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Love on the rocks: U.S. military lays off 1,000 Koreans
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Special to World Tribune.com
EAST-ASIA-INTEL.COM
Thursday, April 7, 2005
The U.S. military has decided to cut jobs for 1,000 South Koreans at its bases in the Asian country and may withdraw some key combat equipment, a top American commander said. The announcement shocked South Korea, which faces lingering threats from the North.
The announcement by Lt. Gen. Charles C. Campbell, chief of staff at the U.S. Forces Korea, is considered an expression of Washington's anger at Seoul's decision to cut its share of the cost of keeping American troops on S. Korean soil.
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U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Charles C. Campbell, chief of staff for U.S. Forces Korea, speaks to reporters during a press conference at U.S. Army base in Seoul, on April 1.
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The conservative opposition party expressed concerns over the U.S. defense reduction plan, describing the Seoul-Washington alliance as facing "unprecedented crisis." This, it said, was caused by Roh Moo-Hyun's government's "unrealistic" policy of seeking a new role in the balance of power among Pacific powers instead of remaining part of the U.S.-led alliance that includes Japan.
Rep. Song Young-Son of the Grand National Party, a former defense analyst, said Campbell's announcement "is tantamount to an end to the security alliance between Seoul and Washington."
"The alliance is in the worst crisis," she said.
Unionized South Korean workers at U.S. military bases also criticized the government for not properly negotiating with Washington to protect their jobs during defense cost-sharing talks. They also threatened to begin a full strike to protest the U.S. military decision.
At an urgently called press conference April 1, Campbell said the USFK is forced to take "cost-saving measures" through the layoffs because the amount Seoul has agreed to pay is not enough to support South Korean workers at U.S. bases. Some 12,000 South Korean civilians are currently working at U.S. installations across the country.
Over the next two years, USFK also plans to reduce its support contracts by as much as 20 percent, affecting construction and personnel management.
The USFK announcement stunned South Koreans because it was made before Seoul and Washington had finalized a new cost-sharing accord, Seoul officials said. The two sides will meet in Hawaii this week for another round of talks.
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