Relocation of Yongsan Base Starts At End of This Year

South Korea and the US held the second round of a joint consultation meeting on the Future South Korea-US Alliance Policy Initiative at the headquarters of the Defense Ministry in Seoul. The two sides comprehensively discussed bilateral issues such as the relocation of US military bases in Korea including the Yongsan base and bilateral military build-up plans.

Lt. Gen. Cha Young-koo, assistant defense minister for policy and Richard P. Lawless, US deputy assistant defense secretary for East Asia, led representatives from the two sides at the meeting. It has been known that as the summit talks between South Korean President Roh and US president Bush had reached an agreement on relocating the main Yongsan Garrison out of Seoul as soon as possible, the representatives from the two sides discussed detailed issues including a concrete timetable of the relocation plan, a new site for US military bases, necessary costs. An official from the ministry said, “A blue print on relocating the Yongsan base out of Seoul was finalized. By the end of this year, detailed plans will be materialized after reporting negotiated agreements on the redeployment of US forces in Korea to annual South Korea-US Security Consultative Meeting scheduled for the upcoming fall.”

Against this backdrop, the two sides are now focusing on plans to begin redeploying some of its 7,000 troops stationing in Seoul to Pyeongtak and Osan, south of the capital at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com