U.S. To Return Military Base of 40 Million Pyung

Korea and U.S. agreed on a plan in which the U.S. returns its 40 million pyung military bases, facilities, and training grounds in Seoul, Paju in Kyungkee Province, Tongduchon, and Euijungbu, and Korea would buy 0.75 million pyung near major U.S. bases and provides the land for U.S.. U.S. will gradually integrate its military bases in Korea by 2011.

An official of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday that after the two countries collect their opinions through the Land Partnership Plan negotiation, Korea and U.S. will sign an agreement at the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at Washington in November.

Pentagon spokesman Craig Quigley (rear admiral) also said on 17th (American time), ``The military base rearrangement project is to allot the U.S. troops in Korea more efficiently.`` However, he emphasized, ``The reduction of the U.S. forces in Korea is not being considered.``

It has been known that the U.S. has appropriated a budget of 1.1 billion dollars for the military bases rearrangement project.

Currently, both countries are having a last-minute negotiation on pending issues including the plan to designate safety zones around dangerous military facilities, and the issue of the rental fee paid by the U.S. when the U.S. troops jointly use Korean troops’ training grounds.

In particular, it has been reported that regarding the issue of designating safety zones around dangerous military facilities, Korean government is examining a plan to enact a law to protect the military facilities.

Currently, there are 96 U.S. military bases and training grounds in Korea. Among them, 18 sites, including three training grounds (39 million pyung) and one military base in Paju, Kyungkee Province, Tongduchon City, and Pochon County, have been decided to be returned. There are private lands of 43.5 million pyung U.S. military bases. Among them, 35 million pyung will be returned.

Yun Jong-Sik, the head of the planning department in the Yongsan Division of the MND, said, ``The Maehyangli shooting ground in Whasung, Kyungkee, and the Story shooting ground in Paju City have not been included among the closing training grounds.`` ``As three training grounds close, U.S. troops are to jointly use Korean military training grounds. And we are negotiating on the rental fee issue``, he added.

Hwang Yoo-Seong yshwang@donga.com