Protesting the Mobile Fleet Command in Jeju, the “Island of World Peace” / South Koreans Stop Authoritarian Power-Grab / Gangjeong Responds to Martial Law / “People’s Square” Against the Coup / Police Intimidation of the Human Chain / Jeju Youth Statement / The oil spill at the Jeju Naval Base… It took a month to make a ‘late report’ / US military sexually harassed women peace workers in Jeju / Father Kim Arrested / National Forum on Peace in Space / Opposing cluster bombs in Nonsan / Talks on our tasks in 2025 (feat. Trump and Musk) / Repression of the Soseong-ri Struggle / War drills to bring coup and war / For the Demilitarized Peace Island / Becoming each other’s scenery / Stop the Construction of a Death Runway! / Sewol Ferry Documentary Asks for Truth / From Tamil Eelam to Gaza: Whose Security? / Visiting Rohingya Refugee Camps in October 2024 / The Great Catastrophe, Genocide in Palestine, and our Solidarity / From Henoko to Peace / Guilty but righteous act to free beluga whale / Deokcheon-ri, a World Natural Heritage Village / Gangjeong Peace Movement Vision for 2025 / My experience in Gangjeong so far / To be a Christian Peacemaker / The life I learned in Gangjeong / Christine Ahn denied entry / Oh Cheol-geun Presente! / Ken Mayers, Presente!
Jeju Peace for the Sea Camp: Ongoing Relationships, Solidarity / Peace Camp Reflections / 2024 Jeju Grand March for Life and Peace / Beyond the time of resistance, we will build an era of peace / The Struggle is Not Over Yet / The Danger of Intensifying New Cold War / Stop the Saemangeum New Airport and Save the Sura Tidal Flats! / Korean Women’s Anti-Base Struggles / Korea Peace Action / Bruce K. Gagnon’s South Korea speaking tour on Space Industry and Militarization / U.S. and its allies: permanent war economies (Excerpts) / The expansion of space “war and slaughter” industries / “Cancel RIMPAC, which is complicit in genocide!” / The Military and Space Industry (excerpts) / Okinawa Peace March Solidarity / From a house with no one here / Taiwan Peace Journey: Solidarity Amid Differences / The Philippines is being thrust into war / Words and updates from the Sea of Peace and Coexistence / Showing Up in Gangjeong Village / Seongsan and ZAD: Airport struggle solidarity / Thank you for visiting / ‘Linear improvement’ plans threaten Gangjeong River / A New Office for the Peace Co-op / Peace University (Christian Peacemaker & Peace Voyager) & Something Peace (Some People & Something Week) / Protesting the notice of the 2nd airport basic plan / Cruise Consequences / Not guilty for urging release of beluga / We live in Miryang and Gangjeong / Intersectionality of Peace Movements and Urban Movements / 2nd Jeju Peace Theology Forum / Petitions to hold war criminals accountable / Rally in Jeju City for Palestine / Place, memories, and people disappear due to Gangjeong Village road expansion etc.
The Jeju Grand March(July 30 to Aug. 4) and international fleet review(Oct. 10 to 14, 2018)
On Aug. 4, the Jeju Grand March for Life and Peace 2018 which started on July 30 made a big finish with a statement for peace and solidarity. This year’s theme was “From Gangjeong to Seongsan: Peace, Let’s Walk Together.” Unlike most marches of last years in which we walked through the coast of whole Island in the two groups of eastward and westward teams starting from Gangjeong and finishing in Jeju City, this year’s march focused on the two spots of Jeju: Gangjeong where the Jeju navy base was built in 2016 and Seongsan where the 2nd Jeju airport(air base) is planned. Another difference was that we shortened march from a week into three days while instead having three days’ camp in Seongsan.
For July 30 press conference in Gangjeong and Aug. 3 cultural festival in Seongsan, see here and here.
We were blessed to have many special friends from overseas: Hawaii, Hongkong, Okinawa, Taiwan and United States etc.. Many of them had also joined inter-Island Solidarity for Peace of Sea camp in Jeju from July 25 to 29. We also had great guests-the grandmothers and activists of Soseong-ri, Seongsan where the anti-THAAD campaign is constantly and daily going on.
