Peace in MaeHyang-Ri

What is MaeHyang-Ri?

MaeHyang-Ri is in KyongGi province, 50 miles south of Seoul, South Korea. In 1952, the United States Air Force (USAF) established Koon-Ri Range, bombing training sites located on the seashore near the village of MaeHyang-Ri and on the nearby Nong Island. There are an estimated 2,448 residents that live near the bombing range.

50 Years of Bombing

The US conducts two types of bombing practices on Koon-Ri Range: land and sea. Sea consists of fighter planes dropping bombs on Nong Island and land consists of shooting practices with machine guns along the seashore. The US fighter planes has been dropping bombs every weekday from 9 am to 10 pm, 250 days per year, for the past 50 years. A-10, OV-10 and F-16 fighter planes drop about 400 to 700 hundred bombs per day in civilian areas. As a result, one entire island has been obliterated and Nong Island, which had been 3 kilometers long, has been reduced to two-thirds of its original size.

The Devastating Impact of Bombing Practices on Villagers

Since 1952, 12 villagers have been killed by accidental bombings and shootings by the USAF, including four children and one pregnant woman. Many more have been injured and suffered property damage. Yet, neither the US nor the South Korean government have made any apologies or provided any compensation to these victims or their families.

In South Korea, the standard night noise level for residential areas is 40 decibels. MaeHyang-Ri villagers endure noise levels that average 110 to 130 decibels and sometimes up to 150 decibels during periods when the US fighter planes conduct bombing practices. Because of the unbearable noise level, some of the villagers suffer hearing impairment severe enough to be classified as an "occupational disease." Many others endure mental stress and insomnia. Moreover, 80% of the children who attend a nearby school for learning disabilities are from MaeHyang-Ri. It has also been reported that 1 out of 5 women experience miscarriages and birth defects are also on the rise.

Green Korea United, a leading environmental group discovered that 5.37 mg of arsenic, 13 times the Korean soil average, was found in the bombing range. Other harmful metals, which can cause future physical or mental disabilities, were also found. Cadmium was found to be 37 times higher than average, copper (62.1 mg) was 13 times higher and lead (845 mg) was 145 times higher than average. MaeHyang-Ri residents also had 1.7 times more lead in their blood than the average found among steel factory workers, known to be highly susceptible to lead poisoning.

Recent Events

On May 8, 2000, a US A-10 fighter plane dropped six 500-pound live bombs on the beach at MaeHyang-Ri. The explosions rattled the village and damaged 170 houses. Seven residents were also hospitalized. After this incident, the USAF originally explained that the A-10 fighter was experiencing engine trouble and forced to drop the bombs to reduce the aircraft's weight. Proper compensation was promised to the victims. However 17 days later, a joint US-ROK investigation team released the final report stating that the damage to the villagers was slight and indirect. Furthermore, the incident was part of normal training and that the pilot's judgment was right. No compensation was provided.

MaeHyang-Ri Villagers Take Action

Since the opening of Koon-Ri Range, MaeHyang-Ri villagers have taken action to oppose the bombing practices including flying kites to distract the low flying pilots and putting their bodies in front of bulldozers to block construction of the range. In 1989, the MaeHyang-Ri Task Force to Close the Bombing Range was formed and in recent years, protesting villagers have received growing support from hundreds of thousands of students, farmers, workers and religious leaders.

The continued efforts of the MaeHyang-Ri villagers have led to two important victories. At the end of year 2000, the USAF ended machine gun practice exercises on the seashore. This past April, fourteen MaeHyang-Ri residents won a landmark civil case against the South Korean government for hearing loss caused by the bombing practices. The Seoul district court ordered the government to compensate each of the plaintiffs $100,000. This is the first time that the Korean government has been ordered to pay compensation for damages inflicted on its resident by the US military.

What Can You Do?

Bombing practices continue to this day, not just in MaeHyang-Ri, but other nations including Vieques. You can join the movement to the end US military exercises internationally.