Nowadays, angry voices are louder than ever before. Many of Korean people strongly expressed the accumulated antipathy to "them" who have been unreservedly stayed in Korea for last half century. Against the United States Forces in Korea (USFK), the general public of Korean community began to earnestly demand withdrawal of so-called occupation army. It seems that the partial catch-phrase of "US troops get out" is now gaining the nationwide sympathy. Someone even describe this current situation as growing overall anti-American sentiment among the Korean people.

There are 298 of US Military Bases abroad in 18 countries around the world. Among them, the most bases posted in South Korea. There are more than 37,000 US soldiers in 30 dispersed places all over the country. As a result of this situation, the severe encroachments upon not only human right but also human environment are the most frequently happened in the only parted country. Ever since the station of US military, in fact, they have been constantly caused various kinds of serious troubles.

Recently issued hot potato is problems on natural environment. With the intentional dumping accident in Han River, public opinion is drastically agitated. People begin to focus on the other crimes of US military. Natural environment as well as living environment have destroyed for a long while. It even seems that US military gave up the environmentally sound and sustainable relationship with Korea.

There are many kinds of continuously happened environmental problems such as noise, water pollution and soil contamination. Awful noise of far-exceeded the permitted limits continually afflicts the people living near the air bases and the shooting ranges. Large-scale of water pollutions make poisonous stream and toxic underground water. Terrible soil contaminations leaves long-lasted effects which bring about serious results to the ecosystem. These kinds of environmental destructions are commonly taking place in ordinary times and seriously threatening the sustainable future of Korea.

After 1996 when the environmental issue was first raised, there have been 7 large-scale of officially reported accidents in Korea. Among them, two cases of serious oil effluence accidents plainly show the seriousness of realistic situation.   

The Osan Air Base of USFK is located in Pyongtaek, Kyonggi Province. There happened a serious environmental disaster. More than 3,700 gallons of jet fuel leaked from two underground storage tanks at the Osan Base. It is reported that heavy rains caused jet fuel spill. Harmful influences from the accident are still continued today.

The other serious accident took place at Paekwun mountain in Uiwang, Kyonggi Province. Large amount of gasoline overflowed from Camp Madison and contaminated the mountain along the valley. It is estimated that about 200 gallons of oil leaked down when a boiler oil pipe at the base was broken. Water and soil within 150 meters radius around the Camp were severely spoiled and oil still oozes out when it rains. It is almost impossible to launch an operation of soil remedy at the oil-polluted mountain.

In spite of these severe problems, no close examinations to the accidents can be accomplished by Korean government. It is hardly possible to get to the bottom of the case. There is not any kind of provision about environment in the ROK-US SOFA at all. Thus, there is nothing more Korean government can do whatever serious problem takes place. It is even impossible to access the accident spot in the military area which freely granted to USFK. Current situation obviously reflects the forfeiture of the environmental sovereignty.  

By contrast in Germany, the other country where US military is stationing, the position is different entirely from those of Korea. There are evident stipulation providing environmental accident in German-US SOFA. According to the agreement, US Forces in Germany should be in the control of the German Environmental Law. If there was an environmental accident, it is responsibly demanded of US military to observe domestic legislation of Germany.

Even in the case of Japan, the situation related to natural environment is also much different from Korea. They neither have any provisions about environment in their SOFA. There are, however, clear guidelines about the environmental issue. US Forces in Japan have to hold the prior or subsequent consulting with Japanese government whenever the change occurs on establishments and areas in Japanese territory.

According to International Law, foreign armed forces usually abide by the law of the stationed country. An exception is made when the foreign armed forces have to perform a special duty in the country under a mutual agreement between two countries within the law. This principle is even expressed in the Overseas Environmental Baseline Document (OEBD) of the US Department of Defence. It is sincerely required Korean government to make the valid standard to ensure the binding power and improve it as equal as those of Germany.

The present unequal SOFA stipulates that the US government has no obligation to restore spoiled areas to their original condition. Then, environmental activists have called on the government to revise the contradictory agreement in a way that would make the USFK responsible for environmental problems caused by them. Moreover, environmentalists strongly demanded that US Forces have to bear the enormous expense of restoration.

After reformation of the system, precise fact-finding survey should be followed on. It is required to have joint investigations into the actual condition of environment. This mutual activities must be regularly proceeded with relevant local inhabitants and civic groups as well as Korean government and US military authorities. USFK should also make public the results of their inside examinations on environment and share the data with Korean government.

With these complementary measures, it is indispensably demanded of USFK to change their fundamental attitude. Preferentially, they should make a sincere apology to the Korean people. It must be a form of responsible acknowledgement about their environmental crimes. Preparing concrete plan of positive compensation is the other significant assignment left to US military. These changes are the very point from where future discussion should begin.

By Koo Sung-chan(Editor of National Section)