However, the march and camp were done also with the heavy heart because of the issue of fleet review.
On July 31, the next day of beginning of march, the chief of naval operation, South Korea, declared to have a fleet review in Jeju in coming October. Despite villagers’ decision to oppose a fleet review in Jeju on March 30, this year, the navy has intervened to change villagers’ opinion. And in July, the President Moon Jae-in’s Presidential House openly intervened to change villagers’ opinion by sending Presidential House Secretaries and top navies at least four times to the village. As a result, the Gangjeong village association who had made March 30 decision but was ready to be deceived by sugar-coting words of government officers and navies held another general meeting on July 29 to ask villagers’ opinion on fleet review again. The result was overwhelmingly in favor of fleet review as the participants for the meeting were mostly those who are ready to compromise to the navy with false prmises. On the day, the anti-base villagers’ association boycotted the meeting and vote, saying the July 29 meeting is in violation of a village principle of ‘not deliberating the same measure twice.’ Instead its representatives filed a lawsuit claiming the procedure of another vote for same issue is wrong and the vote itself should be cancelled. The same group strongly criticized the Presidential House! Yes. It is the same government who made the April 27 inter-Korean Summit meeting but emphasized the US-led ‘alliance’ in July!
(It was last December that Kang Hee-bong, a navy-compromising villager won over Go Gwon-il, an anti-baser and former vice-mayor of village association. On the day’s vote, Kang had mobilized lots of people in the village who have never appeared in the anti-base movement).
The Island Council is also complicit to the deeds of Presidential House and navy. Originally, its whole 43 council members had unanimously signed to submit the draft for the resolution against the fleet review in Jeju. However, later on July 19, it abruptly postponed to submit the draft. It was the next day of July 18 when Lee Yong-seon, a secretary of Presidential House visited Jeju and met Kang and other villagers to deliver the opinion of Presidential House. For centuries, the central government in Korea made a colony of Jeju. For me, these whole current scenes just remind such painful and oppressed history of Jeju.
Moreover, the navy says there would be a US nuclear aircraft carrier during the international fleet review in Jeju from Oct. 10 to 14! And around 100 warships including 30 foreign warships would join for military show on the Jeju Sea during the time destroying already suffering ocean environmet! For whom, this disastrous fleet review is held, especially upon the 70th year of Jeju April 3rd when at least 30,000 Islanders were killed under the order of US Army military government? Who are the beneficiaries? What is the meaning of this anachronistic militarism? We will not give up! The fleet review, a parade of warships, should be stopped! Please say to your government. Jeju doesn’t want warships from your country! And Hawaii friends are right to say they don’t want warships from South Korea during the RIMPAC which is now being held in Hawaii for two months! We should not exchange warships but friendship for peace and life!
The view from the Japanese fighter plane hangar. (Photo: Song Dong-hyo)
At 3 PM on December 13, 2017, People Making Jeju to be a Demilitarized Peace Island and Inter-Island Solidarity for Peace of the Sea co-hosted the fourth annual Nanjing Massacre 80th Anniversary Memorial at Alddreu Airfield, in Daejeong, Jeju, remembering and facing the tragedy of war, pledging to eliminate the factors that make war possible, aspiring together for peace in Northeast Asia, and honoring the souls of the victims.
Opening song (Photo: SH)
Salpuri dance (Photo: Joyakgol)
80 years ago, Japanese fighter planes bombed the city of Nanjing in preparation for their invasion in which 300,000 (mostly Chinese civilians) were killed over the course of 6 weeks. The planes used Alddreu Airfield in Jeju, which was built by the forced labor of over 70,000 local people. Remembering this past, 50 people gathered on December 13 at Alddreu Airfield and declared that Jeju must not be used for making war and causing so much suffering again. With no navy base and no second airport we must make Jeju a real peace island.
