• Off-Base Issues: Prostitution and A-Town - Wolf Pack to combat prostitution -- an object lesson in futility -- and on-base rapes increase; A-town Off-limits -- the makings of a scandal (Updated: January 2004)
  

• Military Affairs (2003) -- USS Carl Vinson arrives in Pusan; Elmendorf F-15s at Osan; Marine FA-18s arrive at Kunsan in May; Low-key buildup; End of May return to normal. (Updated: 3 June 2003)
• Military Affairs (2004) -- Seoul Courts Rule Against USFK Land Use; Vehicle Registration Policy Change; Crime Reports on USFK Soldiers; Continuing ROK-US Prosecutions; Bonus to Soldiers for Extension (Updated: 14 January 2004)
  
  
• Relocation of USFK Bases (2003) -- In March USF announces it will relocate off the DMZ and south of the Han River; Renegotiations of Restructuring of 50-year old alliance; U.S. to invest $11 billion in Korea defense; Korea forced to increase its Defense spending; Enmeshed and entangled, the ROK drags its feet and attempts to shift the financial burden to the USFK; U.S. playing hardball and negotiations hit major snag in September 2003. 15-17 Jan continuation of meetings on relocation and reduction in forces. The first bases Camp Greaves and Giant to be returned in Nov 2004 under the LPP instead of 2011. (Updated: 31 Dec 2003)
  
  
  • Stryler/LAVIII: Our Opinion -- Details on the Stryker SBCT (3d Bde 2d ID) that will be replacing the 2d ID on the DMZ as part of a global repositioning strategy. Included are short sections on current USFK weapons systems that may augment the Stryker units in Korea after all the smoke has cleared. Stryker headed to Iraq in mid-October; US wants future forces to have a "regional" role; Stryker unit in Iraq in 2003 and blooded in Jan 2004. Stryker with its jerry-rigged LPG protection screens undergo the acid test of combat. Strykers success in Iraq for urban warfare role, but still questions about use in mountainous terrain unanswered. Decision to return the Interim Brigade Combat Team to Korea appears to be still up in the air as of 2004. (Updated: Jan 2004)
  
  
  
• Relocation of USFK Bases (2004) -- 15-17 Jan continuation of meetings on relocation and reduction in forces. The first bases Camp Greaves and Giant to be returned in Nov 2004 under the LPP instead of 2011. (Updated: Weekly)
  
  
  • Proposed ROK FY2005 Military Budget -- Is It the Last Straw??? (OPINION) -- ROK Promised Defense Spending increase of 3.2 percent of GDP in 2004, but delivered a 2.8 percent of GDP. ROK Spending has now passed 1997 levels. The US position is that the ROK has the ability to increase its defense spending, but the ROK has not shown the will to do so. ROK "self-reliant" defense is delusional, but the ROK is maintaining the "free-ride" using the US High-tech warfare umbrella. Cursory look at why the ROK "Self-reliant" Defense is delusional. Though stated as reasons for Budget increase, the truth is that the E-X program will be sent out for bids in Nov 2004 and the SAM-X (Patriot) will NEVER be procured as long as President Roh is in office. The ROK is developing weapons programs that offer technology transfer or benefit industrial growth -- not necessarily what is essential to the defense programs. The ROK continues to be a thorn with its refusal to fund the Yongsan move and disputes over land use with the end result possibly being an explosion that destroys the US-ROK Alliance. (Posted: June 2004)
    
  • Dangerous Game the ROK is Playing (OPINION) -- Indepth look at the US Perspective on the evolving US-ROK alliance. Look into the r reasons for the ROK "Stall-and-Conquer" Negotiation strategy. Look at the growing American anti-Korean opinion; USFK and Department of Defense strategy; Head-on collision resulting in reduction in forces and pull-out of troops (Posted: June 2004)
    
    
• Korea Continues to March to Its Own Drummer -- Korea upgrades its military and seeks technology transfer. However, Korea aims to control its own destiny. Korea now has OFFENSIVE missile capability. Its indigenous-designed fighter-trainer is ready for production and the KDX-II "stealth" destroyer has been launched. German-designed submarines are rolling out of shipyards and KM1A1 Korean Main Battle Tank is being produced in Korea. The next-generation fighter has been selected as the F-15K. Whether unrealistic or not, President Roh is seeking "self-reliance" for South Korea's defense by 2010. (Updated: 4 Sept 2003)
  
  
• Military Affairst: North Korean Crisis: -- Equipment changes; Korea-wide Exercises; Force Positioning; Policy changes; North-South military dialogue. (Updated: Monthly)
  
  
  • Food for Thought: The Military Option in North Korea: -- Short comparison of a views on military parity: Korean versus U.S. view. (Posted: 26 April 2003)
    
  • Food for Thought: The Mythical North Korean Threat: -- An article building a case for U.S. withdrawal from Korea. (Posted: 20 June 2003)
  
  
  
• Spies, Espionage & Infiltrators: -- Personal Opinion on the Spy Situation in Kunsan. Covers the spy organizations and the abuses by Presidents from Syngman Rhee to Roh Moo-hyun. Covers cases of captured infiltrators and deep-cover spies discovered in recent years to back up conclusions. (Sources footnoted) Covers history of communism in Cholla Provinces; list of coastal infiltration with methods of infiltration and vehicles used. (Posted: 24 May 2004)
  

• Reviews of Books on Kunsan AB (Updated: 3 June 2003)
  
• Reference Sources/Links: -- Links to Pro-USFK/Anti-US sites and online Korean newspaper links. General, Military and USFK links. (Updated: 8 August 2003)

• Background
  
  • Subtopics -- Pro-American Demonstrations or really Anti-Sunshine Policy Demonstration? -- Anti-American Protests Waning? NO!!! -- Split in NGO Group Strategies and Shift to Pacifism -- America Responds -- Backlash of Anti-American Demonstrations -- Anti-American and the Generation Gap -- NGO Tactic to Boycott American Goods Backfires -- NGO-Initiated Polls Increasing and USFK Poll in response -- Roh wants to revise SOFA, but U.S. and MOJ Sees No Need -- Danger of Getting What they Want -- Considering the Improbable: What if the U.S. Leaves? -- OUR OPINION (Updated: 3 June 2003)
• Jan-Mar 2003
  
  • Iraq War & Korean Perspective of Iraq War (Mar-Apr 2003) -- Iraq and Korea DAILY events with emphasis on anti-War -- but in reality a continuation of the anti-American protests of 2002. President Roh tells nation that he is forced to send non-combatant troops to Iraq in order to protect the nation -- i.e., U.S. blackmailed him. Roh then rewrites the text of his speech for English publications. Coverage is a day-by-day chronology of events in Baghdad and Seoul. (Updated: 16 April 2003)
    
• Apr-Jun 2003
  
• Jul-Sep 2003
  
• Oct-Dec 2003
  
• Jan-Mar 2004
  
• Apr-Jun 2004
  

• North Korean Crisis Background and Reference Materials -- Background on events leading up to Nuclear Crisis; Materials from Selected Sources on Nuclear Crisis; OUR OPINION (Updated: 8 August 2003)
• For Your Information: North Korea-US Meeting: -- Special Report on Upcoming North Korea-China-US meeting and U.S./North Korean options with our comments. (Posted: 8 August 2003)

