hankyoreh

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper hold a joint press conference at the Avani Riverside hotel in Bangkok on Nov. 17, 2019. (Yonhap News)

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo recently suggested to US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper that the two find a way to quickly end the unpaid leave on which the US military has placed its South Korean employees. But the Hankyoreh could not immediately confirm how Esper had responded to Jeong’s proposal.

“Defense Minister Jeong spoke on the phone with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper for about 20 minutes, starting around 8:30 pm on Monday. The defense minister emphasized once again that resolving the issue of Korean employees’ unpaid leave should be a top priority since defense officials from both countries agree that the delay in the cost-sharing negotiations shouldn’t be allowed to affect our efforts to maintain stability and a joint defensive posture in our alliance,” said Choi Hyun-soo, spokesperson for South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, during a press briefing on Apr. 7.

Given the continuing impasse in the two sides’ negotiations for this year’s cost-sharing arrangement, South Korea is suggesting that the furlough issue should be resolved first. South Korean employees for USFK have been on unpaid leave since Apr. 1. Around 75% of the wages that are paid to South Koreans working on American military bases is covered under the cost-sharing arrangement.

When reporters asked about Esper’s response, Choi said it would be “inappropriate to disclose the remarks made by a minister in a foreign government.” But analysts think it’s highly likely that Esper held to the US’ previous position. American officials have effectively refused to give priority to the furlough issue and have instead underlined the importance of striking an all-inclusive cost-sharing deal. The phone call with Jeong took place at Esper’s request.

Esper mentioned the phone call in a tweet on Tuesday. “I appreciate Korean Defense Minister Jeong taking my phone call today to discuss the importance of equitable burden sharing across the alliance. It is critical that we get a fair, balanced, and comprehensive agreement signed quickly.”

Sources say that negotiators from the two sides are struggling to reach a deal because of the US’ demand for a major increase in South Korea’s cost-sharing contribution. During the phone call on Monday, Esper reportedly emphasized once again the need for such an increase.

By Park Byong-su, senior staff writer, and Hwang Joon-bum, Washington correspondent

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