Solidarity Message (Photo: SH)
On the other side of Halla Mountain from here the government wants to build a new airport and air force base at Seongsan (Photo: SH)
During the ceremony there was music and dance, poems, a solidarity message sent from Okinawa, short speeches from Daejeong Women Farmers’ Association, from the Seongsan struggle against the second Jeju airport/air force base and from Gangjeong, a presentation of thirty flowers to honor the victims, and a memorial statement.
Offering flowers (Photo: Song Dong-hyo)
Memorial Statement:
We remember December 13, 1937, eighty years ago today. The massacre, rape, murder and looting by the Japanese in Nanjing. There was no humanity in that place. For 300,000 lives that cannot be summed up in one figure, we offer a silent prayer for their deaths. We remember this tragedy.
First of all, Jeju was used as a springboard for the massacre. Japan mobilized over 70,000 Jeju residents to build the 198 hectare (490 acre) airfield. Alddreu Airfield was a stronghold for Japan to cross the sea to bomb cities such as Nanjing and Shanghai. With a total of 36 airstrikes, 600 flights and 300 tons of bombs departing from Jeju, countless Nanjing civilians were wounded and killed.
Now, 80 years later US warships and nuclear submarines are frequenting the navy base in Gangjeong. The problem has arisen of air force plans to use the Jeju second airport. Not only is “Island of Peace Jeju” a facetious title, but one cannot help but suspect that the island is an outpost of the US against China. Is Jeju, and is the Korean peninsula, then and now just a place of strategic military importance for powerful countries?
There is surely no peace that came through war. So that there will be no more Nanjing Massacres, we remember that bloody history and how Jeju was mobilized in that day. Jeju must become a demilitarized peace island for the peace of East Asia and the whole world. We must preserve our right to live peacefully.
People Making Jeju a Demilitarized Peace Island, Inter-Island Solidarity for Peace of the Sea
There were about 50 participants total in the memorial ceremony. (Photo: Song Dong-hyo)
2017 Jeju Grand March for Life and Peace
July 31st (Mon.) ~ August 5th (Sat.)
Also join us for the Festival on the Eve of the Jeju Grand March for Life and Peace
July 30th (Sun.) 6 p.m. (Gangjeong Village Community Hall 강정마을 의례회관)
Peace, Forward Together! Peace Is the Way, and We Are Peace. As we pray together for peace in Jeju and peace for all of us., we will march together in Jeju again this year. All participants will start from Gangjeong Village at the beginning and meet at Jeju City at the March’s conclusion. In between, the participants will divide up into two processions, which will each walk around one side of Jeju Island’s perimeter – one group along the eastern half and another group along the western half. In addition to Gangjeong, the whole of Jeju has been suffering from the remilitarization of the island, including communities that have been struggling against the construction of a second airport. This year we have changed the event’s name to the “Jeju Grand March for Life and Peace” because we are marching to protect peace in all of Jeju.
☮ Participation Fee
Partial – Participation per day: Adult 20,000 KRW, Youth 10,000 KRW (Participation fee is waived for preschoolers)
Full – Participation in the entire March: Adult 90,000 KRW, Youth 50,000 KRW.
Official T-shirts may be purchased separately – 10,000 won.
