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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Lee criticizes delays in return of US military bases land

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • President Lee Jae Myung criticized delays in the return of land granted to the US military, calling the situation unreasonable.
  • Lee stated that while South Korea invested heavily in the Pyeongtaek base for US military relocation, the land remains unusable years later.
  • Negotiations for returning the land have been stalled due to issues like environmental contamination assessments and cost-sharing disputes.

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday voiced strong criticism over the prolonged delays in the return of land designated for US military use, describing the situation as defying "common sense." During a working report meeting with several ministries, Lee highlighted the significant investment South Korea made in constructing the Pyeongtaek base to facilitate the US military's relocation.

From the US military’s perspective, we invested money so that they could move into the Pyeongtaek base and vacate elsewhere. But now we are effectively unable to use that land because they claim the final processes have not yet been completed. This has been going on for years.

— President Lee Jae MyungDuring a working report meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

"From the US military’s perspective, we invested money so that they could move into the Pyeongtaek base and vacate elsewhere," Lee explained. "But now we are effectively unable to use that land because they claim the final processes have not yet been completed. This has been going on for years."

When the Minister of National Defense confirmed the US military's foot-dragging, Lee lamented the upfront payment, stating, "That’s why you shouldn’t pay up front." He noted that South Korea's investment in the Pyeongtaek base alone amounted to 10 trillion won. Lee expressed frustration that the land remains inaccessible for various reasons, suggesting these might be excuses for not returning it.

That’s why you shouldn’t pay up front.

— President Lee Jae MyungResponding to the Minister of National Defense's statement that the US military has been dragging its feet.

The process of returning granted land has been hindered by complex issues, including environmental contamination assessments, the division of cleanup costs, and ongoing bilateral talks between South Korea and the United States. The Yongsan Relocation Program and the Land Partnership Plan, initiated in 2004, aimed to consolidate USFK bases, with the relocation to Pyeongtaek ongoing since then. Despite the significant cost and effort, the return of the land has become a protracted issue.

In my view it almost feels like an excuse, citing various reasons for not giving it back, and it’s a real problem if we can’t use [the land] for this or that reason.

— President Lee Jae MyungExpressing frustration over the continued inaccessibility of the land.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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