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The Pan-Citizen Movement Headquarters for the Return of the USFK 55th Quartermaster Base Depot

Built during Japan’s colonial occupation of Korea, the US Forces Korea 55th Quartermaster Base Depot in the Beomil neighborhood of Busan’s Dong (East) District attests to the city’s tumultuous modern history. After initiating the Pacific War in 1941, Japan established a national mobilization act through which resources were marshalled from Korea and other colonies until Japan’s defeat in 1945. Japan built the 55th Quartermaster Base Depot as a site to store coal and other war munitions. Next to it is a village of reclaimed land that served as a home at a time for dock workers at Busan’s port. Today, the area includes the north port redevelopment zone, the Busan International Passenger Terminal, Busan Station, and the Munhyeon Finance Complex.

The 55th Quartermaster Base Depot was acquired by the US military after Korea’s liberation. It measured 217,755㎡ in area. When the Korean War erupted in 1950, the US military established Camp Hialeah as its base command for the Busan area, building it on a 533,828㎡ site in the Beomjeon, Yeonji, and Yangjeong neighborhoods of Busanjin District, which had been used for a racetrack and training ground for the Japanese military’s mounted troops during the occupation.

In 1995, a movement began to reclaim the Camp Hialeah and 55th Quartermaster Base Depot sites. With a 2002 amendment of the South Korea-US Land Partnership Plan (LPP), US Forces Korea (USFK) made the decision to return the Camp Hialeah site. But the 55th Quartermaster Base Depot – which held major strategic value – was not included. USFK promised to return the Hialeah site to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) in August 2004 and vacated it in 2006. In 2014, the site became Busan Citizens Park – 64 years after USFK’s Busan base command was first established.

an association of over 60 civic groups

Now citizens have once again joined forces to win back the 55th Quartermaster Base Depot, which remains in use by USFK. The Pan-Citizen Movement Headquarters for the Return of the USFK 55th Quartermaster Base Depot, an association of some 60 Busan-area civic and social groups, held a press conference at the Busan Metropolitan Council on May 29 to announce its launch.

“Civic groups on both the conservative and progressive sides have taken part in the movement for the return of the 55th Quartermaster Base Depot,” said Park Jae-yul, permanent co-representative for the headquarters.

“The 55th Quartermaster Base Depot cannot be left there like a scar as the north port is developed into a waterfront space for citizens,” he said.

“We intend to actively campaign for the 55th Quartermaster Base Depot’s return in keeping with an era of local devolution, where residents are cultivating and developing their regions. We hope the central government, the city of Busan, and politicians will also take part,” he added.

By Kim Yeong-dong, staff reporter

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