6- 9 PM: Pre-March Festival (Outside the Gangjeong ceremonial hall)
Monday, July 31
7- 8 AM: Grand March on-site registration and departure (in front of the navy base)
8- 8:30 AM: Grand March Departure Ceremony (in front of the navy base)
8:30 AM: Departure of the East March and the West March
Saturday, August 5
6- 9 PM: Life and Peace Festival (Tapdong Oceanfront Stage, Jeju City)
☮ March Course
Date
West Course
East Course
Monday, July 31
Gangjeong-Jungmun-Andeok (18 km)
Gangjeong-Seogwipo-Namwon (24 km)
Tuesday, August 1
Andeok-Daejeong-Hangyeong (21 km)
Namwon-Pyoseon-Shinsan (22 km) +Festival
Wednesday, August 2
Hangyeong-Geumneung-Hallim (16 km)
Shinsan-Onpyeong-Seongsan (14 km)
Thursday, August 3
Hallim-Gwakji-Aewol (10 km) +Festival
Seongsan-Sehwa-Gujwa (18 km)
Friday, August 4
Aewol-Hagwi-Halla Sports Center (19 km)
Gujwa-Hamdeok-Jocheon (13 km)
Saturday, August 5
Halla Sports Center- Meet the East course in Jeju City- Tapdong Oceanfront Stage (15 km)
Jocheon- Meet the West course in Jeju City-Tapdong Oceanfront Stage (17 km)
☮ Housing and Meals
During the March, housing and meals are included. Participants sleep on the floor on thin foam mats in gymnasiums along the course of the march, but alternative dormitory style housing in Gangjeong is available for international participants. Participants should prepare their own pillows/sheets/sleeping bags as needed. Most of the gymnasiums also have places that participants can pitch their own tents. If you have your own tent, sleeping bag, etc. you can sleep more comfortably. Please bring your own toiletries (tooth paste, tooth brush, shampoo, towel, etc). You might want to bring a raincoat/ poncho just in case. It would also be useful to prepare bug spray and itch cream.
On Sunday the 30th before the march and on Saturday the 5th after the march, participants can sleep in Gangjeong ceremonial hall or the peace center, etc. but these places might be very full so participants are encouraged to consider finding separate housing on those days. (International participants can stay the village hall dormitory at this time). If you plan to return to Gangjeong from Jeju City on the night of the 5th, please let the preparation team know so we can prepare.
☮ The baggage truck
During the march, a truck follows us carrying our baggage. Participants can but their bags in the truck in the morning, and find them again in the evening at the gymnasium where we sleep. Then you don’t need to have a heavy bag while you walk.
VFP members Ken Jones (left), Bruce Gagnon (center) and Will Griffin (right) remembering the two Korean-American women who were to lead our trip to Korea but were denied entry into the country due to their work against US deployments of the THAAD ‘missile defense’ system here that will be aimed at China and Russia.
We gathered at the new Navy base front gate this morning just after 8:00 am in order to get registered for the six-day peace walk around Jeju Island, South Korea. Many in the crowd walked down an entry road to the main gate that of course was blocked off with higher than normal security standing guard while military music blasted out for all to hear.
It was sad to see the new base housing for military personnel and their families and to get a glimpse of the warship docks. I was imagining very soon that US Navy destroyers, nuclear submarines, and aircraft carriers will be ported there. Gangjeong village has a population of 2,000 people and there are expected to be anywhere from 3,000-7,000 navy personnel based here at some point. And then figure in the many hundreds of sailors on visiting warships. This once quiet fishing and farming community will be torn asunder even more than it already has been.
Gangjeong villagers though have proven to be determined and resilient during this 10-year non-violent struggle to oppose the Navy base. Before we began walking this morning a news conference was held right in front of the main gate and the village Mayor Cho Kyung Cheol said that “People in the village have been treated like dogs and pigs” by the Navy and the government. He spoke of even more lawsuits being filed by the government and Samsung (the lead base construction contractor) seeking $3 million in ‘damages’ against the village and 116 persons in the village (and their supporters) because they allegedly impeded the construction process. One activist called the fines “A new form of oppression” against the village.
Former Mayor Kang reminded the walkers of the “dignity of nature” and said, “We will continue to work to stop the Navy base. We remember the people all over the country, and around the world, who have helped us. The Navy base will help lead to war.”
Six hundred people registered for the peace walk with two teams evenly divided – one heading East and the other West. The international guests (from Taiwan, New Zealand, US, Japan, Philippines and Ireland) were split between the two teams. Our Veterans For Peace delegation is with the east team.
We walked 11.5 miles today in the high heat and the hot top (what Boston folks call the asphalt) only made it worse – sort of like walking for six hours through a steam room. Everyone was sweating but it was remarkable to see our large group stay together the whole way – especially so because many families came from the Korean mainland and brought their small children and they walked the entire way.
The food was prepared by teams of volunteers back in Gangjeong village and trucked out to us for lunch and dinner. During breaks and lunch the iconic Catholic priest Fr. Mun joined us hobbling around with his cane but still inspiring people as he as done in virtually every progressive movement in South Korea for many, many years.
