By Remember all the pollution claims by the anti-US groups complaining that vacated USFK bases were so polluted that anti-radiation suits were needed? Well now they are set to become parks and tourism sites:
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security and local governments will use more than 1.5 trillion won this year in developing 16 former USFK bases and their surroundings into green technology complexes and cultural districts.
Central government will contribute 312 billion won with the rest coming from local governments and private investors.
The move is part of a 10-year, 38.7-trillion-won development project that started in 2008 on the former base sites.
In Euijeongbu and Dongducheon in northern Gyeonggi Province, parks, public administrative offices and other facilities will be housed in the former American bases, while Camp Hialeah in Busan, Camp Walker in Daegu and Camp Page in Chuncheon will be redeveloped.
The education ministry will support construction of a marine and astronomy park in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province; and a cultural industrial cluster in Daegu.
Private companies will invest in creating a tourism-leisure complex in Pocheon; Ewha Womans University campus in Paju; and tourist attractions near a lake in Pyeongtaek – all in Gyeonggi Province.
“Many of the USFK bases were situated with a good view, good infrastructure as well as other favorable conditions. The development will be a boost to the local economy,” the ministry said. [Korea Times]
What pisses me off about all of this is that all the way back in 2004 the local communities wanted to turn the land these camps occupied into parks and governmental facilities, but the anti-US groups have been successful for years now blocking this with their fraudulent pollution claims. All this did was delay the hand over of the land to the local communities thus preventing its citizens from access to more parks and facilities. These delays have caused local communities to become increasingly agitated with the government and that is exactly what these anti-US groups want. They want to tension between the US and ROK governments along with pissing off the locals against the Korean government.
1:53 am on February 4th, 2010 1
I still can't see why they won't just use them for ROK military bases and turn some of those crappy ROK bases into parks.
2:23 am on February 4th, 2010 2
At this point,the Korean Left has ZERO credibility. Why anyone still supports them is a great mystery.
7:20 am on February 4th, 2010 3
Camp Walker ???? Did I miss something? I've only been gone from there for 7 months, and it wasn't closed then.
8:57 am on February 4th, 2010 4
I haven't heard of Walker closing.
Good luck on Camp Page. The ROK Army has occupied it and wants the airfield facilities.
10:37 am on February 4th, 2010 5
"Private companies will invest in creating a tourism-leisure complex in Pocheon"
What USFK base in Pocheon?
10:47 am on February 4th, 2010 6
Rodriguez Range might technically considered to be in Pocheon. The Pocheon administrative area is large encompassing many little "towns".
11:53 am on February 4th, 2010 7
I don't think Walker's closing. I live here now and they are building a brand new CDC here and there's a Starbucks here finally.
That's a misprint. With Daegu being one of the hubs under FOTA, nothing in Daegu is closing.
2:15 pm on February 4th, 2010 8
Osan is already a Korean tourist facility.
Osan Air Base
Come for the cheap beef, stay for the free fuel!
3:49 pm on February 4th, 2010 9
Oh yeah, how could I forget. Casey is definitely a tourist spot. Pimps, er – I mean good Neighbors golf free.
4:19 pm on February 4th, 2010 10
Misprint, no way in hell is CP Walker closing any time soon. Entirely too much communication / command and control facilities present there to even contemplate closing the gates anytime this decade.
9:41 pm on February 4th, 2010 11
That's interesting because the locals were always complaining about aircraft noise. I wonder how much they will complain now that the ROK Army are the occupants instead?
9:44 pm on February 4th, 2010 12
That is what I was figuring they meant, Pocheon-gun which is much larger than Pocheon city.
9:44 pm on February 4th, 2010 13
I agree that is a misprint because I have never heard of Walker closing either.
1:04 pm on February 6th, 2010 14
Only a portion is being turned over. Daegu City will get the airfield area and will connect the main road that leads to the main gate through the current base and the current commissary site to the road system on the outside. A new commissary will need to be built.