hankyoreh

Solidarity for Peace and Unification of Korea stage a rally in front of the Ministry of National Defense building in Seoul to call for fair negotiations on the USFK budget.

Chang Soo-man, vice minister of national defense and General Walter Sharp, the head of the U.S. Forces South Korea (USFK), will be engaged in high-level discussions next Thursday on the final details of the time table and expenses for the relocation of USFK bases to Pyeongtaek.

In previous discussions on the timetable and expenses of the relocation of the Yongsan Army Garrison and the U.S. Army’s Second Infantry Division, South Korea and the United States had established a broad framework for the scale of each country’s share in expenses, however, they have been at odds on the issue of the time. Both sides agreed to issue a final draft agreement in September of last year, but that agreement has been postponed several times.

The previous agreement held between the two countries outlined that South Korea would bear something in the area of 5 to 5.5 trillion won of the costs, while the U.S. would bear 6.8 trillion won. However, according to an official of South Korea's Defense Ministry, South Korea will have to bear a considerable number of other costs besides the move expenses formally agreed upon with the U.S. The official also said that South Korea’s share of the expenses did not include 3 trillion won in project support costs, including support to the city of Pyeongtaek. Moreover, as the U.S. has been showing signs that it is reluctant to bear costs for environmental clean-up prior to land return, it appears likely that South Korea will have to spend money on hazardous waste clean-up.

No headway has been made on the two sides’ differing opinions regarding the time-table for the move either. South Korea has suggested that the Yongsan Army Garrison relocation should be complete by 2014 and the U.S. Second Infantry Division bases in Dongducheon and Uijeongbu by 2015. Meanwhile, the U.S. is citing a lack of money and is countering that the base moves should be put off until 2016 or later.

A South Korean military official, who also asked for anonymity, said,“We're proposing to move up the schedule if possible, out of consideration of complaints from residents in Pyeongtaek, Dongducheon and Uijeongbu, the areas where either the U.S. military stations are or will be, however, the U.S. is saying that they need more time in order to get Congress to approve the budget necessary for the move.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]