The Camp Humphreys relocation is expected to take another year to complete due to a scandal that sent the construction company into bankruptcy and its Korean owner committing suicide:
Camp Humphreys Garrison in Pyongtaek, Gyeonggi Province was opened to the press on Dec. 10, showing the ongoing construction.
The relocation of US forces in South Korea (USFK) to the new base in Pyeongtaek is expected to be completed in 2017, one year later than originally planned.The announcement was made by Kim Kie-soo, director of the office for USFK relocation at South Korea‘s Defense Ministry, and Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux, commander of the US’s Eighth Army. The two officials spoke to reporters on Dec. 10 at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, which is currently under construction.“As of the end of November, progress on construction of the Pyeongtaek base stood at 86 percent, and most of this will be completed next year.
The relocation of the US army base will begin next year and will for the most part be completed by 2017,” Kim told reporters.This means that the move will take place a year later than promised in the government’s original plan, which had been to finish the move by next year.When asked about the reasons for the delay, Kim mentioned the bankruptcy of Keangnam Enterprises. “With Keangnam Enterprises entering receivership and the former chairman Sung Wan-jong committing suicide [due to scandal], a number of construction projects were halted, and we had to go through a new round of bidding,” Kim said. [Hankyoreh]
Scandal in the construction industry in South Korea? Say it isn’t so! Hehehe.
Now, if I were the USFK inspectors I would look really closely at the construction that Keangnam Enterprises did to make sure that no corners were cut in construction that would endanger our troops down the road. One only has to remember the Sampoong Department Store collapse 20 years ago to underscore how important rigorous inspections are.
@2: Considering the past shoddy construction in Korea you would think that USFK would definitely be conducting proper inspections of all this construction. However, ever since the Colonel Moran case nothing would surprise me when it comes to bribery to cut corners:
2017? Hopeful at best…..
Scandal in the construction industry in South Korea? Say it isn’t so! Hehehe.
Now, if I were the USFK inspectors I would look really closely at the construction that Keangnam Enterprises did to make sure that no corners were cut in construction that would endanger our troops down the road. One only has to remember the Sampoong Department Store collapse 20 years ago to underscore how important rigorous inspections are.
@2: Considering the past shoddy construction in Korea you would think that USFK would definitely be conducting proper inspections of all this construction. However, ever since the Colonel Moran case nothing would surprise me when it comes to bribery to cut corners:
http://www.stripes.com/news/colonel-gets-4-years-for-bribe-scam-in-s-korea-1.6523
Did it ever come out exactly which USFK official took the $500,000 bribe?