USFK Marine Corps Commander Says Not Enough Marines to Permanently Station Large Presence in South Korea

If anyone has ever wondered why there aren’t more US Marines stationed in South Korea here is the reason:

Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund, the outgoing commander of U.S. Marine Forces Korea, said he has about 75 Marines on his staff and their main mission is fostering the relationship with South Korean forces and facilitating training exercises.

The commander of the small contingent of Marines based in South Korea says the corps does not have enough forces to permanently expand its presence on the divided peninsula.

Unlike the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Marines do not have operational units stationed in South Korea despite the growing threat from the North. Instead, Marines travel from Japan to the peninsula on a rotational basis to conduct training exercises with their South Korean counterparts.

Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund, the outgoing commander of U.S. Marine Forces Korea, said he has about 75 Marines on his staff and their main mission is fostering the relationship with South Korean forces and facilitating training exercises.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link.

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MTB Rider
MTB Rider
7 years ago

Dumb question (that could be easily Googled): Have the Marines ever had a perminant command on the Pen?

I’ve seen so many bases close up shop, but almost all were Army. Just curious if any ROK Heads were also Jarheads.

liz
liz
Reply to  MTB Rider
7 years ago

I was wondering this too…
Looked it up and apparently there is one!
http://www.mcipac.marines.mil/Installations/Camp-Mujuk/

Camp Mujuk is the only United States Marine Corps Installation in South Korea. It is located about an hour east of Daegu, just outside Pohang, and near the eastern shoreline. The installation is currently home to the Camp Mujuk Headquarters from MCIPAC and the Ordnance Marines of MARFORK.

liz
liz
Reply to  MTB Rider
7 years ago

Looks like my response is stuck in the mod queue. I’ll eliminate the link:

I was wondering this too…
Looked it up and apparently there is one!

Camp Mujuk is the only United States Marine Corps Installation in South Korea. It is located about an hour east of Daegu, just outside Pohang, and near the eastern shoreline. The installation is currently home to the Camp Mujuk Headquarters from MCIPAC and the Ordnance Marines of MARFORK.

johnnyboy
johnnyboy
Reply to  liz
7 years ago

I think GI did a profile on this camp at one point in time. I believe it was once Army and had been repurposed and improved to house a contingent of Marines.

Ole Tanker
Ole Tanker
7 years ago

Everyone knows. well almost everyone. The Marines are an Expeditionary Force. That’s why they had no large presence in Korea or Europe during the Cold War. Japan was a bone they got for the Pacific Campaign in WW2.

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