Dongducheon Mayor Withdraws Friendship Agreement and Other Programs with 2ID
This sounds like another populist antic, by the Dongducheon Mayor because the city could have the land tomorrow if the Korean government agreed to accept it:
Angered by the U.S. military’s continuing possession of a long-vacated base, a city near the North Korean border is taking steps to “show its will,” from canceling friendship activities to forcing troops to go to municipal hall to register their cars.
Dongducheon, home to the 2nd Infantry’s Camps Casey and Hovey, notified the military Jan. 9 that it would withdraw its staffer handling private vehicle registrations for troops from Casey on Monday, forcing them to travel to city offices about a mile away.
“It was the quickest and easiest measure we could take under the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) and Korean domestic law,” the chief of a city office handling U.S. Forces Korea affairs said.
Dongducheon also plans to halt tours of the city for incoming 2ID soldiers and will no longer invite U.S. troops to take part in its annual Lunar New Year’s Day ceremony next month, he said. The city is also considering halting other friendship events with 2ID.
At issue is when U.S. Forces Korea will return Camp Castle, which it said closed in 2010, to South Korean control. The city says negotiations on the return that have been going on for several years have been postponed.
USFK said in a statement it is ready now to turn over 38 acres about 1.8 miles from city hall.
“Camp Castle will be returned as soon as the (South Korean) government agrees to accept the return,” the statement said. The command would not elaborate on why the handover has apparently stalled and referred questions to South Korea.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the two countries are currently discussing the handover of the base through Status of Forces Agreement channels including an environmental subcommittee, but the timing of the return has not been decided. The ministry did not provide further details.
Dongducheon had hoped to turn the vacant base into a university campus that city officials believe would bolster the local economy. [Stars & Stripes]
You can read more at the link, but with just about every USFK camp closeout and handover environmental clean up has been a big negotiating point. This is because the Korean government tries to get USFK to pay as much for the clean up as possible even though by the letter of the SOFA the camps can be turned over as is.
What. an. ass.
“This is because the Korean government tries to get USFK to pay as much for the clean up as possible even though by the letter of the SOFA the camps can be turned over as is.”
This is also why we’re never moving out of Seoul, either. The Korean government likes to play “broke” when in reality they have one of the strongest economies in Asia. Ultimately, they’re just being cheap-asses and slow-rolling us until we foot the bill. Screw ’em.
He’s the Chris Christie of Korea. Revoking all Dongducheon citizens Good Neighbor passes, placing all Dongducheon business off-limits, and hanging banners at the base gates up in area 1 in Korean that say “You can thank the Dongducheon Mayor for it.” would be things GEN Smokes would start off with to show this game can be played both ways but we know the USFK leadership isn’t going to do squat about this and the Joes will be pawns.
Yeah, punishing the soldiers and civilians assisting with the defense of his country (especially the vehicle registration fiasco) for issues between the Korean government and the US government at the international level is low class.
I served at Camp Casey for almost 5 years. I was never invited to Lunar New Year ceremonies, or given a tour. Is the friendship program new?
I do remember sponsoring a Korean orphanage and teaching English for free at the local schools.
“Dongducheon also plans to halt tours of the city for incoming 2ID soldiers and will no longer invite U.S. troops to take part in its annual Lunar New Year’s Day ceremony next month, he said. The city is also considering halting other friendship events with 2ID.”
10,000 E1-E4 joes just collectively breathed a sigh of relief knowing they have two less mandatory fun events to worry about being assigned to and a bonus chance of getting rid of more in the future.