Anti-War Protestors at Pusan (16 Mar 05)

An article in the Stars and Stripes on 20 Mar stated, "There is no scenario, like a war game. The drills include maneuvering a large group of ships from both nations together in one area of water, protecting commercial ships with port security and escorts and practicing airstrikes over land by Carrier Air Wing 5, part of the strike group. Foal Eagle also allows the two countries’ military leaders to work together. Liaison officers from both countries work aboard each other’s ships and this year a South Korean admiral will command from aboard the Kitty Hawk during the exercise. (SITE NOTE: In peacetime, a ROK admiral commands the ROK forces, while 7th fleet units are controlled from Fleet HQ in Japan. As the JOINT naval forces taking part in the RSOI/FE05 are NOT part of the USFK structure, a ROK naval force leader is the politically correct move. However, in the event of a real outbreak of hostilities, all forces of both the ROK and USFK come under the Combined Forces Command headed by USFK Commander -- but whose authority is derived from all supporting nations leaders -- including the ROK President.)

USAV Spearhead Cmdr, 1st Flt ROKN

Generals Observing (20 Mar 05)

Opposition Force troops (20 Mar 05)

ROK Tank Movement (20 Mar 05)

The training is a fundamental part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces, the Navy’s overseas presence, particularly in the region, Turner said. Although the enemy is hypothetical, South Korea technically remains at war with North Korea. And South Korea’s role as a major trading partner with the United States, protecting the seas for security and shipping, is integral. For sailors, the exercise offers a wide variety of training opportunities. “Every ship is going to be involved in some part of the exercise,” Turner said. Participants include the Kitty Hawk, Strike Group 5, Carrier Air Wing 5, six ships from Destroyer Squadron 15 and the USS Cowpens."

The Choson Ilbo on 23 Mar reported that environmental activists Green Korea United and the Defense Ministry exchanged verbal broadsides over a US nuclear-powered submarine anchored at the naval base in the southern port city of Chinhae. Green Korea United says the sub SSN-688-LA's mooring at the Chinhae naval base breaches the 1992 Joint Declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Defense Ministry denies this. A USFK spokesman agreed. "It's true that a nuclear-powered submarine is anchored at a Korean naval base to take part in a military exercise. But no nuclear weapons are loaded on the submarine," he said. (NOTE: US Nuclear submarines were suspected of having nuclear tipped cruise missiles aboard during the 1994 nuclear standoff with North Korea. Since that time, anytime a nuclear submarine enters Chinhae, the NGO environmental groups have protested the landing on the supposition that the cruise missiles are loaded aboard -- while the MND has denied its existence. No other action to prove or disprove the existence of the missiles occurs...only verbal broadsides.)

Locals Protest against U.S. Firing Range Relocation Plan Yonhap News reported on 7 March 2005 that U.S. moves to establish a new firing range in South Korea are facing opposition from local residents at a proposed site who are concerned about the excessive noise, environmental destruction and potential accidents that may ensue. According to the 2005 fact book produced by the USFK last month, the U.S. intends to shut down its Koon-ni Range in Maehyang-ri, just south of Seoul, and build a new range in Chik-do, 70 kilometers from the southwestern port city of Kunsan.

The US can't win on this one. The NGO activists have been after the closure of the Kooni Range for years. The ROK claimed it didn't want to pay any money for upkeep as the US wanted the range and all kinds of silliness was going on. Finally the US said it was closing the range and moving to Chik-do which the Army can use for live-fires of its hell-fire missiles as the Rodriquez Range up near the DMZ is too short. The US has been using the site for years, but not as a primary range.

Japan Starting the Move to Change the Peace Constitution On Feb 24, 2005, a former Japanese prime minister said Japan should revise its constitution to recognize its individual and collective right to defend itself. In an interview with South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, former Japanese premier Yasuhiro Nakasone said it should be an important responsibility of the government and the state to guarantee national security and defense. He said the proposed constitutional revision means Japan will become an ordinary state. He admitted that the current constitution had contributed to maintaining peace in Japan, but emphasized that defective or anachronistic aspects have been pointed out over the past six decades.

