Uijeongbu City pays 'tolls' to defense ministry for road returned to citizens

Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province is paying an annual usage fee of around 150 million won (approximately $100,000 USD) to the Ministry of National Defense for a road that cuts through the former Camp Red Cloud US military base. The road, officially named 'Citizen's Path' in January, connects the neighborhoods of Ganeung-dong and Nokyang-dong, significantly shortening travel time for residents.

Despite being open to vehicles, delivery motorcycles, trucks, and bicycles, the road is bordered by chain-link fences, highlighting its status as a leased property rather than fully integrated public infrastructure. Residents were largely unaware of the city's financial arrangement with the Ministry of National Defense until informed by reporters. Local resident Kang Min-soo suggested that the city should prioritize finding ways to utilize the former base land effectively to resolve the usage fee issue.

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The rapid establishment of utilization plans for the site returned from the US military should be a top priority for citizens to use it properly. Only then can the usage fee issue be resolved together.

The Camp Red Cloud base was returned to South Korea in February 2022 and is now managed by the Ministry of National Defense. Uijeongbu City opened the approximately 1-kilometer road between the base's front and rear gates in July 2023. Before its opening, travel between the two neighborhoods required a lengthy detour. While the road has eased traffic congestion, the city pays the Ministry because the land is not under municipal ownership.

Uijeongbu City has been leasing the 10,970 square meter road area on a yearly basis, with fees calculated based on land size, official land price, legal rates, and usage period. The city paid 92 million won for the partial year in 2023 and has paid approximately 150 million won annually since. The city has requested fee exemptions or free transfer of the land, citing financial difficulties in purchasing the property, but has been unsuccessful. This unusual situation, where a local government pays a central ministry for road usage within its own administrative area, has prompted legislative action. A bill proposed by lawmaker Park Ji-hye aims to allow local governments to borrow or transfer former US military base land for roads, parking lots, or parks free of charge. Meanwhile, the Uijeongbu City Council is expected to adopt a resolution on the matter soon, with some advocating for an immediate fee waiver from the Ministry of National Defense.

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The usage fee for the connecting road, amounting to 150 million won annually, is not just a financial issue but a matter of justice and fairness regarding how South Korea views the sacrifices of the northern Gyeonggi region.