Tag: construction

UNESCO totally cheated by Jeju Island Government

Related links: [May 27 to 30] A Renewal of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Status? The Jeju Sea is being killed now.

Navy and companies’ illegal dismantling of damaged caissons on the sea

(Source: Jeju Internet News, May 29, 2013/ Original source: Gangjeong Village Association)

1. Maintenance of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve despite massacre of nature?/ People’s letter to the UNESCO

Despite great mass killing of UNESCO sea creatures in the Gangjeong Sea, Jeju, it is reported that the UNESCO International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere program (MAB) adopted the report by the Jeju Island government in its eval‍uation on May 28, 2013. The eval‍uation is held every 10 year. The Jeju Island became to continue to hold the title of the UNESCO triple-crowned: The Biosphere Reserve, World Natural Heritage and Geology Park. Please see the very related and important post regarding the matter of the UNESCO renewal , here.

The Jeju Island was designated as the Biosphere Reserve in Dec. 2012. The total designation area is 30.94㎢, which is about 45% of the whole area of the Jeju Island, It includes the Halla National Park, Youngcheon (Young Stream), Hyodoncheon (Hyodon Stream), Moonseom (Moon Island), Beomseom (Beom/ Tiger Island), Seopseom (Seop Island) that were designated as the CORE Biosphere Reserves in 2012. (See the same article of the Jeju Internet News linked above)

The status of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Jeju Island. The scarlet areas and spots indicate the core zones of the Biosphere Reserve: Mt. Halla, Beom, Moon and Seop Islands. The blue areas are buffer zones while the pale blue areas are transition areas. (source: Jeju Internet News , May 29, 2013)

The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island has sent a letter to the UNESCO MAB secretariat as of May 29, to request the UNESCO ‘objective reviews on the Jeju Biosphere Reserve,’ concerning about the ‘destruction and pollution of the Jeju Biosphere Reserve in relation to the Jeju Naval Base construction.’ Please see the letter in English in the site (Please scroll down mouse until you see the English part).

In its letter, it first raised on the matter of ‘inconsistent maps of the Biosphere Reserve Buffer Zone’ around the core Biosphere Reserve of the Beom Island (Tiger Island):

‘Inconsistent maps of the Biosphere Reserve buffer zone brings confusions and raises doubts on the Government’s performance on monitoring the management and preservation of the entire Jeju Biosphere Reserve.” (See the letter for details)

It also made clear that the ‘sea route of the Jeju Naval Base would cut through the buffer zone’: ‘In the last World Conservation Congress held in September 2012, the Government insisted that the Jeju Naval Base construction does not violate the Biosphere Reserve. However, in any of above mentioned three maps, the sea route of the Jeju Naval Base would cut through the buffer zone, which would bring negative impacts on the Biosphere Reserve. The Government did not mention about these concerns in its Periodic Report submitted in September 2012.’

Thirdly, it raised on the matters of ‘pollution and damages of adjacent waters by the Jeju naval base construction,’ with the examples of unreliable silt-protectors and mass-killing dismantling works of damaged caissons on the sea.

Despite the letter, according to the the Jeju Island government who stated on May 29 , “the UNESCO MAB-ICC made an overall eval‍uation that ‘the Jeju Island is faithfully carrying out the Biosphere Reserve network rules and regulations,’ according to its advisory committee eval‍uation result. The MAB-ICC adopted the periodic reviews from the six regions of Canada, Germany, India, Paraguai, Mexico, and Jeju Island, among 55 regions, without special demand items. It adopted periodic reviews from the other regions with recommendation and demand items.” the same article reads. (See the article)

According to the article, ‘the Jeju Island government delivered that it included the physical character of the Island’s Biosphere Reserve; types of creatures’ habitats; activities within the Biosphere Reserve; activities on study, monitoring; education & training and public relation; management, policy, budget on its biosphere reserve.’ It also added that it ‘introduced Gotjawal, Oreums, inner land wetlands, and soft coral habitats as the habitats of special concern, while introducing stone culture and sea-diving women’ lives as its traditional culture.’

Did they ever report on the current on-going destruction and killing of UNESCO Gangjeong Sea by the naval base construction(destruction)? Probably NONE but with lots of cheats ! The UNESCO is dammed to be cheated by the Jeju Island and ROK governments. You may see the ROK government document to the MAB-ICC, here, which conceals many serious matters of ROK government’s environmental destruction in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, especially in the Jeju.

2. People file for a lawsuit against the navy and Samsung

On May 31, the ROK Day of Sea, some groups such as the Office of Jang Hana, National Assembly woman, Hot Pink Dolphins, and the Gangjeong Village Association filed for a lawsuit accusing the ROK navy, Samsung and Daelim, especially in relation to the navy and companies’ massacre of sea creatures with their thoughtless dismantling works of damaged 6 caissons, which started on May 5, this year, the Children Day in Korea. (See the accusation document in Korean, here).