The times have changed. Just as Korea has a "386 generation" so does Japan. Neither personally remembers the poverty and horrors of the WWII, but both view the events historically and react by historical revisionism. The Koreans feel they have been wronged and require repayment for "their" suffering -- but the Japanese feel that there has been enough apologies and concessions to Korea. The view point is simply, "Japanese thinking is Japanese -- and Korean thinking is Korean. You think what you want, but don't burden me with your emotional garbage." The following is an article on 15 Mar 2005 in the Chosun Ilbo:

Japan's 'Neocons' Feel No Debt to Korea

“As there is Korean thinking in Korea, so there is Japanese thinking in Japan. Don’t expect any changes that will transcend the current system.” That was what Nakagawa Shoichi told a delegation of Korean politicians who visited Japan in 2001 to protest against distortions of history in Japanese textbooks.

Four years later, Nakagawa is a core figure in the Japanese Cabinet as minister of economy, trade and industry. His comment is revealing of the mindset of a new generation of Japanese politicians. They believe there should be no more apologies, and Korea should not be shown any exceptional consideration.

The core group of young lawmakers in their 40s and 50s, dubbed "Japan's neocons", think in a completely different fashion from the “boei-zoku” - lawmakers with close ties to the Japanese Self Defense Force - and the ethnic nationalists of the past. Core figures of the group include Abe Shinzo, 51, the acting secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and top North Korea hardliner; Ishiba Shigeru, 47, a former minister of state for Defense; Nakagawa Shoichi, 52; and 47-year-old Yamamoto Ichita, who heads the LDP team studying economic sanctions on North Korea.

Since they entered politics, they have moved past factionalism, struck alliances with lawmakers with defense links and formed their own study groups. All are confirmed proponents of changing the Japanese constitution. There are similar groups in the opposition party as well. Maehara Seiji, 48, of the Democratic Party of Japan is so hardline that he once said that if North Korea tested a Taepodong missile, Japan’s Self-Defense Force would shoot it down. The bipartisan “Young Lawmaker’s Group for Establishing Security in the New Century” is the neocons' Masonic lodge.

Many of the neocons, most of whom inherited their positions, studied abroad. They are fiercely proud of Japan and stress the country's international role. As members of a postwar generation imagining itself free of responsibility for Japan’s conquests and wartime history, they no longer view the Korea-Japan relationship as in any way special. On the contrary, they want it rebuilt into a “normal relationship”.

Tension and conflicts between Korea and Japan brings out their disposition. A good example are the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries, at a virtual standstill because Japan will not yield on agricultural imports. A Korean Foreign Ministry official said in earlier economic negotiations with Japan, the Koreans only needed to bring up Japan's past wrongdoings to get the Japanese to concede a point. No longer. Korean negotiators have given up playing the wartime atrocities card, he added.

In a standoff last year over Korea’s decision to print Dokdo Islet stamps, Tokyo sent a statement condemning the stamps through the Universal Postal Union to 190 member nations. In the past, it would have ended at only one protest letter. Nor are Japan’s neocons interested in Korean protests over distortions of history in Japanese textbooks.

Seoul University historian Park Cheol-hee, 42, said Japan’s younger generation of politicians feel no debt over the past. He said previous generations of Japanese politicians showed some degree of special consideration for Korea, but this was simply no longer true.

According to the Stars and Stripes the Marines from Okinawa deployed to Camp Fuji to perform live-fire exercises. Instead of visiting a live-fire training area in northeast Japan, the battery came to Camp Fuji. The firing of the 155mm rounds from the M198 medium towed Howitzer, the Big Gun, was by India Battery of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, temporarily based on Okinawa (from Camp Lejune, NC) and deployed to Camp Fuji. The battery is part of the Unit Deployment Program that rotates stateside Marine units to Okinawa and the Pacific for six-month intervals. Units usually return home for 18 months after a deployment but due to the war on terror, units' schedules have been out of whack. The battery returned home from its last deployment for just six months and came back to Okinawa two months ago. Many of the battery Marines were in Camp Fuji less than a year ago. By being overseas, the Marines can see some of the world as well as focus their training.