• Reformist Policy:
• Lack of Coordination within Government:
• Alienates Career Bureaucrats:
• Continuing Education Problems over NEIS:
• Attacks on the "Gangster" Press:
• Environmental Policy and Saemangeum Project:
• Nuclear Waste Dump Protest:
• Farmers Problems, Opening of the Rice Market and Surplus Rice:
• Chaebol and Business Reforms:
• Korea Under Attack for Dumping and Govt Subsidies:
• Korean Outlook Dims as Companies Leave Korea:
• Privatization Plans Put on a Hold:
• Financial Reform Turns into a Quagmire:
• Conciliatory Position to Union Strikes:
• 40-hour Work Week:
• Political Scandals:
• Political Harassment from GNP:
• Split-up of MDP:
• Autonomy: An Old Answer to New Problems -- Pass the Buck!:
• NIS and National Security Law:
• Exiled North Korean supporter, Song Du-yul, Returns:
• Peace and Prosperity Policy:
• Trusted U.S. Supporter during Iraq War?:
• NGO groups anti-Americanism and Opposition demonstrations:
• Roh Questions Removal of USFK:
• ROK-US Summit (May 14) Impacts:
• Can a Leopard Change its Spots?:
• Resurgence of Anti-Americanism:
• Resurgence of Anti-Japanese Protests:
• Radical Students Protest Roh:
• Roh's Falling Popularity starts in Third Month in Office:
• End of 2003: Roh's Leadership Vacuum:
• Roh Impeached: March 2004

Korean Protests:

APRIL 2003:

Anti-War Protest National Assembly Sit-in (1 Apr 03)

The following is from the Korea Herald:

Protests intensify against war

Activist groups yesterday intensified their protests aimed at disabling the government's plan to send non-combat troops to support the U.S.-led military campaign, a day before the National Assembly is scheduled to vote on the authorizing bill.

Hundreds of activists verbalized their discontent with the war and the planned troop dispatch in a rally organized by over 20 civic groups in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul. Members of 12 local movie-related associations issued a statement opposing the U.S.-led strike on Iraq at an ad-hoc 'anti-war camp' assembled at Myeongdong Cathedral in the capital's downtown area.

Approximately 1,000 labor unionists sat through the night alongside civic group members in front of the National Assembly complex to urge lawmakers to reject the government bill that calls for dispatching 600 military engineers and 100 medics to the Gulf.

Over 30 members of the Democratic Society, a group of liberal attorneys, also staged a sit-in protest at their office last night to demand the Assembly dismiss the bill.

An official at the lawyers' group said attorneys from Korea and Japan adopted a joint declaration urging their governments to withhold troops from Iraq during a forum held in Hiroshima, western Japan last week.

Thousands of activists, students and local citizens are expected to attend a massive rally in Yeouido, near the Assembly complex today to increase pressure on lawmakers ahead of their vote on the troop dispatch bill. Amid rising anti-war sentiment, the Assembly delayed voting twice on the bill last week.

Students at Seoul National University will stage a one-day boycott of classes today to hold an anti-war rally accompanied by some of their professors.

More than 87 percent of the university students voted in favor of boycotting classes.

Six other universities including Ewha Womans University and Pusan National University plan to go on a collective strike Friday to denounce the war.

Four associations of college professors said in a news conference they will debate until the end of April the 'unjustness' of the U.S.-led military campaign on Iraq in their classrooms.

(khkim@koreaherald.co.kr)
By Kim Kyung-ho Staff reporter

On 2 April protests continued with expected vote on 3 April. Thousands attended rally at National Assembly in Youido, Seoul to apply pressure to legislators prior to their vote on the 2nd of April. "The U.S. invasion of Iraq is a one-sided massacre, not a war, and sending troops would make Korea an accomplice to invasion," a group of civic organizations said.

Students and professors of Seoul National University (SNU) held a rally against the war in Iraq during the SNU student council's boycott of classes. Many of classes were postponed or called off because of low attendance due to the boycott.

Rev. Mun leads the anti-War march at National Assembly (04 Apr 03)

Anti-War confrontation at National Assembly (02 Apr 03)

OhMy News had some video of the demonstrations. The demonstrations confrontation was mostly pushing and shoving of the riot police, though a few demonstrator did receive minor cuts. Some demonstrators climbed atop the riot police buses, but were expelled. Other supporters honked the horns of their cars as they passed the National Assembly.

President Roh appealed to the nation to support his decision to deploy troops to Iraq, saying that assisting the United States would help resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully. "I have reached the conclusion that assisting the United States in its time of difficulty and solidifying the Korea-U.S. relationship would be much more helpful in peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear issue than driving relations to worse terms," he said in his first speech before the National Assembly.


Anti-War confrontation at National Assembly (02 Apr 03)

Although a majority of South Koreans are opposed to the Iraq war, a growing number of people support the government plan to dispatch troops to help the U.S. military action and more than 80 percent of the public "understand" President Roh Moo-hyun's troop deployment decision. A recent survey of 1,500 people showed some 55 percent of people support the government's troop deployment decision while about 43 percent object to it.

Roh Appears to be Winning Some U.S. Hearts and Minds

President Roh Moo-hyun is in trouble for backing the U.S.-led war against Iraq and offering to contribute non-combat troops.

Currently, Roh is under intense public fire, especially from those who voted him into office last December, for backing what they term the unjustified U.S. aggression against Iraq.

Despite mounting criticism, Roh stands firm in his support of the United States, a sign of his change of heart toward a key ally.

The president's unequivocal support for the military campaign appears to have helped mend diplomatic fences with the United States while easing some concerns Washington has about him.

"Roh made the right choice to support the war. It played very well here within the U.S. government," Victor Cha, a Korea expert and professor at Georgetown University, told Yonhap News Agency.

Cha added that the head of state made a positive impression by showing himself as pragmatic and flexible.

Echoing Cha's remarks, Joel Wit, a senior fellow of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, also said Roh's gesture was a smart way for him to achieve a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.

"Roh needs to build up his influence with the U.S. administration. To do that, he has to demonstrate to them that he is a good ally and that he can support the U.S. on certain things without reservation," Wit said in a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency.

So far, Roh has not been perceived positively in Washington, where many critics openly questioned if he is a man they can work with and whether the half-century alliance can be saved.

During the presidential campaign last year, Roh, who once called for the pullout of the 37,000 American soldiers from the South, vowed to put bilateral relations on an equal footing and not to be bossed around by the United States. This stance unleashed a barrage of criticism in Washington of Roh and South Korea.

Since taking office in February, however, the president began to soften his rhetoric toward the U.S., as the international standoff over the North's nuclear programs showed no signs of abating.

In a sign of his apparent change of heart, Roh has begun to use every opportunity to dispel widespread American concerns about him and stress the importance of the bilateral alliance, which hit a rocky patch late last year when anti-U.S. sentiment swept the county.