Legendary Catholic priest Fr. Mun
A van with a sound system (which included three speakers on top and two big ones in the back of the van) led the walk with its back door open blasting music to keep us singing and dancing to popular movement songs – many of which I recognized from previous trips to Korea. Now and then people were handed the microphone as we walked and asked to speak. I got a turn and told the story about the recent arrests in Bath, Maine when the Zumwalt 12 blocked the road and a gate at the June ‘christening’ of another Navy destroyer at the Bath Iron Works shipyard. I told people that before we did our action we read a statement of solidarity from Gangjeong village. (The Zumwalt 12 will go through arraignment on August 2 in the West Bath court, I obviously won’t be there. Our lawyer will offer my ‘not guilty’ plea on my behalf.)
Jeju is a tourist haven during the summer so the traffic was heavy while we walked today. We walked along the beautiful ocean, through small villages, and through a densely populated city – even spending at least an hour taking up one lane in a very busy four-lane highway. So we are being seen – it’s really quite a sight to see a couple hundred people singing and dancing with their yellow shirts and flags flapping in the breeze.
I am glad to be here – sun burnt, sore feet, but soaring heart. There is only one way that we might be able to stop the crazy US imperial war machine and that is by organizing global protests and taking the war and peace issue directly to the people. It’s an honor to be part of this peace walk.
Bruce
Walking for Peace on Jeju Island
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See Bruce K. Gagnon’s records on the march (Click the words)
For 2016 Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace ‘Peace,’ go to here.
This is the summary translation from the Korean site, here. Thanks so much, Tom and Nanch’o for translations.
…………………………………………………………………………..
2016 Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace ‘Peace, ‘ East route’
Seogwipo Cathedral
The 1st Annual International Peace Film Festival in Gangjeong (April 24-28, 2016) held its festival opening in this cathedral. In fact, Seogwipo Art Hall had been originally planned as the location for those opening events. However, due to the influence of conservative political bias, Seogwipo City officials suddenly reneged on their agreement to allow the festival to use that public venue, creating a last-minute controversy that not only jeopardized the opening but also for several screenings. It was thanks to the swift response of Bishop Kang Woo-il and others in the Jeju Catholic Diocese that the location was quickly moved, allowing the festival to proceed as planned. An estimated 1,000 people attended the film festival, which was widely praised for its innovative and politically courageous programming.
Wimi
Proposed site for the Jeju Naval Base before the irregular and undemocratic measures that resulted in the change of the base’s location to Gangjeong
Sinsan-ri, Onpyeong-ri, Seongsan-eup
Sites related to the ongoing protest movement opposing the construction of a second Jeju airport in Seongsan
Gwangchgi beach, Seongsan
Massacre site where roughly 400 island residents were killed by conservative paramilitary forces, during the suppression of the April 3rd Uprising that began in 1948. This location is associated with both the trauma of civilian massacres and also with its erasure in public memory during subsequent years through censorship and touristic development.
Cheju Haenyeo anti-Japanese movement
Cheju Haenyeo anti-Japanese movement of the early 1930s, which is regarded as an embodiment of the strength and independence of Jeju women, as the haenyeo were the only women in Korea to lead a resistance movement against Japanese domination during the period of colonial occupation (1910-1945)
Hado Migratory Birds Habitat
A shelter for thousands of migratory birds – including the endangered Black-faced spoonbill; this estuary region was designated by the Ministry of Enivornment as an ecological reserve where biodiversity has been undergoing restoration as the habitat for falcons, hawks and even eagles.
Woljeongni Beach
Woljeongni Beach: This is one of Jeju’s beautiful beaches, which are famed for aquamarine waters and white sands. However, the charm surrounding such places of natural beauty in Jeju are steadily being lost due to reckless overdevelopment on the island. Although the local economy should be supported, development must be sustainable so as not to risk the natural environment which allows all life to thrive.