The visit to Fuji was unexpected, a change of plans necessitated by the scheduling chaos caused when 3rd Marine Division troops went to South Asia for tsunami relief missions. In addition, rotation schedules from stateside are all messed up because of the Iraq conflict with troops shortened times between deployments overseas. This is the new reality in the Global Positioning Strategy where the forces are overstretched.

According to the article, Camp Fuji's range is one of the few places that allow live fire in Japan. The battery used the smallest charge possible, so the projectiles landed a mere few miles away -- but they can go as far as 18 miles with a larger charge. For the training, the Marines lived in the field, despite the chilling winter temperatures. They practice setting up by maneuvering the 16,000-pound guns into place and digging them into the mud and snow. When they're done firing, the Marines packed up, moved, repositioned and dug the gun in with shovels and sledgehammers. The artillery Marines practiced their jobs, while transportation guys practiced tasks such as digging trucks out of the mud, which after the snows melted, they had plenty of chances to do.

USFK Farm Goods to Face Joint Inspections from April On 17 Mar Yonhap News stated that South Korean officials and U.S. military personnel will carry out joint quarantine inspections of agricultural products brought into the country for the United States Forces Korea (USFK) starting in April. The U.S. military is currently responsible for quarantine inspections of food imports for consumption by American soldiers stationed here.

The USFK is a very small importer compared to the rest of the economy, but it is significant in its SYMBOLIC role of representing duty-free US imports for US soldiers. Read between the lines as the WTO rules will force open the local markets for rice and other food commodities in 2005. The ROK had a 10 year grace period to shift its farmers to specialty produce or other crops, but latest farm protests indicate that those who did not switch from total reliance on rice will suffer greatly. The country is in a major crisis as the demand for rice is dropping and demand for western style food items increase.

Decline in vehicle accidents in 2004 In 2004, vehicle and personal injury accidents among 8th Army troops declined by 46 percent from the previous year. Reportable accidents include those that cause a fatality, permanent disability, missed or restricted work or first aid, according to USFK. These statistics don’t include injuries sustained during crimes, pre-existing conditions or self-inflicted wounds, according to USFK.

USFK has added safety measures since the 2002 incident in which a U.S. military vehicle ran over and killed two Korean girls. Some changes include moving oversized, armored vehicles on flatbed trucks, rather than directly on the road. Many of those vehicle movements are now done at night, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Four or more vehicles moving together constitute a convoy, which needs a clearance before traveling, according to USFK. According to USFK, 8th Army in 2004 had 25 Army motor vehicle accidents, down from 33 in 2003, a 24 percent drop. On-duty personal injuries fell from 44 in 2003 to 34 in 2004, a 23 percent difference. (NOTE: We wonder what the weighted factor of losing 3,600 troops and vehicles to Iraq had on this drop. However, the driving changes certainly decreased the potential for accidents -- but the widening of roads by the ROK in the area also contributed to the safety.)

During the same time, USFK officials limited driving privileges to E-7s and raised the on-base drinking age from 20 to 21. Off-duty accidents also declined, from 26 in 2003 to 17 in 2004, a 35 percent decrease. (NOTE: We wonder what weighted factor of fewer eligible drivers had on this drop. We wonder what the drinking age has to do with driving safety as the 20-21 age group are NOT in the E-7 driving age group.)

Two GIs facing "special larceny" charges from ROK for alleged thefts from Tongduchon nightclubs According to a Stars and Stripes article on 22 Mar 2005, South Korean authorities are prosecuting two U.S. soldiers who allegedly stole or destroyed about $6,000 worth of goods from several Tongduchoen nightclubs on Dec 26, 2004.

What we find strange in this report is the that monies involved are punishable IMMEDIATELY under ROK law -- as the amounts constitute "grand theft." The ROK has exercised jurisdiction over much smaller amounts in the past -- i.e., taxi driver theft. Also it is strange that the prosecutor mentioned that several bars were involved. The report calls for a "restitution" order that had not been acted on, but this would have involved US Army involvement under the SOFA.

