…I know for a fact that the US military is still hiring and offering contractor positions for certain long-term projects on Yongsan base. I know this because I know a guy who applied for such a position and I know a woman who currently is working over there also as a contractor.
When I asked the guy who is applying for a position at Yongsan what this all meant in terms of a USFK reduction and plans for a park, he told me that apparently the U.S. is not anticipating such plans to follow through and that they still will retain a presence at Yongsan although he would not tell me in what capacity.
When asked about the park plans, he laughed and said, “That’s gonna’ be one helluva big park.” He seemed doubtful that would happen.
I am surprised the local press hasn’t looked at the fact (as far as I know it’s a fact) that the U.S. military is actively hiring for contractor positions at Yongsan to participate in “long-term projects.” That right there is a big sign regarding the future of the place, I think.
Cat 09.01.06 at 5:03 pm
Wow! That’s pretty interesting. And, I agree. I am pretty surprised that no reporters have followed up on this. Maybe they aren’t really cultivating the right sources at Yongsan. That should not be difficult information to find out, as you’ve demonstrated.
So, whatever happens, it looks like USFK is not really expecting to completely vacate Yongsan, yet this is not being said publicly at all. I really wonder whether the city officials are as unaware as they seem to be..and, of course, this is just a recipe for having USFK look like the bad guys in the future, too.
Cat 09.01.06 at 5:03 pm
Also, thanks for sharing!
Rose Byrd 09.02.06 at 3:58 am
Similar situations happen on many supposedly “decommissioned” military installations,U.S. and otherwise.
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