The conspiratorial among you may be atwitter at the sudden desire of the U.S. military in Korea to slow the redeployment out of Seoul to Pyeongtaek. It will be interesting to see what transpires with a new administration and an ongoing economic crisis, especially amidst FTA talks.



"The United States has asked to delay the scheduled relocation of U.S. military bases in South Korea by up to four years due to budgetary constraints, according to military sources in Seoul.

The latest development is expected to further fan concerns about the cost of the military relocation that is already estimated to come to about 13 trillion won ($9.6 billion) - a figure that could well increase with any additional delay.

According to the Defense Ministry, the U.S. asked for the delay during a meeting with South Korean military officials in Seoul on Oct. 3.

Officials from the two countries agreed in July to complete the relocation.

The action would move the military base in Yongsan, Seoul, to
Pyeongtaek, a port city in Gyeonggi Province, through 2012 to 2014 and other military installations in Uijeongbu and Dongducheon, north of Seoul, by 2015.

But U.S. officials proposed delaying the process to 2016 for the Yongsan base and to 2019 for the other military installations."

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