The groundbreaking ceremony for the creation of the US military base in Pyeongtaek City was held in Daechu-ri, Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province on November 13th at 2 p.m., and was joined by approximately 1,200 guests, including high-ranking military officials from both the United States and Korea, including Kim Jang-soo, Minister for National Defense, Alexander Vershbow, the United States Ambassador to Korea, B.B. Bell, the U.S. Forces Korea Commanding General, the Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force, Army, and Naval Operations, as well as residents of Pyeongtaek City.
The ceremony marked the start of a grand history, in that it gathered the USFK scattered across Yongsan, Seoul, and the northern parts of Gyeonggi Province at one place for the first time since former President Rho Tae Woo presented the relocation of Yongsan Garrison as his presidential election pledge in 1987, 20 years ago. The Daechu branch school, where violent clashes took place between the military and the police and groups who were against the relocation of the USFK was dismantled, and its plot was used as a parking lot for the groundbreaking ceremony.

* Construction to be completed by the end of 2012

The groundbreaking ceremony started with a countdown by announcer Hwang Hyun-jeong. Gun shots were fired, hundreds of colorful balloons were let loose, and cannon salutes were made. Military officials from both countries, who have endured many difficulties due to clashes with residents against the relocation, praised the ceremony as “a historic event,” but nevertheless, seemed to be feeling a multitude of emotions. In his congratulatory speech, Commanding General Bell stated, “The groundbreaking ceremony is a moment that will powerfully shape our Alliance for the future,” and stressed, “The Pyeongtaek base will serve as the main operation base for USFK in the future.”
On this day, about 150 members of the Korea Coalition against US base Expansion in Pyeongtaek (KCPT) and local residents held a rally denouncing the groundbreaking ceremony in the Paengseong-eup area. Local residents said, “In our struggle over the past four years, about 600 residents have been arrested, and fines exceeded KRW 300 million.” Some sighed that they could no longer see Daechu-ri, where about 200 households lived together. Many residents relocated to other parts of the country after receiving compensation. And most of the 40 households, the former residents of Daechu-ri, living temporarily in Poyu Villa, Songhwa-ri, Paengseong-eup, did not join the ground-breaking ceremony. These residents expressed their continuing displeasure with the relocation plan. Mr. Kim (44), a resident of Daechu-ri, said, “It has already been 7 months that I left my beloved hometown, but I am still heartbroken to know that the village I have lived all my life has disappeared.” Mr. Park Tae Wan, Chairman of Pyeongtaek Civil Society Association stated, “There were those who were against and those who were for the relocation of U.S. military base to Pyeongtaek. However, the decision on this government project has already been made. Thus, the project should be implemented as scheduled in order for Pyeongtaek City to prosper, and for Korea to prosper at the same time.”
Construction on the Pyeongtaek base will be completed by the end of 2012, and will be implemented by dividing the area into three zones: Zone 1 (830,000 m2), Zone 2 (8.15 million m2), and Zone K (450,000 m2). The USFK is in charge of construction of Zone 1. Construction began in March, and is proceeding briskly, with ten pieces of heavy equipment mobilized. Hanjin Heavy Industries started construction of Zone K with the groundbreaking ceremony on this day. Zone 2 is still in the design stage, and construction will start in the first half of next year.

*Strategic Stronghold of Mobile Troops in Northeast Asia
The US military base in Pyeongtaek will be expanded to 14.89 million m2 by adding the plots of Daechu-ri and Dodu-ri on top of the current 5.48 million m2 plot of Camp Humphreys.
The 2nd Infantry Division will take up 86% of the base, and the Yongsan Garrison will use the remainder of the plot. Not only the commands in the Yongsan Garrison, including the United Nations Command, USFK Command, and 8th Command, but also the main field troops of USFK, such as the 2nd Infantry Division and the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, will be relocated to the Pyeongtaek base. In short, the Pyeongtaek base will surpass the Osan base, to play the role of the pivotal hub of USFK. The building for USFK Command, which be renamed “US KORCOM” by the end of 2011, will be decorated with blue tiles on the roof. Its English name will be the “Blue House”, the same as the Presidential Residence of the Republic of Korea.

The merit of the Pyeongtaek base is its proximity to the 2nd naval fleet, which means that the runway within the base can be utilized. According to the “strategic flexibility” scheme, which aims to change the mission of U.S. forces overseas from stationary forces defending the Korean peninsula to rapid deployment forces that can be promptly dispatched to other parts of the world in the United States’ fight against terrorism and conflicts in Northeast Asia, the USFK can use the skies and waters of the Pyeongtaek base.

The number of persons in the base will increase five-fold, from the current level of 9,000 to 43,300, including 17,000 USFK troops, 12,800 family members, 4,700 civilians attached to the military, and 8,600 Korean workers and KATUSA (Korean Augmentation Troops to the United States Army). About 500 buildings will stand, including administrative facilities, supply depot facilities, accommodations, family houses, and hospitals.

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