Lawyers’ group calls for renegotiation of S.K.-U.S. accord
South Korea needs to take a fresh look at the accord it reached with the U.S. regarding the location of American military headquarters out of Seoul, to reflect not just diplomatic relations but also the South Korean economy, a group of experts said. Lawyers for a Democratic Society held a public hearing Wednesday on the issue, where participants called for review of the accord altogether. "To open negotiations again on the issue does not break international trust. Rather, it is a manifestation of a nation’s right in global relations," Song Sang-kyo, a member of the organization, said during his presentation.South Korea and the U.S. reached the accord in 2004, calling for the relocation of U.S. military headquarters out of Seoul’s Yongsan garrison and to Pyeongtaek, a town about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, by the end of 2008. However, concerns have been raised over possible environmental damage the relocation could bring about, as well as damage to the national economy. Mr. Song expressed worries that the relocation could wreak havoc on the environment, as the low-lying areas where the headquarters will be rebuilt require around 39 million tons of soil, which would be obtained from mountains nearby. Lee Tae-ho, another participant in the hearing, blasted the government for ignoring possible damage to the national economy from the relocation of U.S. headquarters out of Seoul. "Under the current accord on the relocation, South Korea stands to risk huge national damage, all as a result of unbalanced relations with the U.S.," Mr. Lee said, demanding the review of the agreement. Meanwhile, the relocation issue has caused an outcry from some citizens of Pyeongtaek, where hundreds of protesters crashed with riot police last month when those who refused relocation were evicted. Local police said they have requested arrest warrants for leaders believed to have spearheaded the violent demonstrations. Religious leaders and other civic groups have launched an indefinite hunger strike in protest of the relocation.
