Officials at Osan Air Base say their guys didn’t do anything wrong when they detained two Korean civilian employees who attempted to enter a high-security area:
Base officials said that while detaining the men, one of the civilian’s cheeks was scratched because he moved while being taken to the ground.
The movement caused the security forces member to lose his grip and the man to “come into contact with the grass,” where his own eyeglasses scratched his face.
The incident occurred after the men tried to enter an area that houses a “highly sensitive strategic national intelligence asset” for South Korea without proper authorization or identification, officials told Stars and Stripes in a written response to questions.
The men were detained until “the facts of the situation could be verified,” according to the statement.
(HT to ROK Drop)
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
And that’s the way it is. Anyone who tries to enter the U2 area (or any of the classified areas on base) better have some proper paperwork or an escort with the correct clearance and the authority to escort uncleared personnel. Those who don’t, quickly find themselves laying on their stomachs with their hands in cuffs.
Nomad,
For two hours??? Don’t get me wrong. I’m a former SAC Master Technician from long ago and know how the game’s played — also having once crossed the magic “red line” on our alert aircraft in a blowing snowstorm and ending face-down on the flight line. But not for two hours.
How long does it take to verify the situation — two guys sent to pickup a disabled truck??? One call to Vehicle dispatch takes two seconds. One call to the 51st LR Maintenance Control takes two seconds. Also the airmen who called them at Black Cat was supposedly there with them to verify it. Elements of the story are missing… But let it die… Not a major story unless the passes were really fakes.
This sort of thing always turns into a kind of a mini-Rashomon drama, doesn’t it?
Let me guess, for the minor scratch on the face a Korean doctor ordered a CAT scan, a full barrage of “House” style tests and several weeks recovery in a private clinic. The blood money will be millions of Won!
Sounds like both sides are fibbing. This cracked me up:
One of the civilian’s cheeks was scratched because he moved while being taken to the ground.
Next time you’re getting tackled onto the pavement, don’t move, fool! Go to a peaceful place and let your body become limp. Welcome the concrete as if it were a lover, caressing you.
The movement caused the security forces member to lose his grip and the man to “come into contact with the grass,” where his own eyeglasses scratched his face.
Anyone else picture this happening in slow motion to Bach Allegro?
hoju-saram:
My thoughts exactly. When I read the Ohmynews report, I was skeptical. But this USFK report makes me think something’s up. It sounds like some satirical piece that would be used on the Colbert Report.
Kalani,
I can’t access S&S from home so I didn’t read the part about them being detained for two hours. Who made that claim? The SPs or the Koreans? I can’t see anyone being there for more than 10 minutes, at most. Every now and then, some tourist would come up near the HTACC or KCOIC here at Osan and try to take pictures of the base (since that’s one of the highest points and gives a great view) even though there are signs that photography is forbidden. Within seconds of the camera coming out, he or she would find themselves face down on the concrete, in cuffs.
I don’t understand the confusion at all. Dudes f’ed up, they got taken down.
Simple.
I know in Korea the police have no balls and are beaten and disrespected by citizens on a daily basis, but it’s the opposite for Westerners, and obviously the military.
Those that break the rules and are confrontational usually end up on the ground in custody.
Nomad,
The OhMy News story had the union complaining it was OVER two hours. However, in the S&S they said, “But the head of the Songtan chapter of the U.S. Forces Korea Employees Union said the men, aged 63 and 57, remain hospitalized for the injuries and trauma they suffered after being left handcuffed on the ground for an hour in the cold weather.” Time dropped to an hour.
This is a horse-puckey story over the trauma and injuries and how much money they can get from Uncle Sugar.
Still I’m interested in why it took an hour (by the S&S account) to sort this out if the airmen who called in the broken down truck were standing right there? This is what the Koreans said in the OhMy News story. That’s why I question the fact of their passes.
But I say just let this story die…it is just a story of Korean greed — and not one of a major security breech.
Remove the sugar. Send all of the assets to Guam.
15 billion casheroonies to move 8,000 jarheads? And Japan pays its share…? So removing the entire US forces in Korea, how much would *that* cost?
Gee, the USFK bases sure are special places…they have grass in February.
Kalani:
Oh, I don’t know. Some things just take a long time. For example, if I can’t do a bank transaction at the ATM, waiting my turn at the bank and then letting the clerk slo-o-o-o-o-wly process my request usually takes 45 minutes. I’d think getting jacked up and cuffed by the SPs might add 15 minutes more.
SomeguyinKorea:
It’s that dried-up, brown grass — extra scratchy.
Two million bucks a head. No wonder they can only pay a Marine $20,000 a year.
You must log in to post a comment.