Neobunsungi ~ Bukchon
Surrounded by pine trees, this 4.3 massacre site is where government forces massacred Bukchon villagers, after hauling them off to the Bukchon elementary school before their execution. A total of 412 villagers were unjustly killed and forgotten until the tragedy was finally brought to public attention through the historical novel “Aunt Suni,” written by Hyun, Ki-young and first published in 1979.
2016 Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace ‘Peace, ‘ West route
Gangjeong Stream
A stream to the east of Gangjeong Village is a stream which, unlike Jeju’s regular streams, has clear water flowing all year round. 70% of Seogwipo City’s drinking water is sourced from this stream. It stretches a total of 16km and includes 7 ponds, 6 bridges and 13 waterfalls, and is surrounded by rugged cliffs and pine trees. It is home to the in other regions rare to see sweetfish and sometimes you can catch a glimpse of flocks of the flying Mandarin duck, natural monument no. 327. It is a place where beautiful natural scenery and clear water come together to provide relief in summer to countless vacationers who seek relief from the heat.
Jungmun Tourist Resort
Sedal-dong, Jungmin-dong and Depo-dong in Seogwipo City were constructed from 1978 according to the Comprehensive Development Plan for Jeju. It spans a total of 3.562 square km and mainly consists of accommodation facilities (tourist hotels, condominiums, etc), business facilities, leisure/sports facilities, tourist gardens, golf courses and the like.
Most businesses in this area were farmlands for the local villagers, but in the 1970s the military government pushed through by development by forcing owners to sell their land at dirt-cheap prices. There is still controversy even today over development which is pushed through with detrimental effect to the environment and landscape.
Hwasun Town Coast
The first place where controversy over the construction of naval base Jeju erupted was in Hwasun in Andeok township. The Korean Navy announced its plan to build a base there in 2002. In response to this, Hwasun residents organized alongside the Hwasun Naval Base Opposition Committee to oppose the Navy’s plans. Because of the strong opposition, the Navy deferred its decision.
Cemetery of Unnamed Victims of the Korean War
This cemetery is located in a wide 벌 in Sagye Village, Andeok Township. Where the suppression of the April 3 Uprising came to an end on 20 August 1952 when 132 villagers from across the island were rounded up in the name of preventative detention of impure element and massacred in nearby Seotal Oreum in Dejeongeup, Songaksan, a former Japanese military munitions dump.
Alddeureu Airfield & Japanese Military Hangars
Located in Moseulpo and used by the military of Japanese occupation and was constructed by the forced labor of Jeju islanders, control tower, anti-aircraft battery, airplane hangars and fortified caves still remain. First constructed at a size of 594,000㎡ in 1935 to launch attacks against the Chinese mainland, it was expanded to 1,320,000㎡ in 1945.
Geumneung Euteumwon Beach
White sand beach in Geummeung Village, Hallim Town. Even children can enjoy this beach as the water is not deep, and you can see a magnificent view of the sun setting with Biyang Island in the backdrop. So it is a famous place for families and vacationers to visit all year round.
Tamla Offshore Windpark Development Area
Jeju has always been an island of plentiful wind. Of course this has also problems for those working on the sea or farms. These days the wind the made life harder for the people of Jeju is being harnessed as a new source of energy and a lot of capital is being invested in its development. Of course it is also controversial due to the impact it is having on the environment and scenery and so there is opposition to its development from the local people.
Weoldae Stream
Also known as Waedo Stream, this stream flows from Waedo-2-dong located on the northwestern coast of Jeju Island and into the ocean. Surrounded by more than 500-year-old nettle trees and more than 250-year-old pine trees, on moonlight nights you can see the beautiful sight of the sparkle of moonlight on the water.
Photo by Oum Mun-hee
# A more peaceful way of marching for peace! Shall we try to stick to this? #
Don’tlet people know that you have slept in gymnasiums!
– After you wake, we hope everyone will clean up their personal belongings, the floor, and our sleeping areas together.
Find a tap! Refill your water bottle!
– Make sure you don’t throw away your water bottle as we’ll distribute one bottle per person each day! Make sure you fill up your water bottle. Jeju tap water is fine to drink.