What we also find strange is that the Town Patrol would have been notified and involved in such an investigation. If the identity of the military individuals were known to the ROK investigators, they were certainly known to the USFK. The failure of military authorities to act would constitute a major "coverup" -- if not UCMJ offense for responsible investigative parties. There is something missing in this report -- but we don't know what it is.

According to the article:

Prosecutor Ha Chung-hyen of the Uijongbu District Public Prosecutor’s Office said last week that charges were filed on March 9 against a 2nd Infantry Division private and another U.S. soldier. The charges include “special larceny” of money and goods from clubs operated by the Korean Special Tourist Association, which serves only U.S. customers.

The soldiers are charged with breaking a lock of the door of a bar, stealing $100, breaking into another four bars in Tongduchoen and stealing money and goods worth about $6,000 on Christmas Day and Dec. 26, 2004, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The soldiers allegedly threw 30 bottles of alcohol, two boxes of beer and two sound systems on the floor of one nightclub, causing about $3,500 damage, according to the Yonhap news agency.

The prosecutor’s office ordered the soldiers, who have not been arrested, to return a laptop computer taken in one of the incidents and compensate to the victims. However, two months after the order was issued, restitution still has not been made, the report said.

The prosecutor decided to press charges because “the accused U.S. soldiers haven’t made any minimum efforts to make compensation for the damages,” according to Yonhap.

Ha was quoted as saying the case was prosecuted to emphasize that the South Korean prosecutor has the ability to exercise jurisdiction over such offenses by U.S. soldiers.

U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Lt. Col. Tom Budzyna said he couldn’t confirm any details of the case until South Korean authorities released the names of the accused.

So far there are no formal charges by the U.S. military, he said. Victims of alleged vandalism and theft may file claims against soldiers under Article 139, Uniform Code of Military Justice. Such claims will be fully investigated, and if found true, the soldier’s pay may be directed to the victim until the amount of the loss is paid, Budzyna said.

13th Air Force HQ leaving Guam for Hawaii 5th AF moved from Yokota to Anderson? Now 13th AF moves to Hickam? And someone needs to explain that there are no plans afoot.

13th AF will move in May move from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, comes in conjunction with the activation of a provisional war-fighting headquarters at Hickam assigned to plan and execute military operations in the Pacific theater, excluding the Korean peninsula, where military operations will fall under another war-fighting headquarters in the works exclusively for that region.

The 13th Air Force staff will form the core of the new war-fighting headquarters, said Maj. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., 13th Air Force commander, during Tuesday’s news conference at Andersen. According to an Air Force release, the Hawaii headquarters will provide:

• Unity of command of air, space and information operations forces.
• Round-the-clock, immediate Air Operations Center capability.
• Rapid deployment anywhere in the Pacific.
• A focused commitment to regional security and engagement.
• Support for combined force leadership in the region.

The war-fighting headquarters is slated to move from provisional status in the fall. The new headquarters will have about 180 authorized positions when it reaches full strength.

The remaining 1,820 positions at Andersen will remain intact under the 36th Air Expeditionary Wing. Despite the 13th Air Force move, the buildup on Guam that has taken place in recent years will continue, military officials say. “Our plans to use and leverage the strategic capabilities that are resident here are unchanged,” Rice said. Plans for the island include an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance strike task force; a regional training campus at now-unused Northwest Field; fighters, tankers and bombers in rotation; and a combat civil engineering unit. The Air Force plans to spend about $500 million to prepare for the new missions. “Guam will see a sustained commitment, probably unlike they’ve seen in recent history, not just by the Air Force but by the United States military to take advantage of the unique aspects that are offered here,” Rice said.