Now, the strenuous efforts to repair the diplomatic damage, including his explicit endorsement of the war, seemed to have paid off in Washington as it eased some criticism of South Korea.

"There is a lot of uncertainty in Washington about the Roh government. As a consequence, the Korean decision to support the U.S. effort could be viewed as a way to reassure the U.S. that the Roh government is not a radical anti-American government," said Marcus Noland, a senior fellow of the Institute for International Economics.

Donald Gregg, who served here as U.S. ambassador and is now chairman of the New York-based Korea Society, also hailed Roh's backing of the United States, noting, "South Korea has always been a staunch ally of the United States, and President Roh is continuing that proud and welcome tradition."

After the war broke out last month, Roh was quick to support the U.S.-led efforts to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and offered to send army engineers and medical personnel to Iraq, claming it would serve the national interests.

"President Roh thinks it is in Korea's interest to demonstrate support for the United States at this time," said Michael Breen, a longtime Korea observer. Breen stressed that this would put him in a better position to request U.S. support for his approach to North Korea.

Some analysts reckon the United States could reciprocate by taking into account more of the South's position in the process of resolving the nuclear dispute.

"This (troop dispatch) could be expected to contribute to an improvement in political relations between Washington and Seoul, and could have the effect of encouraging Washington to consider more carefully the views of the Roh government on issues relating to North Korea," Noland added.

Indicating an apparent reward, the U.S. has recently taken steps which seem to be aimed at accommodating Seoul's stance while easing its concerns the North may be the next U.S. target after Iraq.

Senior U.S. officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney, who is known as a key hawk in the Bush administration, told visiting Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan last week that North Korea is different from Iraq and the nuclear standoff could be resolved through diplomatic efforts.

Yoon told reporters the United States appears to have considerable trust and interest in South Korea's support for the war.

By committing troops, Roh seems to have won the hearts and minds of Bush administration officials and demonstrated he is a man Washington can work with, which analysts said could help in peacefully resolving the nuclear dispute.

Yet, it remains to be seen whether Roh would continue his charm offensive if the diplomatic approach fails and the recalcitrant North refuses to make concessions to end the crisis.

By Kim Kwang-tae
entropy@yna.co.kr

The National Assembly endorsed the much-debated troop dispatch bill. The vote count was 179 in favor, 68 against and 9 abstentions with 256 out of 270 legislators casting votes. The Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae) hoped the decision will solidify the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The Defense Ministry said it would send a 3-man advance team to the U.S. war command post in Kuwait to discuss the timing and placement of South Korean troops joining the military campaign against Iraq.

Roh told the National Assembly in his first address to parliament since his inauguration, "I came to the conclusion that helping the United States in difficult times as an ally and cementing relations between the two countries will be of great help in resolving the North's nuclear issue peacefully."

The National Assembly applauded him for his reasoning. Roh had said, "As you have seen in the case of Iraq, the United States will not make its decision on the North's nuclear issue on a moral basis." "Accordingly, for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue, the strong alliance between South Korea and the United States, among other things, is crucial." This is disturbing that we have a friend that appeases the U.S. though he considers its actions immoral because he needs to use them to solve his problem. This is a trusted ally??? (NOTE: The revised official translation on 4 April is ""As in the case of Iraq, the United States will not determine its attitude toward North Korea on the basis of justice alone. This is the reason why the Korea-U.S. alliance is more important than anything else for a peaceful conclusion to the North Korean nuclear issue.")

Roh also said the troop dispatch plan has "greatly contributed" to allaying concerns among foreign investors about conflicts in relations between Seoul and Washington. In other words, it was a low-risk PR device to show that the "alliance" between the U.S. and Korea remained intact. The troops would be dispatched AFTER the war was over and as in the Gulf War and Afghanistan, be stationed far away from harm's way. In those cases, the Korean participation was strictly symbolic -- as is this action.

On 3 April the protests continued in the press. Though the activists failed to block the resolution to send troops to Iraq, they are now threatening an organized attempt to thwart the re-election of lawmakers supporting the war aid plan. In their opposition to the U.S.-led war, leading civic groups and labor unions are threatening to campaign against those lawmakers when the next parliamentary elections come around in April next year. These activist groups are vowing to use National Assembly voting records in determining who will be targeted for their negative campaigns.

Advocates claim that such issue-based campaigns designed to frustrate re-election bids are a legitimate means of providing voters with information on candidates and thus helping them make the right decision at the polls. But critics argue such practices go against the principle of representative democracy, which they say should ensure lawmakers cast votes according to their own conscience and political judgment, not under outside pressure.

(NOTE: Though the U.S. has the freedom to do this, there are laws on the books in Korea that allow only labor unions the "right" to campaign "against" a candidate. These laws are leftovers of politicians making laws so they could remain in power. However, these laws have been challenged by activist groups in the courts. During the 2000 elections, an alliance of civic groups campaigned intensively against 22 incumbent lawmakers throughout the nation, whom they had targeted for their alleged corruption and incompetence. It succeeded in forcing as many as 15 of them out of the National Assembly. But the lower courts later fined some of the civic leaders for breach of the law on elections to public office. The Supreme Court dealt a further blow to the political activists when it upheld the lower court rulings. In addition, the Constitution Court ruled the ban on campaigning against certain candidates or political parties was constitutional. The activists have been lobbying for changes in these restrictive laws.)

Two Korean anti-war activists said they will abandon their citizenship if the Seoul government sends troops to assist the U.S.-led military campaign in Iraq. During a news conference held upon their arrival in Incheon International Airport from Jordan, Bae Sang-hyun, 28, and Maria Lim Young-shin, 34, lashed out at the government over its plan to send hundreds of military engineers and medics to Iraq. An OhMy News article showed Bae with an Arab scarf around his neck at the airport -- with video clips of the airport interview. Lim and her brother, Im Jong-jin (36) stayed in Amman, Jordan. Han Sang-jin, head of the peace team, is now staying in Amman after allegedly being "kicked out of Iraq" and Yu Eun-ha is still in Baghdad. Park Gi-bum (31, children`s book writer), Shin Sung-guk (43, priest) and Suh Ui-yun (24, college student) are reportedly heading to Baghdad from Amman. The border between Jordan and Iraq has not been closed. (NOTE: Bae and Lim were part of the "human shields" from the Korea Peace Team. However, Bae with two others was in Baghdad, but only he took up a role as a human shield. However, he left the power generation site in Baghdad BEFORE the bombing started to return to his hotel. The three in Baghdad acted as "human shields" from their basement hotel room. AFTER the bombing started, Bae decided to do "more meaningful" work as a volunteer in a local hospital instead of acting as a "human shield." Meanwhile ten others from the team (including Lim) acted as "human shields" in Amman, Jordan -- far from the bombings. For their heroism, they receive our Chicken Little Award of Valor. We also wonder that if they turn in their citizenship, where do they intend to take up citizenship? Probably the U.S.)

On 4 April Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan said that sending troops to Iraq would help strengthen Seoul's alliance with Washington, which will in turn contribute to finding a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue as well as help clear investor anxieties over the possibility of conflict on the Korean Peninsula. In truth, the measure comes AFTER the Germans and Russians were already jumping on the bandwagon to "mend the fences" for a post-Iraq War rebuilding campaign. It's a little late...though better than nothing as the U.S. needs head counts for its "coalition."

