U.S. Commander Requests Budget Expansion for U.S. Armed Forces in Korea

The commander of the United States Armed Forces Korea appealed for budget expansion to U.S. Congressmen on March 8 Korean Standard Time.
Thomas Schuwatz, a top commander in the U.S. Armed Forces, attened a public hearing of U.S. Congress and asked for budget support by pointing to serious problems with the Korean facilities.
One fact he pointed to was that bases in Korea need to have 357 troop water supply facilities and 545 electricity supply facilities reparied but lack a budget to carry these repairs out.
Schuwatz, who took office two months ago, said that 14 percent of the 9,600 U.S. Armed Forces buildings in Korea were built 40 to 80 years ago, and 3,200 of the buildings were rapidly built during the Koran and Vietnam Wars, and they all need to be rebuilt in the near future.
He also mentioned that 1,560 workers and soldiers reside outside of U.S. bases due to shortages in housing, and they are also sufferring from hardships due to a lack of support facilities such as restaurants.
He insisted that if the U.S. Congressmen visit the U.S. Armed Forces in Kora, they will realize the seriousness of the situation.
He also said that only $366 million have been earmarked each year for expenditures for facilities and equipment. He continued that this budget is too small to fill the real need of $469 million.
For these reasons, he requested additional budget support from the U.S. Congress.

by Kim Min-Suk