Comments on: Base expansion raises tensions in Pyeongtaek http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/08/31/base-expansion-raises-tensions-in-pyeongtaek/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 4 Dec 2008 18:38:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: yankabroad http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/08/31/base-expansion-raises-tensions-in-pyeongtaek/#comment-34902 yankabroad Fri, 05 May 2006 14:42:27 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1051#comment-34902 All I can say is when are the Americans going to leave? They've been here long enough. They've introduced the hamburger to Itaewon, and protected a country from the evils of communism much longer than necessary. US go home. Leave the Koreans to fend for themselves. This is way beyond ridiculous. Way beyond necessary. All I can say is when are the Americans going to leave?

They’ve been here long enough. They’ve introduced the hamburger to Itaewon, and protected a country from the evils of communism much longer than necessary.

US go home.

Leave the Koreans to fend for themselves.

This is way beyond ridiculous.

Way beyond necessary.

]]> By: Wedge http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/08/31/base-expansion-raises-tensions-in-pyeongtaek/#comment-5990 Wedge Sat, 04 Sep 2004 21:53:57 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1051#comment-5990 Good to see the Juicy Girls have an issue they can get behind. Good to see the Juicy Girls have an issue they can get behind.

]]> By: Rob http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/08/31/base-expansion-raises-tensions-in-pyeongtaek/#comment-5989 Rob Wed, 01 Sep 2004 07:25:21 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1051#comment-5989 I live in Pyongtaek and recognize several of the people in your pic. The man with the blue sun visor on is the owner of the Olympia Club (Mr. Lee), and the guy beating the drum is Mr. Kim, owner of a local flower shop. I was bass fishing out on a boat in the Pyongtaek river last Saturday, not far from Daechu-ri and Nae-ri, when several busses filled with riot police passed by as they were leaving the area. It was just starting to get dark, which made the green buses with red flashing lights stand out all the more. I thought to myself, "only in Korea!" I live in Pyongtaek and recognize several of the people in your pic. The man with the blue sun visor on is the owner of the Olympia Club (Mr. Lee), and the guy beating the drum is Mr. Kim, owner of a local flower shop.

I was bass fishing out on a boat in the Pyongtaek river last Saturday, not far from Daechu-ri and Nae-ri, when several busses filled with riot police passed by as they were leaving the area. It was just starting to get dark, which made the green buses with red flashing lights stand out all the more. I thought to myself, “only in Korea!”

]]> By: Comment http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/08/31/base-expansion-raises-tensions-in-pyeongtaek/#comment-5988 Comment Tue, 31 Aug 2004 18:59:31 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1051#comment-5988 Yes, FED is now on the list of installations to be returned, although I'm fairly sure this transfer is being made outside the scope of the LPP agreement. In the beginning, when negotiations for the LPP/YRP etc. began, it was purposely left off the list. The land is said to belong to Seoul National University, not to a private individual as stated above. The effect however is about the same. Once it changes hands from USFK to the Koreans, the Korean government will not be able to sell it in order to raise money to continue the LPP funding, but will have to return it to the university---along with mucho-millions in lost rents. SNU is about to get a huge new "endowment". Yes, FED is now on the list of installations to be returned, although I’m fairly sure this transfer is being made outside the scope of the LPP agreement. In the beginning, when negotiations for the LPP/YRP etc. began, it was purposely left off the list.

The land is said to belong to Seoul National University, not to a private individual as stated above. The effect however is about the same. Once it changes hands from USFK to the Koreans, the Korean government will not be able to sell it in order to raise money to continue the LPP funding, but will have to return it to the university—along with mucho-millions in lost rents. SNU is about to get a huge new “endowment”.

]]> By: hardyandtiny http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/08/31/base-expansion-raises-tensions-in-pyeongtaek/#comment-5987 hardyandtiny Tue, 31 Aug 2004 16:32:07 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1051#comment-5987 I don't remember the Land Partnership Plan NOT including the Far East Compound. As a matter of fact that was scheduled to be returned prior prior to the LPP. I don’t remember the Land Partnership Plan NOT including the Far East Compound. As a matter of fact that was scheduled to be returned prior prior to the LPP.

]]> By: notsoslim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/08/31/base-expansion-raises-tensions-in-pyeongtaek/#comment-5986 notsoslim Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:38:44 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1051#comment-5986 A HUGE part of this problem is that the farmers are well aware that the ROK government has yet to compensate many of the rightful owners of land taken away and given to USFK as far back as the fifties and sixties. Many residents near Koon-Ni Range, Rodriguez Range Complex, etc. were moved off their lands a generation ago and have yet to see a penny of compensation from the Ministry of National Defense. Not only is this a fiscal headache for the ROKG it is causing dangerous problems of encroachment, as the rightful owners return to their land, often surreptitiously, to build homes and plant crops, on active military training ground. Look at the Land Partnership Program that is ongoing right now between the ROKG and USFK. The Dongdaemun compound in Seoul where the Far Eastern District of the Army's Corps of Engineers is based was not originally included in the transfer out of Seoul. Why? Because the land rightfully belongs to private individuals and if turned back over to MND it could not be sold off for a profit, but would have to be turned over to the true owner, who I read recently has filed suit against ROKG for "rents" long overdue during the fifty years Korea has allowed the US to use the land. Can you imagine what kind of price you could get for 16 acres of prime real estate right next to Dongdaemun? I wouldn't want to defend that suit. The Korean govt. is going to take some heat n the near future as NGOs highten public awareness and original landowners start asserting their rights. Anyway, I can understand why these farmers are short tempered. It's partly because so many other farmers over the years have been short changed. A HUGE part of this problem is that the farmers are well aware that the ROK government has yet to compensate many of the rightful owners of land taken away and given to USFK as far back as the fifties and sixties. Many residents near Koon-Ni Range, Rodriguez Range Complex, etc. were moved off their lands a generation ago and have yet to see a penny of compensation from the Ministry of National Defense. Not only is this a fiscal headache for the ROKG it is causing dangerous problems of encroachment, as the rightful owners return to their land, often surreptitiously, to build homes and plant crops, on active military training ground.

Look at the Land Partnership Program that is ongoing right now between the ROKG and USFK. The Dongdaemun compound in Seoul where the Far Eastern District of the Army’s Corps of Engineers is based was not originally included in the transfer out of Seoul.

Why? Because the land rightfully belongs to private individuals and if turned back over to MND it could not be sold off for a profit, but would have to be turned over to the true owner, who I read recently has filed suit against ROKG for “rents” long overdue during the fifty years Korea has allowed the US to use the land. Can you imagine what kind of price you could get for 16 acres of prime real estate right next to Dongdaemun? I wouldn’t want to defend that suit. The Korean govt. is going to take some heat n the near future as NGOs highten public awareness and original landowners start asserting their rights.

Anyway, I can understand why these farmers are short tempered. It’s partly because so many other farmers over the years have been short changed.

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