However, civic and activist groups filed petitions with the courts to stop the government from sending troops to support U.S.-led military action against Iraq. The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court seeking a ruling on whether the troop dispatch is constitutional and an annulment of the parliamentary decision to send the troops to Iraq. The Constitutional Court on 4 April dismissed an application filed by the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) for an injunction to suspend the law on dispatching troops to Iraq. Justice Kim Hyo-jong dismissed as "groundless" the application by the progressive DLP that insisted the law violated people's right to seek happiness guaranteed by the Constitution.

Protests continued in Seoul with marches by mainly college students. Fashion models joined in demonstration with gas masks in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, as some Korean designers voiced opposition to the Iraq war. There were some confrontations with riot police but generally the demonstrations were peaceful. (Go to Tongil News for photos.)

Anti-War demonstration in Seoul (04 Apr 03)

Anti-War displays in Seoul (07 Apr 03)
Left: Bush with nuclear missiles; Right: U.S. Army in Iraq killing civilians

Anti-War Demonstrations: Daytime flag burning: Seoul (11 Apr 03)
Flag burning at night with U.S./Britain/Australian flags (Source: Tongil News)

On 12 Apr a group of civic organizations staged a rally in Seoul City Plaza to mark the International Day Against War, a spokesman for "Stop the War" said Friday. Stop the War and several other civic organizations expected over 10,000 people to gather in Seoul, but the turnout appeared to be in the thousands. This smaller size reflects the protests worldwide where much smaller turnouts were reported. For example, only a few thousand turned out in Washington, DC. In London, the 20,000 turnout was much different from the previous million plus turnout. The same was true for anti-war protests in France with and Germany with 12,000 people. However, around 50,000 protesters marched in Rome and nearly 50,000 school children and other protesters marched in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Anti-War Demonstrations: Daytime protests (Source: Tongil News)

Rev Mun and his War Council during the demonstrations (12 Apr 03) (Source: Tongil News)

(See Anti-War Video (April 12) -- Street performances showing U.S. as splitting the Koreas; speeches.)
(See Anti-War Video (April 12) -- Street March; Demonstration confrontation with police -- beaten back with shields and pepper spray.)
(See Anti-War Video (April 12) -- Candlelight vigil in Seoul City Plaza with speeches and Protest Songs -- again "F _ _ KING U.S.A." a hit. (See Fucking U.S.A..) Cute performance of North Korean song.)

There were some clashes with riot police as some protestors tried to climb atop the police buses, but were beaten back with batons and pepper spray. The crowd turned ugly and a fire extinguisher (dry chemical) was shot amidst the crowd to disperse them. The photographic effect was that tear gas was used, but none of the riot police had gas masks. The crowd was fighting the police to climb over the buses so they could get at the US Embassy.

Anti-War Demonstrations: Police Confrontation (Source: Tongil News)

Tens of thousands were expected to join similar rallies in Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju and other major cities. Tongil News showed a small anti-war children's exhibit was set up in Seoul with art and projects for the young. In Kunsan, there was nothing -- but then it never had anything in the first place except for the one brave young man who braved the elements alone at the corner in front of the base.

A South Korean activist group said it will send two physicians to the Middle East to provide medical care to Iraqi children wounded during the war. The group calling itself the Korean Federation of Activists Fighting for Health Rights (KFHR) said the physicians will leave Saturday evening for Amman, Jordan, carrying anesthetics and other emergency medicines.

An item appeared in the Yonhap News on 12 Apr that reiterates what we said in the first days of the war. The North Korea for all its bravado -- and more importantly, the South Koreans -- must face up to the new reality of how America will deal with menacing regimes -- unilaterally and with preemptive strikes if necessary. The news item stated: "The method and speed of the U.S. war against Iraq will apparently leave a deep imprint on and around the Korean Peninsula, which is in the middle of a drawn-out nuclear dispute. The biggest lesson is how the international community, and specifically the United States, has changed the way it deals with terrorist suspects and menacing regimes since the Sept. 11 attacks." On 13 Apr there were only small turnouts for nationwide protests. Mainly college students, the protests are notably anti-American -- with some contempt heaped on Britain, Australia and Korea just to be fair. The military victory in Iraq and the sights of people welcoming the "invaders" has deflated the popular support for the moment. Instead of protesting, most people took advantage of the cool spring weather to be outdoors with friends to look at the cherry blossoms or spring flowers.

On 14 April President Roh Moo-hyun said that the dispatch of noncombat troops to Iraq should be expedited now that the war is ending and troops there will be mostly engaged in humanitarian and rebuilding projects. The first set of troops will leave on 17 Apr, and the rest of the 673 chosen to go are scheduled to be Iraq-bound by 14 May. In a state meeting with ministers related to foreign affairs, Roh acknowledged the numerous demonstrations against the dispatch plan, but said there would now be no objections to the provision of reconstruction and humanitarian support. He also asked the relevant agencies to exert their utmost efforts in supporting the Iraqi people.

Seohui Battalion formed in South Cholla for Iraq Deployment (15 Apr 03)

On 14 Apr Former President George Bush Sr met with business leaders in Seoul. Only a few protestors along the streets with signs of "father of all bombs" saying he was not welcome greeted him. In the meeting he thanked the Korean government for its decision to send troops to Iraq and emphasized that the North's nuclear problems should be resolved within a multilateral framework. He expressed regret about the incident last June in which two Korean middle-school girls were killed and expressed concern about whether the incident had aggravated South-U.S. relations. Bush met for lunch and a closed conference with leaders from the five leading economic associations: the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Federation of Small Business and the Korea Employers Federation along with Embassy personnel. Bush said the nuclear crisis should be resolved within a multilateral framework and that the U.S. would solve the problem in cooperation with the South Korean government.

With the end of the military phase of the War in Iraq, the NGO groups are meeting to decide on the new direction to proceed with in their unified anti-American stance. Small group of NGO group leaders -- including the Rev. Mun Choi-hyun -- staged a small peaceful demonstration to "Stop the War" in Seoul. (See Tongil News for photos.)

In Jan 2003, the NGO groups under the Pan National committee brought Rev Mun's anti-War group to the forefront as the anti-American campaign dealing with the accidental death of two girls became a political hot potato. The signs that an economic backlash from the anti-Americanism was growing. President-elect Roh put a "gag order" on their anti-American actions. From "Yankee Go Home" chants on 31 Dec to virtual silence on 1 Jan showed its effectiveness.

However, all the NGO groups did was hide their anti-Americanism from the foreign press. The anti-Americanism was NOT expressed in English -- but written in Hangul. The Korean media also sensitive about the anti-American issue were selective in the images of the protests they published abroad. It worked very effectively except that many expats could read Korean and reported this action in newsgroups. First the burnings started as signs with the painted U.S. flag but later progressed to the actual flags. As the war on Iraq heated up, the anti-Americanism boiled to the top. Anti-Americanism became more pronounced and again the U.S. flag burnings increased along with attacks on the U.S. Embassy. American business symbols such as McDonald's Hamburger were attacked. However, the swift victory in Iraq and the end of the military phase -- along with the crowds greeting the coalition forces -- took the wind out of the movement. The last big anti-War demonstration was on 12 April.