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ROK to have Wartime Control? According to a Korea Herald editorial on 25 Mar 2005, "The atmosphere for South Korea taking over command of operations in wartime from American troops is becoming ripe, despite worries of a security vacuum. Experts say it is inevitable that wartime control will return to Korea because of changes in the defense situation between the two allies. Recently, U.S. officials expressed a positive outlook on the issue, apparently connected with the United States Forces Korea's ongoing reduction of its troop presence and efforts to become more agile in dealing with regional contingencies. While Seoul has control of its military in peacetime, the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, currently headed by a U.S. four-star general, has the wartime command, which was delegated to the U.S. forces during the 1950-53 Korean War. The general also heads the USFK and American-led United Nations Command, which governs the armistice of the Korean War."

But this is wishful thinking -- but there may be some truth in work. In the RSOI/FE05 the exercise naval operations was commanded by a 4 star ROK admiral.

On March 8, President Roh again spoke of his ambition to take over wartime operation within 10 years in his "self-reliant defense" vision -- which most consider unrealistic due to the expense involved. However, in poking the US in the eye again, the US -- especially US Congress -- may be ready to give the ROK what it wants. However, this will be all dependent on the US falling back to Japan and the USFK command authority moving out of the ROK.

In the background we have South Korea taking over some USFK missions and ongoing American troop cuts by 12,500 to 25,000 by year 2008. South Korean troops have been taking over 10 major operations that the USFK was previously in charge of, including Joint Security Area duty, close aviation support and counterfire artillery attacks -- but it should be noted that it is not because they want to, but because the USFK is moving off the DMZ. Also they had to beg the USFK to retain the ATACMS launchers and also continue to live under the USFK Patriot Missile batteries.

Some military officials predicted the issue of wartime control will emerge soon as a key topic in the Security Policy Initiative talks on USFK's strategic flexibility and mutual defense concerns. Rumsfeld said the Korean military is assuming a greater share of the responsibility for providing the deterrent and the defensive capability on the Korean Peninsula, while USFK will focus on sea and air power for support. But also

Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung recently said he aims to increase the defense budget to 3.2 percent of the GDP from the current 2.8 percent by 2008. Unfortunately, the 3.2 mark was what the ROK "promised" over five years ago. The government is to deploy 40 F-15K Strike Eagles by August 2008 in a $3.6 billion contract with Chicago-based Boeing -- though the contract was much maligned as the better French jet was beaten by the ROK changing the rules on the bid. The ROK plans to suggest a bid for the 2 trillion won ($1.3 billion) project to build four Airborne Early Warning and Control systems, commonly known as AWACS, between 2009 and 2011. Unfortunately, it has continued to postpone acting because of lack of funds. Like most of its programs, they are shuffled around (reprioritized). By 2009, it will deploy eight more P-3 patrol aircraft, which are used primarily to detect prowling enemy submarines. Also, the Army has fielded another multiple rocket launching battalion consisting of 29 launchers and 310 extended range ammunition pods, a key asset to counter North Korea's conventional-rocket attacks.

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Taxi Fare hike for On-base Cabs in Korea Previously Area I and Area II cabs increased their fares in early March. Then taxi fares for on-base cabs in Area III (Osan, Kunsan and Camp Humphries) was to be raised on April 1. The initial charge for taxis will jump from $1.50 to $1.80 and the “per unit” charge - based on a combination of distance and time - will increase from 25 cents to 30 cents.

The price hikes for all Areas was the result of a combination of factors including the rising cost of driving the cabs and retaining drivers, rising fuel prices (also set by AAFES) and the South Korean won’s rising value against the U.S. dollar. In March 2004, gas prices at on-base stations in South Korea were $1.62 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel. This month, the price was set at $1.95 per gallon.

Cab fares off base may be on the rise as well. Seoul city officials are considering raising taxi fares by 19.5 percent. That would increase the starting fare in “general” taxis, normally silver or white cabs, from 1,600 won to 2,000 won (about $1.98).

