By The scams people keep coming up with in Korea to fleece USFK out of money is incredible:
Thousands of bunnies in Kunsan have literally been scared to death by aircraft noise, according to rabbit farmer Lee Ho-kyung.
And he wants compensation.
Raising rabbits for 17 years, Lee said he’d never had problems with them dying until he moved to Kunsan in 2004 to care for his ailing father. His farm is about half a mile from a runway shared by the 8th Fighter Wing and South Korea’s 38th Fighter Group.
Since then, he said, he’s lost more than 100,000 rabbits. A 2008 autopsy, he said, determined the rabbits died as the result of “stress caused by external factors,” not disease.
While rabbits are known for their ability to multiply, Lee’s stock continuesto decline, as he is unable to breed more. Infertility rates are up 30 percent among his rabbits. Even those that remain fertile don’t stay mothers for long.
“I cannot make them breed, because the mother rabbits kill and eat their babies right after the babies are born,” he said. “It is all because of the piercing noises from U.S. aircrafts.”
Now he’s down to 300 rabbits and fears for his future.
“I’ve almost lost my livelihood. But rabbits are my life and my lifetime job,” Lee said. “I cannot give up.
The only solution is to move out of this noisy place, to find another quiet area to keep farming rabbits. If I could get compensation, I would move out as soon as possible.”
Lee filed a complaint with the Korean Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission after borrowing the 600,000 won (about $407) filing fee from friends, and asked for 250,000,000 Korean won (about $170,000) to cover the cost of moving. [Stars & Stripes]
First of all this guy has no proof that the jet noise killed his rabbits. Secondly why isn’t he bringing this complaint up with the ROK Air Force that also uses the airbase? Does only American jet engine noise kill rabbits? Thirdly, he made his own choice to move his rabbits to the end of a runway. Finally, why does it cost $170,000 won to move?
This all sounds like a scam to me.
12:47 am on February 20th, 2009 1
Over twenty years ago some folks of a similar ilk across the water (the sea approaching from the west the country to the east that shall remain nameless) made similar claims about the F-16s based at Misawa, including the rabbits eating their young part. I think there was a compensation angle on that one too. What I would like to know is if it is an occurrence in nature, or in rabbit farms, that rabbits eat their young, regardless of jet noise…
1:22 am on February 20th, 2009 2
Next thing will be adjumma eating her young!….just spread some gochujang on them…
adn…who was the doctor that did the 'autopsy'?
2:39 am on February 20th, 2009 3
I used to raise rabbits way back. Rabbits can kill their young, but they surely don't eat them. They're herbivores.
That farmer is looking for some free stimulus.
3:38 am on February 20th, 2009 4
It is well known that the US Jet engines resonate on a frequency that is not conducive to the local, indigenous flower and fauna. Both the Korean Zebra and Unicorn has been wiped out because of this total disregard towards host country animals. There are some less pure Zebras left in other countries, but it’s too late for the Uni. ROK acft have been modified and tuned to keep their jet blast in harmony with nature. Therefore no disruption. Learn your history.
6:27 am on February 20th, 2009 5
I thought the Korean Unicorn was killed by formaldehyde dumped in the sewers. Or was that the Korean Kraken?
7:40 am on February 20th, 2009 6
You forget that they are "korean" rabbits
9:40 am on February 20th, 2009 7
The Korean Kraken was the Host.
10:39 am on February 20th, 2009 8
Chopsticks,
My Dad used to raise rabbits, way-way back, and they sometimes do eat their young. More than once I saw a Doe munching on a half eaten little one.
Read the last paragraph here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_white_rabbit
11:32 am on February 20th, 2009 9
There are two sides to every story – and the truth lies somewhere in between. Excessive jet noise (ROK or US) may be causing the farmer's problem. Then again it could be something else. He has a right to file a request for compensation and have his complaint investigated. I'm not sure if the Korean Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission is the right venue. Sounds like he needs a lawyer to assist him.
2:01 pm on February 20th, 2009 10
He deserves no compensation. He moved after the jets were there, and therefore knew what to expect. This is as stupid as people that buy a house near LAX and then complain about the noise. In Texas residents sued to move oil pipelines that were too close to their house, and they had moved into the house AFTER the pipelines were already there.
All of these are examples of idiots trying to get free compensation. I think I'll move next to a coal power plant then sue to have it shut down since it bothers me.
6:53 pm on February 20th, 2009 11
Guffaw! Two sides to every story indeed…
Yeah, the con-man and the victim. What are you, an infant? This is so transparent I can't believe we are wasting time commenting on it.
10:13 pm on February 20th, 2009 12
Ever since the cut backs on soju tents, the Korean Kraken population has not been kept in check. I have also noticed more chickens with feet than in the past. I am pretty sure, but cant prove it yet, global warming is too blame.
Leon, that doesnt even make sense. If the bunnies were transparent, the rancher wouldnt be able to see them at all.
11:26 pm on February 20th, 2009 13
Kiww the wabbit! Kiww the wabbit! Kiww the wabbit!
11:29 pm on February 20th, 2009 14
With youw speaw and magic hewmet!