With the end of the military phase, there wasn't much to protest from the Korean anti-War side except to protest the war atrocities or human havoc. The swift end of the war seems to have caught the NGO groups by surprise. They were planning a anti-War demonstration on 19 April, but the war ended.

The initial advon of the non-combatant group was sent to CENTCOM to setup the area for follow-on non-combatant troops. At Inchon IAP, the group encountered a group of anti-War demonstrators with signs stating "No war." The remainder of the group will depart in May. The eyes of Korea shifted to the upcoming talks with North Korea over the nuclear issue.

On 19 April the National Police Agency (NPA) returned to a less heightened state of alert with the end of the military conflict in Iraq. Reverting its "anti-terror situation rooms" back to use for domestic security issues, the agency also lowered security around American facilities, including the U.S. Embassy, and other coalition nations' missions and residences.

Citizens groups from the conservative and progressive camps held separate rallies in Seoul to mark the 43rd anniversary of the April 19 revolution. April 19th marks the 43rd anniversary of the Student Revolt that toppled the First Republic of Lee Syng-man (Syngman Rhee) in 1960. President Roh visited Suyuri National Cemetery in northeastern Seoul, dedicated to students killed in a 1960 uprising.

The dilemma for the Pan National committee NGO groups is to find an appropriate anti-American protest that does not play directly into the hands of the American negotiators for a reduced USFK presence. There is also the growing awareness in the public that the anti-American protests are starting to impact their economy because there is a growing grassroots backlash from America. The continued protests in other areas are covered under Protests (2003).

For the NGO groups, the 19 April demonstrations mark the shift from anti-War to Unification. Instead of Rev Mun's anti-War group at the forefront, the Maehyang Unification group will take the lead in future demonstrations. Most likely the common thread will resurface the theme will be that America planned the division of the two Koreas; orchestrated the Korean War; and kept the two Koreas separated for its own selfish aims ever since. The underlying anti-American theme will be easily seen. Expect increased radical college student involvement in this movement. (See Reunification-Peace Movement site in Hangul.) However, the problem is that their actions may upset the applecart in negotiations to keep the USFK on the DMZ. Any of their past radical routines will be ammunition for the U.S. negotiators.

There were other demonstrations such as the YMCA march that included children carrying signs of "no war." There were also street performances of the die-hard anti-War/anti-American groups even though the military phase of the war is over. The Marines in Iraq are shooting looters and robbers now -- not Iraqi soldiers.

Unification Rally in Seoul (19 Apr 03) (Source: Tongil News)

Unification Rally at Kodong near DMZ
Offering Prayers for Unification (19 Apr 03) (Source: Tongil News)

Members of the anti-nuclear, anti-Kim Jong-il coalition, and April 19 youth groups convened a gathering in front of city hall to call for human rights improvements in North Korea. The protests were staged by the same groups in previous pro-USFK rallies. (See Pro-American Demonstrations or really Anti-Sunshine Policy Demonstration? for previous pro-USFK/Anti-North Korea rallies.)

Anti-North Korea Rally at National Assembly (19 Apr 03) (Source: Tongil News)

Anti-North Korea Rally at National Assembly (19 Apr 03) (Source: Tongil News)

Anti-North Korea Rally at National Assembly (19 Apr 03)
Left: College Students that don't want to be seen at anti-North Korea Rally;
Right: Veterans proud to be seen at the anti-North Korea Rally (Source: Tongil News)

Anti-North Korea Rally at National Assembly (19 Apr 03) (Source: OhMy News)

Please go to the following link at OhMy News for an article with photos of the demonstration. Click on the video link with the "OhMy TV" Icon. Click on VIDEO to go to the OhMy News article. I recommend everyone view this video clip.

It is not spectacular for its violence or the scenes in the demonstrations but some short portions at the end of the video when the anti-North Korean protestors met up with some anti-War/anti-American protestors on the street. It is almost comical in watching them topple, stomp and burn the Kim Il-sung figure in effigy -- with the police rushing in to shoot their fire extinguishers on the flames. These incidents are not important.

Near the end there is a face-off between the pro-USFK/anti-North demonstrators and anti-War/anti-American protestors. The anti-American side sat on the sidewalk and sang the traditional protest song heard since 2002 -- "F_ _ KING U.S.A" -- and the anti-North Korea side started chanting, "U-S-A, U-S-A." Yes...you heard me right...the Koreans were chanting "U.S.A" in the face of the anti-American groups. Good feeling. It wasn't the image of old religious fanatics that the liberal newspapers have tried to portray, but a mix of both young college students and older conservatives.

There is hope for Korea yet.

Die Hard anti-War/anti-American Skit in Seoul (19 Apr 03) (Source: Tongil News)

Anti-North Korea demonstrator face-off with anti-War faction (19 Apr 03) (Source: OhMy News)

Future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance Policy Initiative Discussions (8-9 April): The first session of "Future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance Policy Initiative" was held at the Defense Ministry from 8-9 April. South Korea was led by assistant minister for policy Cha Young-koo while the United States was headed by Richard Lawless, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia and the Pacific. The Korean team included Kim Sung-man, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's strategic planning division, Sim Yun-jo, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's North American affairs department and eight others. Washington sent eight senior officials, including the Department of State's special envoy Christopher LaFleur. Lawless and officials arrived on April 8 in Seoul.

Trying to piece together what was discussed is very difficult from the conflicting news stories. On the first day of the meeting at the Ministry of National Defense, the Chosun Ilbo on 8 April reported that the U.S. insisted on moving its troops south. It was evident that there were some very contentious points as the meeting lasted far longer than scheduled.

Headed by the ministry's policy planning chief, Cha Young-koo, and the U.S.'s Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, Richard Lawless, the two sides agreed on the principle of moving U.S. troops off the central Seoul Yongsan base as soon as possible. The U.S. delegation suggested an immediate redeployment of the 2nd Infantry Division to south of the Han River, while the Koreans insisted that the issue be shelved until the North Korean nuclear issue is solved.

Washington's defense officials argued that the 2nd Division's camps in northern Gyeonggi province are in urban areas and vulnerable to accidents, and should be moved south.

While the meeting was scheduled to end by 3:30 p.m., it continued through the evening due to difficulties in reaching agreements.

The Joongang Ilbo added more information of the discussions.

"Mid-level defense officials from Seoul and Washington have reportedly agreed again in principle to move the Yongsan Garrison, the headquarters for U.S. troops here, out of the Seoul area. The two sides differed, however, on a U.S. proposal to pull back its combat infantry division from front-line positions north of Seoul. ... Korean government sources said the United States wants to move the 2d Infantry Division south of the Han River; the Korean side asked that such a move be postponed until after the resolution of the North Korean nuclear arms issues. ... Another agenda item was a proposal to end the current agreement that U.S. military leaders will assume operational command of Korean forces in wartime, but the discussion stayed, sources said, on a theoretical plane. A U.S. official at the talks said the Americans want to reconfigure their forces here, noting that the United States had sent 27 divisions to the first Gulf War, but had mobilized a much smaller force for the war now under way in Iraq."