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Old Story: Black Marketing According to the MP Blotter in the Morning Calm Weekly on 25 Mar 2005, "At 9:17 a.m. March 18, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division notified the Military Police Station of black marketing of Army and Air Force Exchange Service merchandise. Investigation by USACIDC revealed that March 14, Subject One was arrested by Korea Customs Service agents for committing the above offenses at an unknown off-post location. Subject One's vehicle was searched and approximately 20,000 won ($19,920.32) worth of AAFES merchandise was collected as evidence. Investigation continues by USACIDC and KCS. (NOTE: The report never mentioned "Subject Two" etc. but most assuredly there were more.)

The case of black marketing died off for quite some time as the cost of American goods increased and the availability off-base of most foreign items minimized the traffic. In the past, the black marketeers were interested in high-end alcohol and luxury BX goods. Commissary items had fallen off. Now it seems to have resurfaced with commissary goods used in restaurants or for meat resale.

While in Kunsan, we commented that we bought very little in the commissary in the way of everyday household goods as we could get them at the discount store (Emart and others) for about the same price or less. Vegetables were cheaper (and fresher) off-base.

However, meat was about half the price as off-base. Yes, the off-base meat were leaner (less fat), but at half the price, it was well-worth it. With two freezers, we would stock up on meats on our monthly visits to the Commissary. We still spent only about $300-450 a month for a family of three. The kalbi (short-ribs) were fattier than the Korean variety, but the price was right at half the cost. Ox-tail soup (a favorite with the wife because it is easy to make and we all eat it) was about half the price of outside and again contained more fat. We really never bought the Korean "bacon" -- thick slab -- as it was overpriced compared to downtown. (My father-in-law used to inhale the stuff whenever visiting us and we bought it at the local butcher.) I like pork chops so I would load up on them if there were available because they were cheap and I can cook them in a bunch of ways.

The only bad thing was that we could only shop on weekends and by the time we got there, the selection was VERY poor. We also had problems with some of the meats being spoiled. Thus if we got there and there were meats, we'd look like the typical blackmarket bozo.

I would buy lots of hot dogs as I use them in canned chili, baked beans, etc. but I always bought the CHEAPEST -- not necessarily the tastiest. Also it was handy for picnics at the lake. I also bought hamburger in the presized patties not because I cooked patties but because the patties were measured off --- four patties, one package crushed crackers, two eggs, frozen chopped onions, salt/pepper, liberal dash of teriyaki sauce shoyu and easy hamburger patties in fifteen minutes from freezer to plate. The daughter gobbles up SPAM like it is air -- it goes into ramien, kimchi chige, and all foods in between -- and because she is just starting to cook, she can't mess up fried SPAM and eggs. She used to use tuna a lot in her concoctions, but she's tapered off a bit. We bought the roasts because they are able to stretch the budget as one roast can make a whole pot of bulgogi. Just take the roast to the Korean butcher shop and he'll slice it down on his machine for 1000 won -- a big savings. The cuts can be used in soups, bulgogi or any other meat side dish.

Now I see that the black marketing is on again on the same old items -- SPAM, roasts (for commercial use), and the same old-time favorites: hot dogs, rice, beef short ribs, beef oxtails, peanut butter, bacon, ground beef, honey and baby formula. It was strange about the rice as most Koreans prefer KOREAN rice -- out of nationalistic pride. In Kunsan we bought the Korean rice only, but in Osan we have started buying the Commissary Japanese rice because it is a lot cheaper. Peanut butter is a favorite of Korean kids -- and as a snack even for adults...but honey was usually seasonal with winter teas.

Well, it is here again. We've seen the black market goods down in the old market in Songtan (down near the Mall) but it looked like a very small time operation. We assume that there is a standing supply for the kimpap vendors from GI wives on the side for SPAM. However, we really don't pay attention to this area -- and stay away from it as it has real bad consequences for anyone planning on long-time residence in Korea. The following is an article from the Stars and Stripes on 2 Apr 2005.

Authorities in South Korea target black-marketing of commissary goods

By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, April 2, 2005

CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — Military officials are targeting a black-market scheme that involves spouses of U.S. soldiers and civilians buying duty-free food at commissaries in Area I and II for resale to South Korean restaurants, according to ration control officials.

