When it comes to Korean polls the usual caveats apply but the results on this particular poll are interesting:
About half of Dongducheon’s citizens agree that Camp Casey should close and its units should move to Camp Humphreys, according to a phone survey conducted by the 2nd Provincial Office of Gyeonggi Province.
Seventeen percent of respondents strongly agreed and 30.8 percent said they agreed with the planned move. Another 16.4 percent disagreed.
Provincial office officials refused Friday to answer Stripes queries about the 35.8 percent that gave other responses.
Respondents were more emphatic about the move’s timeline, according to the study. Results showed 57.2 percent wanted the move to happen by 2012, which is the latest estimate for nearly all troops stationed from Seoul northward to move to Camp Humphreys, located south of Seoul in Pyongtaek. [Stars & Stripes]
It appears the residents of Dongducheon are resigned to the fact that Camp Casey is moving and are supporting the 2012 relocation timeline. Now if only the Korean government would actually work towards making the wishes of both USFK and the residents of Dongducheon a reality instead of playing their typical delay games.
Interestingly, also in the article residents of Dongducheon are under the impression Camp Casey will be returned to the city. I will be amazed if that happens considering every ROK Army officer I know has been drooling over the possibility of taking over Camp Casey.
Popularity: 2%
12:54 am on July 29th, 2008 1
Let them drool, but I think the place should be razed to the ground, and let USFK sell all of the scrap steel to China for hard cash. Leave nothing for the ROKA except bare ground.
11:22 am on July 29th, 2008 2
If and when, the US ever relocates to Camp Humphries…the wailing will be heard throughout the land, once the locals realize that they will get nothing from the move but more suburban spread from Seoul, golf courses restricted for the rich and select former U.S. bases turned over to ROK forces to decay.
The only winners will be those locals willing to relocate also and establish their businesses down South.