The interpretations of what was was discussed is very clouded based upon the choice of words reported in the various articles. For example, an official with the Ministry of Defense said, "The two teams did not make remarks about the REDUCTION in U.S. Forces in Korea and even on a TV conference ahead of the session, the U.S. side did not mention the need of reductions." However, a U.S. official said that the Americans want to RECONFIGURE their forces here. This is the same thing as the U.S. wanted a smaller stationary force in Korea in the future based on the U.S. vision for the mobile forces of the 21st Century. It is apparent that the U.S. pressed this point. However, it appears that they never got past the relocation issue because of South Korea's position.

The Donga Ilbo article on 9 April stated that the two sides failed to "narrow their differences in possible reshuffling of U.S. forces in Korea."

It is reported that at yesterday's session, the two teams confirmed relocation of the Yongsan Garrison at the earliest possible date, but failed to narrow their differences in possible reshuffling of U.S. forces in Korea, such as repositioning the entire 16,000 strong Second Infantry Division.

"We accepted the U.S. proposal of advancing the date for relocating the Yongsan Garrison. Regarding the repositioning of the Second Infantry Division, we delivered our position that it is difficult to accept still considering its presence a deterrent against North Korea as well as massive relocation costs," an official with the Ministry of Defense said.

"The two teams did not make remarks about the reduction in U.S. Forces in Korea and even on a TV conference ahead of the session, the U.S. side did not mention the need of reductions," he added.

The U.S. side was reported to have suggested debate on relocation of U.S. forces in Korea, stressing that it is part of the U.S.' world military strategy.

Yesterday's session was said to have focused on ways to improve military capacity by introducing the newest information gathering and combat methods according to changes in battlefield environments.

"The U.S. sent smaller military forces to the current war with Iraq than it did to the 1991 Gulf War. As battlefield environments are changing, the focus was on the reshuffling of U.S. forces in Korea at the session," an American participant said.

On 9 Apr at a joint press conference at the conclusion of the discussions, it was reported that military officials from the U.S. and Korea agreed that the transfer of the Yongsan Garrison and relocation of troops north of Seoul would be done in a way that would not weaken Korea's security. The Defense Ministry's policy planning chief, Cha Yeong-gu, and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Richard Lawless, both said that a research body would be set up to keep the relationship up-to-date with the changing security situations on the peninsula.

Richard Lawless, Christopher LaFleur, and Cha Yeong-gu (8 Apr 03)

US Wants to Move Its 2nd Infantry Division Out Of Seoul

APRIL 09, 2003 21:52 by Sang-Ho Yun (ysh1005@donga.com)

South Korean and U.S. representatives at a meeting to discuss the bilateral military alliance have agreed to push for the relocation of the Yongsan garrison in central Seoul as soon as possible, officials said Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Cha Young-koo, assistant defense minister for policy, and Richard Lawless, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia and the Pacific, announced after the first meeting of the "Future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance Policy Initiative" at a press conference that both sides have also agreed to continue discussions on the timing of the overall realignment process in a way that does not weaken their ability to deter North Korea`s military.

Assistance defense minister Cha and U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense Lawless said, "At this meeting, issues regarding the reduction of U.S. forces stationed in Korea and relocation of the U.S. second division to the south of Seoul were not discussed."

However, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense Lawless` remark can be interpreted that although the two sides have agreed to relocate US 2nd division to an alternative site, they didn`t discuss whether they relocate it to the south of Seoul. It has been known that the U.S. side clearly expressed its intention of moving its infantry division to the south of Seoul at the meeting.

With regard to this issue, the Korean representatives delivered their government`s position that it is difficult to relocate the US 2nd division to the south of Seoul for the time being, considering enormous expenses for the relocation and difficulties in finding an alternative site. In addition, they said to the U.S. side that there are rising security concerns among Korean public worrying a possible withdrawal of U.S. infantry division from Seoul.

The South Korea and U.S. representatives clearly said that according to the development of military capacity, South Korean army would enhance its role of maintaining security on the Korean Peninsular, while U.S. forces would focus on securing stability in the Asian region.

At the press conference, although which role the Korean army would play in maintaining security on the Korean Peninsular down the road, it is clear that South Korea would have to increase defense expenses to strengthen military deterrence to North Korea`s attack if the U.S. reduces its role in defending the heavily fortified border line areas between the South and the North.

Furthermore, both sides have also agreed to continue discussions on the timing of the overall realignment process in a way that does not weaken their ability to deter North Korea`s military. They agreed to form a separate bilateral consultation body to discuss issue of handing over wartime military command to South Korea in the long-term perspective. Both sides will hold their second meeting in the U.S. next month.

While the conservative newspapers talked of the U.S. desire to relocate its USFK forces, the liberal newspapers stressed how the force structure would be "realigned" and downplayed -- or denied -- references to relocation. This reflects the views of President Roh. The liberal Pro-Roh administration newspaper Korea Herald reported on 10 April:

GIs to be realigned, not weakened

Wrapping up a two-day consultation, South Korean and U.S. top defense officials yesterday agreed to redeploy American forces stationing here in a way that will not weaken the combined deterrent effect against North Korea.

The U.S. side empathized with the concerns of the Korean people regarding talk of relocating the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division away from the inter-Korean border.

In a joint press conference at Seoul's Defense Ministry, the two sides said they will establish a joint consultative body to discuss transferring to South Korea the wartime command of its armed forces, which is currently under the control of the U.S.-led U.N. Command (UNC).

"There is going to be a realignment. And this will be something that both parties should agree on," Richard Lawless, the chief U.S. delegate, told reporters. "As far as the (U.S. troop) reduction (is concerned), it has not been discussed."

Lawless, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asia-Pacific affairs, also said the first meeting on the "Future of the Alliance's Policy Initiative" did not deal with the redeployment of the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division, a major U.S. combat force.

"We didn't advance our discussion to the relocation of the 2nd division," he said.

On the question of the change in the wartime command for Korean forces, Lt. Gen. Cha Young-koo, Seoul's chief negotiator, said, "We have to approach the matter very prudently. We will set up a joint consultative body on a long-term basis."

In their 10-point agreement, the two sides agreed on the need to adapt the alliance to the new global security environment, which takes into account Korea's status as a prosperous democracy.

They also said they will expand the Korean forces' role in defense of the peninsula and beyond, and to enhance U.S. forces' contribution to regional stability.

The two countries will consult on the modernization of the U.S. and Korean military capabilities in an effort to further enhance their combined defense posture and deterrent capabilities, the statement said.

The two sides reaffirmed their previous agreement to relocate the U.S. military base in Yongsan in central Seoul "as soon as possible."

"We don't have any fixed time on the relocation, but we will get it done very fast," Lawless said.

A second-round of the consultations in the United States has been penciled in for May, they said, adding they will hold similar meetings before the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Seoul in October.

