The National Campaign to Revise SOFA

Young Koreans United (YKU) of USA and the Korean Alliance for Peace & Reunification of USA is seeking endorsements for a sign-on letter to President Bill Clinton calling for revisions to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the Republic of Korea and the United States. The next round of revision talks are scheduled to be held this October in Washington DC.

After the Korean War, the indefinite stationing of the U.S. Armed Forces was authorized through the Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty of 1953. Currently there are 37,000 U.S. troops and 95 military bases in South Korea. Unlike any other nation, the U.S. has direct command over the ROK Armed Forces in wartime. In 1966, SOFA was signed, granting the U.S. military many privileges such as free and indefinite use of land and facilities, discounts on certain commodities, and a very lenient extraterritoriality for U.S. soldiers.

Problems with the U.S. Armed Forces in South Korea

Criminal Jurisdiction

Since 1945, U.S. soldiers committed over 100,000 crimes against South Korean civilians. Between 1993 and April 2000, these crimes averaged 820 incidents per year or 2 to 3 incidents per day. Yet, the South Korean government has only been able to bring to trial 20 or 3.56% of the 562 crimes committed in 1999 alone. Under SOFA, the South Korean government is unable to take appropriate legal action when U.S. military personnel commit crimes against South Koreans, including investigate, bring to trial, prosecute, and have the perpetrator serve time in South Korea. Moreover, the U.S. military is not obliged to take any legal actions, thus U.S. soldiers are able to commit crimes against South Korean citizens without fear of legal or military reprisals.

Environmental Destruction

Environmental groups charge that the U.S. Armed Forces have routinely dumped toxic chemicals into South Korea for many years. In the beginning of July 2000, Green Korea United, a South Korea-based environmental group revealed photographs of the U.S. military illegally dumping concentrated formaldehyde into the Han River this past February 2000. Han River is a source of water for 10 million residents in Metropolitan Seoul. Public exposure of the U.S. military's actions prompted Lt. Gen. Daniel Peterosky, Commander of the Eighth U.S. Army to issue a formal apology on July 24, 2000. However, SOFA exempts the U.S. from the responsibility and liability for all accidents, damages, and environmental destruction caused by the U.S. troops.

Maehyang-Ri Bombing Range

Maehyang-Ri Bombing Range, also known by the U.S. Armed Forces as Koon-Ri Range, is a seaside village located roughly 2 hours from Seoul. Established in 1952, Maehyang-Ri Bombing Range is the largest of its kind in Asia and utilized by U.S. bombers stationed throughout East Asia. With the exception of holidays and weekends, villagers are subjected to practice bombings 250 days a year. One of the most serious problems faced by the villagers is heavy noise pollution, lead and cadmium poisoning, and property and environmental damage. Moreover the residents suffer extreme mental stress and a range of physical ailments. For example, one out of every five women has had a miscarriage. In spite of on-going protests by villagers against the U.S. military presence in Maehyang-Ri, SOFA grants the U.S. free and indefinite use of land and facilities for military purposes. And should the U.S. military ever withdraw or relocate from Maehyang-Ri, they are not obliged to restore facilities and areas into their original condition under SOFA.

SOFA must be revised to address human rights violations and environmental destruction committed by the U.S. military in South Korea. YKU and the Korean Alliance for Peace and Reunification is now asking organizations to sign on to the attached letter, addressed to President Bill Clinton, calling for comprehensive revisions.