Authorities in Area I, including ration control officers from several facilities and the Camp Red Cloud Garrison, agreed last month on a plan to crack down on black-market activities at base commissaries, Camp Red Cloud-based ration control officer Joy Kelly said.

Ration control officers will increase their vigilance inside commissaries and report anyone they think is black-marketing, Kelly said. Ration-control offices at Camp Red Cloud and camps Stanley and Casey will work together for the crackdown, she said.

Kelly called black marketing of commissary goods a big problem in Area I.

“It has gotten so bad we can’t even go in to the commissary to buy meat,” she said. “The black marketers know what days the meat is delivered. They come in and buy it all up. You can’t go in and buy a roast because all the meat is taken.”

Commissary spokeswoman Nancy O’Nell stressed that since mostly single servicemembers populate Area I, few roasts are purchased because they’re “not a popular item.”

She said “a nice selection of steaks, ground beef and pork items that stay on the shelf throughout the sales day.” Some spouses of U.S. soldiers and civilians have told Kelly that they’re under pressure from friends to get involved in the black-market trade, she said.

“One lady who came to get her ration card said she had already been approached by some of her friends who told her black marketing is really good to help her husband out with finances,” Kelly said.

The spouses buy duty-free food at the commissaries then sell it to South Korean restaurants, she said. Last week, a woman had her ration card confiscated for purchasing goods from the CRC Commissary for her restaurant near the base’s front gate. The woman, who closed her restaurant after her card was confiscated, had asked several soldiers to buy goods for her restaurant with their ration cards, Kelly said.

“There is a professional black-market circuit that involves spouses traveling to Camp Casey, Camp Stanley, CRC and Yongsan Garrison on the same day or over several days,” Kelly said.

Most don’t exceed the monthly limit on commissary purchases monitored by the ration control office. For a single individual the limit is $450 a month, but most such customers spend only about $300, she said.

Spam, which sells for $1.99 per 12-ounce can at the CRC Commissary, is said to be the most coveted item. It’s used in some of South Korea’s most popular meals, including kim bap, a concoction similar to the Japanese sushi; kimchi stew, which combines Spam with spicy cabbage; and stir-fried rice.

U.S. Forces Korea spokeswoman Maj. Edwina Walton said authorities have tracked black marketing of hot dogs, rice, beef short ribs, beef oxtails, peanut butter, bacon, ground beef, honey and baby formula, among other items.

Walton said black marketers target “primarily items that are usually in demand on the economy but are considered expensive.”

The most notorious recent case involved a tunnel dug under the fence surrounding the Hannam Village housing area in Seoul that was used to move hundreds of cases of beer to the black market in 2003.

The Provost Marshal’s Office, along with USFK Military Police Investigations and Criminal Investigations Command, had discovered past cases of South Korean merchants selling American goods, she said.

Once, a tip was received from an anonymous source who witnessed a family member at a USFK installation buying items and immediately taking them off the installation to sell them to South Korean merchants. The merchants repackaged the items to sell at a higher price. The Provost Marshal’s Office was able to work with local base officials to catch the violator, Walton said.

One method USFK uses to fight black marketing is the Command Unique Tracking System, or CUTS. CUTS monitors individuals’ purchase histories and spots any suspect trends or purchases of large quantities of an item, Walton said.

Each time customers buy an item at the commissary, their Social Security or identification number is recorded from their ration card, allowing officials to track how much they spend and what they buy, officials said.

There are monthly spending limits at the commissaries determined by USFK and based on family size. One person can spend up to $450; a family of two, $700; three people, $900; four people, $1,050; five people, $1,250; and six people, $1,450, Walton said.

“CUTS reports are reviewed monthly,” she said, with suspected violations being forwarded to unit commanders.

Commissary employees should contact their supervisors if they observe any unusual customer purchases, she said. If significant activity is observed, commissary management then is to alert installation authorities, she said. People with knowledge of USFK-procured items being transferred in violation of South Korean customs law should contact Military Police Investigations at DSN 724-4293, or the Black Marketing Hot Line (USFK Customs) at DSN 738-5111, officials said.

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