Please make sure not to have left-over food on your plate
– In order not to let any food go to waste, take only as much as you can eat! (If any food is left over, we encourage you to help eat it up.)
The safety team is not a scary police line, but our lifeline
– So that there are no accidents during the march, please follow the leadership of the safety team. (If an accident occurs, it could not only be a major problem but could cause a lot of pain :’-()
NO Smoking! Especially NO intoxicated dancing and singing!
– The accommodation and rest areas we’ll be staying at are mostly schools, village gymnasiums and the like.
– Please be careful not to damage any public facilities and we ask you not to smoke or consume alcohol inside these facilities.
The medical support team is closer than your lover or your friend at only one-minute away
– A heat wave has been forecast for the period of the march. The medical support team will always be by your side.
To join the march, please submit application form, here.
“Hey, peace, let’s walk together”
2016 Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace
Aug. 1 (Mon.) to Aug. 6 (Sat.)
The 2016 Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace starts with an event on the previous day and is launched in Gangjeong village on Aug. 1. The grand march group is divided in two teams of West coast and East coast. Each of the teams will walk around half of the Island respectively in the east and west coast, enjoying the beauty of Jeju including its olle trails and sea coasts. They will see each other and reunite in Topdong Square, Jeju City on Aug. 6.
With the completion of the Jeju navy base last February, you can see military vessels frequently coming and going in the sea in front of the Gureombi Rock coast now covered with concrete. It has become common that you happen to see soldiers in uniform in the inner roads of the village or in the limousine bus No. 600 which is from the Jeju airport to Gangjeong village.
The navy, as if it had waited for the completion of the base, filed a lawsuit against the people of Gangjeong, demanding so called reimbursement of around 3 million USD allegedly for the delay of construction. Recently, the city of Seogwipo has also sent people an ultimate notice that it would demolish various kinds of facilities, including a protest community restaurant, in the Joongdeok Samgeori (three-way intersection) for the purpose of construction of an entry road to the cruise terminal.
However, nothing can break our will for life and peace. Gangjeong village is preparing to be born again as a village for the value of life and peace beyond the movement opposing to the naval base construction. It is also widening its solidarity with the anti-military base movement around the world. We will never lose unless we give up remembering, gathering, meeting, sharing and having solidarity in Gangjeong village.
We will walk together this year too praying for the peace of Gangjeong and all of us. We would like to have the most beautiful week in our lives with you during the bright days of summer.
☮ Main schedule
July 31 (Sun.)
5pm _ A previous day event for the Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace
(In front of the village community hall, Gangjeong village)
Aug. 1 (Tues.)
8:30 am _ Human chain for peace (The main gate of the naval base)
9:00 am _ A press conference upon the start of grand march (The main gate of the naval base)
9:30 am _ Start of the grand march
Aug. 1 (Mon.) to Aug. 6 (Sat.)
March
Aug. 6 (Sat.)
5 pm _ Life Peace Culture festival, ‘Peace! Let’s Go together’ (Topdong Square, City of Jeju)
☮ March course
West coast team
Aug. 1 Gangjeong~Joongmoon~ Andeok (18km)
Aug. 2 Andeok~ Daejeong~Hankyong (22km)
Aug. 3 Hankyong~Geumneung~Hallim (16km)
Aug. 4 Hallim~Gwakji~Aewol (11km, culture festival)
Aug. 5 Aewol~Hagwi~Shinjeju (14km)
Aug. 6 Shinjeju~Topdong Square (7km)
East coast team
Aug. 1 Gangjeong~Downtown of Seogwipo City~Hyodon (18km)
Aug. 2 Hyodon~Weemee~Namwon~Pyoseon (21km)
Aug. 3 Pyoseon~Shinsan~Seongsan (21km)
Aug. 4 Seongsan~Gujwa-Gimnyeong(19km)
Aug. 5 Gimnyeong~Hamdeok~Jocheon (12km, Culture festival)
Aug. 6 Jocheon~Downtown of Jeju City~Topdong Square (16km)
☮Application
-Participation fee: 10,000 KRW a day/ Official t-shirt is sold separately. 10,000 KRW per t-shirt (ex: Total 70,000 KRW for the whole six day march)
_ Application period: June 13 (Mon.) to July 15 (Fri.)
