[Opinion] A Naval Base in Gangjeong

Jinhae City in South Gyeongsang Province is renowned for its spring cherry blossom festival. Driving along the curbs of An-min hill lined with cherry blossom trees, one can enjoy a spectacular view of the pink perfection in downtown Jinhae. The naval base in Jinhae is even more stunning. The cherry blossom festival is the chance for the Naval Academy and the commander-in-chief of the Republic of Korea Fleet to mingle and associate with citizens. Characteristic sailor uniforms of naval personnel stationed here look neat and familiar.

Naval personnel and their families account for about 30 percent of the total population of the city. They spend as much as 70 billion won a year, with an economic impact of 100 billion won. One can hardly imagine Jinhae without the Korean Navy. Pearl Harbor, America’s Pacific Fleet base attacked by the Japanese during World War II, is still at the forefront of American homeland security and contributes to its economy as a tourist attraction. The port of Yokosuka, where the U.S. 7th Fleet and Maritime Self Defense Force are headquartered, plays a similar role in Japan.

The Korean Navy is planning to construct a strategic base on the southern coast of Jeju Island by 2014 by investing 800 billion won. But the citizens of Jeju are divided. Three areas are considered as candidates, but they have failed to narrow it down to a single location. When the plan was first announced five years ago, many villages were for the base. Some of them, however, turned their back on the plan after being lobbied by some civic groups. Recently, Gangjeong Village volunteered to give a home to the naval base, raising hopes for completing the location selection within this month as scheduled.

The village is an ideal place with a water depth of 11 meters, a 120,000-pyeong developable area (1 pyeong = 3.3 square meters) and 1,950 meters of dock length. The villagers refused to be lobbied by civic groups as well. When the base is completed, it will create some 6,000 jobs, as well as attracting more tourists to the island. The Navy promised to amply compensate the villagers for the land, address environmental concerns, preserve maritime resources, and share their medical and welfare facilities with them. I hope the village will enjoy a prosperous future so that it can give some lessons to those who refuse military facilities in their backyard.

Yuk Jeong-soo, Editorial Writer, sooya@donga.com