(khj@koreaherald.co.kr) By Kim Hyung-jin Staff reporter

The bottomline is that the U.S. is hell bent on relocating their forces south of the Han -- without reducing the numbers at this time. According to Naps Net: "According to several sources, the Pentagon would now like to see the realignment started in the 2004 fiscal year, which begins in October, with a move out of the Yongsan headquarters in Seoul to be followed by a redeployment of troops near the DMZ. "We would like to execute this as quickly as possible," said one diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. New ROK President Roh Moo Hyun does not want to see any changes until the DPRK nuclear crisis is resolved. But, said the diplomat, "that timetable is probably too slow for us."

Although Rumsfeld has publicly ruminated about moving some of the troops out of South Korea entirely, a more likely scenario is that they would move farther to the south of the peninsula, trying to get as far as possible from Seoul into less congested areas. There is no sense of a wholesale movement out of Korea, but the U.S. military want a less intrusive and more sustainable presence. For the Koreans, this is like the old saying that you should be careful what you wish for or you'll get it. They will end up having more responsibility for their own defense.

On 10 April, President Roh acknowledged that the time has come to discuss relocating U.S. forces stationed in Korea, but that a troop reduction should be an issue pondered over the long term. Roh said that the public wants the U.S. Forces Korea's (USFK) main garrison moved out of Yongsan as soon as possible but the issue of a forces reduction should be discussed after the North Korean nuclear situation is fully settled. The U.S. position is that it should be discussed NOW. The U.S. strategy is now becoming clear that they are going to remove U.S. forces from the DMZ and let the North sit and stew. If the North does not remove an equal number of forces from the DMZ, it will be viewed internationally as an aggressor and the U.S. can justify a preemptive strike if so desired.

It also appears that the ROK started on its "poor mouth" campaign of not enough funds and trying to shift the financial burden to the U.S. The U.S. was in no mood to banter over this point with a G-12 nation -- or in the U.S. words, "a prosperous democracy."

It is now apparent that the U.S. strategy is to first relocate the forces according to the Land Partnership Plan south of the Han and then seek a reduction of stationary forces. There will be no discussions on troop reductions until the relocation issue is settled. The changes are part of a worldwide restructuring designed to make US forces more flexible and more mobile -- as shown in Iraq. The idea that the U.S. will relinquish the control of a coalition (U.S.-ROK) to the minor player (ROK) is NOT in the cards. If the ROK wishes to demand control of forces in time of war, there is no need for a coalition -- and no need for the U.S. presence in Korea.

There were indications in some articles that Roh stated that Korea would "regain the rhetorical offensive" on the issue of relocating U.S. troops here. He said South Korea would not shy away from leading the discussions on repositioning the U.S. forces in Korea. Roh said during his daily meeting on 10 April with senior secretaries and other aides, "Until now, we have avoided even the mere discussion of the repositioning of U.S. troops. But it is time for us to make it known that we will play a major role in the matter after the North Korea nuclear issue is resolved." What this implies is that the latest discussions had Korea at a severe disadvantage as the U.S. negotiators were armed with verified anti-Americanism; changes in U.S. military strategy (that has been validated by the Iraq War successes); agreed upon Land Partnership Plan initiatives; and previous agreements that have not been kept by South Korea -- such as the 1990 MOU for the relocation of Yongsan. What Korea wants, may not be what the U.S. wants -- and the U.S. has all the cards in its favor with the growing sense of isolationism in America following the 9/11 incident.

South Korean National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong said on 11 April that the ongoing talks concerning relocation of U.S. forces in Korea should be connected to North Korea's reduction of its conventional weapons. Park met with Vice President Cheney in Washington who applauded the National Assemblies proposal that economic sanctions should be imposed as a carrot-stick approach to leading the North to giving up its nuclear program. Meeting U.S. congressional leaders during his Washington visit, Park emphasized that South Korean people do not question the alliance with the United States. Unfortunately, the latest U.S. flag burnings as part of the anti-war protests in April was sending some strong anti-American messages to the U.S. Congressmen as he spoke.

Alliance Talks May 6-7 in Honolulu Postponed -- then Cancelled South Korea and the United States was to convene the second meeting of the Future of the Alliance Policy Initiative May 6-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii. During the first meeting, the two sides reaffirmed plans to relocate the main Yongsan Garrison out of Seoul as soon as possible, and agreed to increase Seoul's role in defending the peninsula. Accordingly, South Korea agreed to take on ``selected missions'' from the USFK, which experts say could mean taking some of the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division's work in the border area. However, they reportedly failed to bridge differences on relocating the 2nd Infantry Division southwards, with Seoul asking for a delay, despite Washington's position, until the North Korean nuclear crisis is over. However, the Korean side refused to discuss a time table.

In our opinion, President Roh needs a wake-up call that his game of "I'm your friend but..." is getting a little tiresome. On April 19, President Roh said that the purpose of the U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK) is to augment South Korea's military capabilities and should not be seen as the core element of national defense. Speaking to newly promoted generals and other ranking officers at Cheong Wa Dae, Roh stressed that he supports the stationing of U.S. troops here because Korea reaps many benefits from the deployment.

In effect, he has stated that the ROK military will bear the brunt of the nation's defense with a little help from the Americans. He has just slapped the Americans in the face again. The role of the ROK Army on the DMZ is to delay the North's blitzkrieg advance until the 640,000 American troops arrive. In the meantime, the "augmentee force" from Misawa's 35th FW and Kadena's 18th FW, along with the Yokosuka's USS Kitty Hawk carrier group will assist the ROK. Roh really needs to put a sock in his mouth -- or fire his speech writer.

Then the meeting was postponed till after the May 15 summit meeting between Roh and Bush. After the summit, there was a definitely different tone. The ROK side seemed to be preparing the Koreans for the movement stating that the 2d ID was going to relocate. However, the Koreans stated that it would be discussed before there was a movement. Unfortunately, Secretary of Defense Rumsfield left the movement open.

The Koreans then launched into denial phase and dragging their feet hoping to return to the status quo. It will be interesting to note how this plays out in the future. The alliance meeting at the end of May was rescheduled for June 4-5.

MAY 2003:

Korean Federation of Trade Unions Demonstration (KFTU) (1 May 03)

(See Voice of the People for Video of Roh's Summit talks; Kwangju protests on 18 May; Trucker strikes in the nation.)

Saemangeum Protests: Then the environmentalists protested the Saemangum Project making a march from Cholla to Seoul by taking three steps then prostrating themselves. The protestors reached Seoul on 25 May. This protest has been going on for years. At first, the project was shut down for two years, but then Kim Dae-jung ordered it to proceed at the end of his Presidency. When Roh took office, he stated that he would continue Kim Dae-jung's environmental policy.

The protest against the Saemangeum tideland reclamation project in Chollabukdo reached its climax as the sensational "three steps, one bow" procession led by a group of clergymen reached Seoul 57 days after they departed Buan 310 kilometers to the south. While the march was inching toward its destination, the National Assembly in Yeoido, the procession grew in length with the participation of conservationist citizens. However, the residents at the project site were holding equally agitated rallies calling for an early completion of the project. They asserted the Saemangeum was the only opportunity for the underdeveloped Cholla region to build its economy to the level found in other parts of the nation. (See REAL AUDIO VIDEO for video of the march.)

