U.S. general makes rounds of officials to court support

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U.S. general makes rounds of officials to court support

General Thomas A. Schwartz since last year has been visiting Korean politicians to resolve controversial issues regarding military lodging facilities and the relocation of Yongsan military base.

General Schwartz, commander of the United States Forces Korea and Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, had unofficial meetings with Lee Hoi-chang, opposition Grand National Party leader, on Dec. 18 and Jan 15, where he asked for support.

It is thought to be the first time a USFK commander has lined up a series of visits with Korean politicians, including opposition party leaders, to seek cooperation.

On Jan. 16, General Schwartz and his wife invited Kim Jong-pil, leader of the United Liberal Democrats, and his wife to a luncheon. On Jan. 24 he visited the residence of Chun Doo Hwan, former president of Korea. The general also met with Chun Yong-taek, head of the National Defense Committee, and Chyung Dai-chul, a member of the Millennium Democratic Party.

According to a USFK official, General Schwartz plans to keep meeting politicians until the controversy over the housing problem is resolved.

The USFK asserts that living accommodations for soldiers are few and outdated. It wants to build a new apartment complex at the South Post area within Yongsan military base. It says it is willing to move the Yongsan base if Korea provides an alternative site and pays relocation expenses.

But plans for the apartments are at a standstill, as civic groups and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have not been supportive.

Moreover, while the Defense Ministry has proposed several alternative sites for Yongsan, residents in those locations oppose having the base in their area.

In June 1990, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the United States Forces Korea agreed to move the base from the Yongsan site by 1996, but the government put off the plan in 1993 as the cost of the move mounted.



by Kim Min-seok

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