Yongsan Base to Be Headquarter of USAFK, Nullifying Relocation Plan

The U.S. Armed Forces in Korea (USAFK) was reported on 16th that it pushed ahead the plan to make use of the Yongsan Base as a main long-term base, which is quite different from the resumed discussion on the relocation of the Base through the newly launched standing cooperation organization between South Korea and the U.S.

This plan seems to nullify the agreement that was made in June 1990 that USAFK would transfer the Yongsan Base if an alternative land and cost were provided. If the plan is actualized, the shift of Yongsan Base would be cancelled, and the protests from civic groups are expected.

USAFK`s monthly magazine `Let`s Go Together` introduced the Land Partnership Plan (LPP) in its October edition, which indicated the Yongsan Base as the headquarter and command control center of USAFK among seven centers that will be established by 2011 through the merger and the close of all the installations and training fields in Korea.

Both countries had signed the agreement to proceed the LPP at the 33rd Security Consultation Meeting (SCM) in Washington on 16th (Korean date) last month. They will complete specific discussion and conclude the agreement by March 15th, 2002. But the shift of Yongsan Base is already excluded from the agenda.

The officials of civic groups criticized, "It is antinomy that government says it will resume the discussion on the relocation of Yongsan Base, and it does not intend to reconsider the LPP, which excluded the shift of Yongsan Base."

Kim Pan-Tae, the head officer of `The People`s Action for Reform of the Unjust ROK-U.S. SOFA Agreement` urged, "LPP, which excluded the shift of Yongsan Base, should be re-examined from the beginning, as the U.S. had agreed to resume the discussion on the matter (through the recent foundation of ranking officials` standing cooperation organization)."

Dong-Ki Sung esprit@donga.com