After a long delay, and under pressure from opposition parties, President Roh Tae-woo ordered the launching of the dike construction in November 1991, to fulfill a campaign pledge to garner votes in the region. Work was suspended in 1999 by the courts, but resumed two years later when the government of Kim Dae-jung arbitrarily restarted the Saemangeum Project last year. Upon his election, President Roh opted to continue with Kim Dae-jung's environmental policy. (NOTE: Kunsan AB's perimeter is directly affected by the Saemangeum Project and was signed off on over three years ago by the base.)

Opponents claim that the 33-kilometer dike, supposedly the longest in the world, will remove an ecological treasure house from the face of the earth. Claims are that the migratory bird habitats surrounding Kunsan will be destroyed. Aside from its environmental value, the purely economic contributions of the wetland, with its natural shellfish and sea laver and the products of many marine farms, will be double what project administers promise for the future, they argue. The devastating failure of the Sihwa area in Gyeonggi Province gave environmentalists firm ground for their case.

Researchers at the Agricultural and Rural Infrastructure Corporation deny this claim, quoting different figures, and the controversy is endless. The economic fruits to be gleaned from the reclamation project, according to the corporation now conducting the work, include 180,000 tons of rice a year from 70,000 acres of new farmland, a large industrial estate, artificial lakes containing over 500 million tons of fresh water and port facilities that will handle huge volumes of cargo to and from China

Major construction firms have continued work to build floodgates and parts of dikes spending over one trillion won so far. The project's justification is dwindling, considering that the government has decided to idle farmland four times as large as the projected Saemangeum field. Anti-Saemangeum activists are demanding a decision by President Roh Moo-hyun to halt the project, at least until after a special panel of experts, proposed by the Environment Ministry, has completed its review of all environmental and economic aspects.

For Roh this is another difficult choice that is destined to have immense repercussions, whichever side he may lean toward.

Environmentalist March from Pusan to Seoul -- take three steps and prostrate self on an arduous trip

Saemangum Dispute Pitches Up

by Kim Chang-gon (cgkim@chosun.com)

The fight over the Saemangeum Project, a land reclamation project in North Jeolla province, is heating up, with environmentalists on one side and local residents on the other.

A group of protesters just completed a march from the province to the capital. They left on March 28 and arrived at Yeouido Park on Sunday, after walking 310 kilometers by taking three steps and then prostrating themselves, then repeating the process, the entire way. At the park they held a rally to stop the Saemangeum project. The group of more than 300 people, including religious leaders, released a declaration, urging a resolution to the issue. They will conduct a march next Friday in front of Seoul City Hall and another one the following day at Gwanghwamun.

Down in Jeolla province, meanwhile, ralliers are demanding that the project continue. A group of 140 backers of the project were demonstrating in front of the North Jeolla Provincial Office last Thursday and at Gunsan Station Plaza on Friday. "The government must clearly state its will to pursue the project and put an end to these harmful disputes," a leader of the rally said. Another rally will take place on Monday in Jeonju, led by the union of civic groups for Jeonju's development. They are also preparing events that stand against the "Three steps, one bow" march.

An environmental activist spoke out against the projedct. "We see decreases of 20,000 hectares of rice fields every year," he said. "If the government is paying people to not plant rice, why is it making more farmland?

The opposition is also worried that if an embankment is built to close off the freshwater lake, the pollutants entering the lake will make it into another Sihwa Lake (a representative example of polluted lakes). Moreover, the financial value of the estuary silt is $23,000 dollars per hectare, so the value of the Saemangeum silt is over $500 million dollars, and thus should be preserved, they say.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry says that due to the spread of roads and housing complexes, there is still a need for more farmland. They say that water problems will be controlled through construction of a W130 billion sewage disposal plant.

Unification Movement Protests: The Unification rallies started up again in May, but with a new twist in blaming the U.S. for keeping the Korea's divided. The protests have a definite anti-American ring to them. Part of these rallies were the blaming of the U.S. for mass killings during the Korean war. Old people marched demanding answers to the supposed massacres committed by the U.S.. Part of this hysteria was stirred up by President Roh who apologized for the Cheju Island massacres that occurred before the Korean War. Hoping to resurrect the inquiries of Nogori -- old people marched to demand explanations of the supposed murders during the war. Interestingly, the Koreans are not marching over the massacre of 3,000 prisoners in Chonju by South Korean constabulary as they were retreating from the North Koreans. This was on TV in May.

Unification Rally Blaming U.S. for Division of Korea and Mass Murders (25 May 03)

Student Protests: Finally there were the 1,000 students who blocked President Roh as he tried to enter a national cemetary in Kwangju on 18 May. The students were primarily of the outlawed Hangchonyeon and were protesting his "humiliation diplomacy" in that he changed his position and agreed with the U.S. policy towards North Korea after his May 15 summit with President Bush. Though he explained it as his being a "pragmatist," his former student supporters turned against him. In retaliation, he stated that the Hanchonyeon students would be prosecuted -- causing more dissention. The organizers of the rally met with Roh and "demanded" that he drop the charges against the students. This angered Roh even more. Then on 24 May students demonstrated in Seoul outside a police station "demanding" the charges be dropped and after a scuffle the students were led away.

Hanchongnyeon Students Protest Roh's Pro-US stance in Kwangju (18 May 03)

The students protested in Seoul and marched in the streets of Seoul, though at this time, the protests were rather small. These protests were a mish-mash of various causes and at this point didn't seem to have any focus. The students viewed Roh as Bush's "wife" who obediently followed his commands -- or more vulgarly was his "whore." There were candlelight vigils for the two girls killed last year in an accident near the DMZ.

Anti-Roh Students: Seoul (25 May 03)

Anti-American Protest: Seoul (25 May 03) Right: Roh as Bush's obedient wife; Right: Candlelight vigil for two girls killed in June 2002 accident

Resurgence of Anti-Americanism: However, there are issues remaining dealing with the anti-Americanism that is still present within Korea. Though Roh has done an about-face on his stance towards the U.S., there are many expats who are waiting to see some actions to back up his words. There has been little in the way of concrete actions to combat anti-Americanism in Korea as the government has yet to condemn outright any violence perpetrated against Americans. The current trend is to give offenders a mere slap on the wrist.

The latest incident according to Yonhap News was on 24 May when an Army Lieutenant was attacked by a Korean in a game room in Uijeongbu. "A U.S. first lieutenant was handed over to the American military police after getting into a scuffle with a Korean man, according to Korean police Saturday. A 31-year-old lieutenant identified as only "V" argued with a Korean man known as Lee at an Internet game room before another Korean man nearby whose family name is Kim started punching him."

The following commentary is from American Daily.com:

Roh Must Rock the Boat on Anti-Americanism

By Owen Rathbone on 05/17/03

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's major task on his current visit to the U.S. is to dispel the notion that he is an untrustworthy or unreliable ally. Roh has a serious image problem in Washington in that he is perceived as an anti-American politician. For that reason, he has taken it upon himself t