Uijeongbu civic groups demand end to fees for road through former US base

Civic groups in Uijeongbu, South Korea, are demanding the government eliminate annual usage fees for a road that cuts through the former Camp Red Cloud U.S. military base. The city has been paying approximately 150 million won (about $108,000) each year to the Ministry of National Defense since the road was opened to the public in July 2023.

Members of the Citizens' Committee for Returned U.S. Military Land held a press conference at the Uijeongbu City Hall, asserting that the charges should cease immediately and the road should be entirely free to use. They argue it is unjust to impose costs on a region that endured over 70 years of inconvenience and development restrictions due to the military base's presence, citing national security as the reason for the prolonged occupation.

The road in question is a roughly 1-kilometer, two-lane route connecting Ganeung-dong and Nokyang-dong. Camp Red Cloud was returned to South Korea in February 2022 and is currently managed by the Ministry of National Defense. Uijeongbu City negotiated with the ministry to open a portion of the base road in July 2023 to alleviate local traffic congestion. Although citizens do not pay a direct toll, the city compensates the government for using the state-owned land.

Uijeongbu City has repeatedly requested the road be made toll-free, emphasizing its public utility for citizen mobility and traffic relief. However, the Ministry of National Defense has maintained that waiving the fees is not possible under the State Property Act. Civic groups contend that it is unfair for Uijeongbu, which has long suffered from urban division and development limitations because of the U.S. base, to bear costs for a road now serving its citizens.

The issue remains a significant local concern. The transition committee for the new Uijeongbu mayor requested the government to transition the Camp Red Cloud road to free usage and reform policies regarding returned military lands. Mayor Kim Won-ki visited the site on his first day in office to address the fee burden. Despite recent government increases in financial support for acquiring returned military lands, the usage fees for this public thoroughfare persist.

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The road usage fee imposition should be stopped immediately and it should be made completely free. We should not shift the cost to the region that has endured the U.S. military base for over 70 years for national security.