By Koo Dae-sun, Daegu Correspondent

　　

The U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigative Command (ACIA) launched an investigation Wednesday into suspicions that gate passes to Camp Walker, U.S. Army base in Daegu, were sold illegally.

It was reported that the passes went for between 3 million won to 5 million won ($2700-$4500) for a new pass and 2 million won for annual renewal.

The U.S. ACIA is investigating a Korean officer of the United Stated Forces Korea (USFK) who was implicated in the case. Investigators are looking into the number of passes he might have sold.

Pass holders have access to Camp Walker’s golf course and casino. These benefits and general access to the base make the passes worth millions of won to outsiders.

Civic groups pointed out Wednesday that prominent local people are able to buy passes to the base while other local residents suffer from the base‘s helicopter noise.

Two people, including a retired lieutenant colonel, were caught on Jan. 11th for helping 81 people obtain passes to the U.S. army base in Yongsan. In that case the passes went for 200,000 to 3.3 million won each.

　

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