Yongsan military base back in Korean hands after 138 years
Posted : 2020-12-11 17:11
Updated : 2020-12-13 12:54
Choi Chang-won, first vice minister of government policy coordination, announces the return of 12 U.S. military sites to Korea during a joint government briefing at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) for the first time returned part of the land inside Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul to the Korean government, Friday.
The site ― a sports field on South Post and a softball field adjacent to the National Museum of Korea with a combined size of 53,000 square meters ― was among 12 properties nationwide, formerly used by the U.S Forces Korea (USFK), whose returns have been announced.
After their intial agreement decades ago there have been countless delays in their actual return.
For more, we go to our Kim Ji-yeon at Seoul s defense ministry.
Ji-yeon, what s the latest? The Office for Government Policy Coordination along with the ministries of foreign affairs and defense said South Korea and the U.S. have agreed to the prompt return of a total of twelve U.S. military facilities to South Korea.
This was at a videoconference meeting held Friday at the 201st joint committee meeting on the Status of Forces Agreement. Those installations in Seoul alone include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District in Jung-gu District Camp Kim, two parcels of the Yongsan Garrison including the South Post, Niblo Barracks, Seobinggo Compound, and the 8th Army Religious Retreat Center the rest all in or near Yongsan-gu District.
Yongsan military base back in Korean hands after 138 years
Posted : 2020-12-11 17:11
Updated : 2020-12-13 12:54
Choi Chang-won, first vice minister of government policy coordination, announces the return of 12 U.S. military sites to Korea during a joint government briefing at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) for the first time returned part of the land inside Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul to the Korean government, Friday.
The site ― a sports field on South Post and a softball field adjacent to the National Museum of Korea with a combined size of 53,000 square meters ― was among 12 properties nationwide, formerly used by the U.S Forces Korea (USFK), whose returns have been announced.
The United States on Friday returned 12 American military sites to South Korea, including some in central Seoul, amid persistent concerns that an additional delay would further dampen regional development efforts. During a virtual joint committee session of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Seoul and Washington agreed on the return of the sites, though they failed to bridge differences on who and how to shoulde.
Parts of Yongsan Garrison Among a Dozen US Military Sites Being Returned to South Korea
Col. Teresa Schlosser, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District (FED) commander, and Richard Byrd, FED Deputy District Engineer, roll the district flag during a colors casing ceremony, Aug. 31, 2018, in Seoul, South Korea. (U.S. Army/Antwaun Parrish)
11 Dec 2020 Stars and Stripes | By Seth Robson and Yoo Kyong Chang
Parts of Yongsan Garrison and the former headquarters of Stars and Stripes in Seoul are among a dozen U.S. military sites that will be returned to South Korea by U.S. forces, according U.S. and South Korean officials.