_ Participation fee is free for preschool children
Photo by Oum Mun-hee/ In solidarity with the people, in Maine, against the Christening of Zumwalt Destroyer on June 18, 2016. To be c-incident, a big international missionary group of 40-50 people visited the village during the human chain around noon. We briefly told them what the photo is for and they were willing to join us ! On the day, there were two other same world missionary groups visiting the village in such a big size and different time. Adding to June 17 banner, we also had a sign in English and Korean which is from the Maine activists’ statement on civil disobedience. It reads: “NO ZUMWALT: We stand in solidarity with people around the world who are protesting at bases where the US will port these warships. Not only would these destroyers kill innocent people but their sonar also severely impacts ocean life [..].”
Hello from Gangjeong village, Jeju Island, South Korea. Despite our struggle against base construction for nearly nine years, there was a ceremony for the completion of the Jeju navy base construction this February. However, despite the navy base, we will do our best to maintain village community. And we cannot get along with the navy as long as it continues to foster conflicts.
We heard that there is a ceremony for the christening of a recently built Zumwalt destroyer in the Bath Iron Works (BIW), Maine, United States on June 18 and that this destroyer is the most threatening naval ship in history, with a production cost of more than 4 billion USD per ship. According to the Korean media, the U.S. Secretary of Defense said that all three Zumwalt-class destroyers, once being made, would be deployed in the East Asia Sea by the end of this year. It is very worrisome as it would intensify tension in Northeast Asia and threaten peace. We heard that you would carry out protest to the christening ceremony on the Zumwalt destroyer and some of you plan non-violent civil disobedience on June 18.
Many of you have visited Gangjeong and have made solidarity with us with deep concern for the struggle in opposition to the Jeju navy base project. Thanks to you, we came to know that our fight is not isolated but connected to all the peace movements in the world. Therefore we send deep gratitude, friendship, and solidarity to you all who are to magnificently expressing faith on peace in protest to the christening of the Zumwalt destroyer. We also resolve that we will endeavor more fully to keep our struggle.
Despite the navy and government manipulation 9 years ago, more than 94% among more than 70% of the electorate of the village strongly opposed the Jeju naval base construction. However, the government ignored villagers’ opinion and enforced base construction destroying democracy, environment and human rights. Further, the government and navy filed a wrongful lawsuit demanding around 3 million USD against the people of Gangjeong and are preparing to evict our community protest site, at the entrance to Gureombi Rock, which is now covered by concrete. The Jeju navy base was built on the destruction of democracy and threatens the peace of northeast Asia. That is why we continuously oppose to it and will do so in the future, too.
The Gangjeong sea with UNESCO-designation and the world’s largest soft coral habitat, a place where the 100 remaining Jeju Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins often came, has changed into a site infested with aegis destroyers and submarines. It is currently only used by military vessels of the South Korean navy. However given that Lisa Franchetti, the ex-commander of US naval forces of South Korea mentioned last August that the US wants to ‘send its ships’ to the ports of South Korea, including the Jeju navy base, it is very worrisome to imagine that the Zumwalt destroyer, the so called most threatening military vessel, might enter the Jeju naval port.
We think peace can be made through peace not through war. Even though the base was completed and oppression on the opponents to the Jeju navy base has been heavy, we will not stop our efforts to oppose militarism and make Gangjeong a ground for life and peace, on behalf of future generations and the living creatures in the sea.
We thank for your noble dedication and solidarity.
In peace,
The Anti-navy base committee of Gangjeong Village, Jeju Island, Korea
Photo by Pang Eunmi on June 17/ Gangjeong people in solidarity with the peace activists in Maine, USA for the June 18 protest against christening of the Zumwalt destroyer, BIW
Photo by Pang Eunmi on June 17/ same as above. In front of the villagers’s tent ‘village hall’ in protest to the navy lawsuit of 3 million USD against Gangjeong people