The groups along with the members of the Seoul and Gyunggi branches of ‘Gangjeong Friends’ also had a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on the same day.

Jang Hana, National Assembly woman talking and holding accusation document against the navy and corporations such as Samsung C & T, during the press conference on May 31. People wore the hand-made hats of endangered species in Gangjeong by the naval base construction(destruction)

Jo Yak Gol, member of Hot Pink Dolphins and a peace keeper of Gangjeong speaks during the conference on May 31. (Source/ Original Source: Voice of People, May 31, 2013)

According to Jang Hana, National Assembly woman: “The navy’s behavior of contaminating the sea ecology system in the Gangjeong Sea, by its dismantling process of damaged caissons underwater, bringing the very poisonous cement powders and concrete lumps in the sea is in violation of item 2 of article 22 of the maritime environment management.

The item 2 of the article 22 of the maritime environment management defines that “nobody should leak contaminating material that occurs in the maritime space such as maritime facility, beach resort, and mouth zone.” The punishment for the violation of it is up to two years’ imprisonment or up to 20 million won fine.

The people also reminded that when the World Conservation Congress was held in Jeju, 2012, there was a controversy of environmental destruction on the damaged caissons by typhoons. At the time, Captain Yoon Seok-Hwan stated in the press conference, that the navy plans to “float damaged caissons and then dismantle and dispose those ON THE LAND or dispose those in the ways not badly affecting environment. We will NEVER use the way such as underwater blast.” (See a Korean article, here) .

Go Gwon-Il, Village chairman of the Stop the Naval Base Project speaks during the press conference on May 31. The banner reads, ‘Immediately stop the Jeju naval base construction (destruction) that destroys maritime ecology system. ‘(Source/ Original source: Newsis, May 31, 2013)

However, that promise has never been kept. The navy is openly dismantling those caissons ON THE SEA, carelessly blowing out poisonous cement powders and lumps into the sea. Its disastrous result could be seen on the SOS teams’ May 15 video. “Even though the navy and Samsung say that they would dredge the cement on the sea bottom, there is really no way to dredge all the chopped-up parts of cement because those powders are spreading far into the sea by the strong currents of the Gangjeong Sea. It is already illegal to throw down concrete cement, poisonous waste, into the sea.” (from people’s accusation document)

3. Three recent important videos on the navy’s destruction of Gangjeong sea

(1) The navy and companies’ illegal dismantling of damaged caissons on the sea

It is a vivid scene of navy’s illegal dismantling of damaged caissons on the sea, which started on May 5. (Video by Moetppuri Park, edit by Ryu Dong-Kyun)

Seven caissons were destroyed by the typhoons such as Bolaven on Aug. 29, 2012. The whole production costs of those caissons are 35 billion won. The ROK Ministry of Construction and Traffic has concluded in 1998 that the caisson construction method is impossible in the southern part of Jeju, after the result of a year’s investigation. It is because of severe typhoons and currents to the total destruction of harbors in the Seogwipo area, the southern part of Jeju. (See the recent Korean article, here). Especially, the Gangjeong village is of a protruded out geography in its coast. The villagers have warned the navy numerous times that the village geography itself is impossible for any huge harbor, not to mention naval base. Despite that, the navy has enforced the construction (destruction). It is only forthe profits of big corporations such as Samsung.

(2) The UNESCO Gangjeong Sea being killed by the naval base construction (destruction)

(Video by Save Our Sea team on May 15, 2013)

‘While heavy metal-poisonous materials such as leaking earth and sands, concrete lumps and cement powders are injected into the sea as they are by the illegal naval base construction(destruction), the silt protectors never properly work because of unreliable installation and restoration of their damaged status… The Gangjeong Sea where the endangered species such as the Indo-Pacific bottle nose dolphins, red-feet crabs, soft corals have been playing is being killed. There hardly is no trace of living creatures in the bottom of the sea. Only sediment materials can be touched. The damage on the fisheries by the illegal naval base construction (destruction) is extended into Beophwan and Wolpyong, nearby Gangjeong’ (SOS. Source)

You may painfully compare the above video with the below which was taken in 2009, before the destruction of sea by the naval base construction.

(3) Illegal quarrying, transportation, and reclamation of sand and stones.

(Video by Kim Bok-Chul, edit and arrangement by Dungree(Park Sung-Soo)

The Jeju naval base project is already infamously illegal in the sense of dual MOU, violation of EIA, violation of law on the cultural treasure, layout flaw, manipulated fake simulation. It was disclosed by a construction worker last October that the Samsung C & T is building unreliable caissons, using the reinforce rods under-standard, which results in easy destruction of caissons by typhoons.

Not only that. The video discloses the illegal quarrying, transportation and land-filling of sand-stones by the companies.

On Jan. 31, this year, a peace activist, Mr. Kim Bok-Chul traced a truck from the Hwasoon port and Gangjeong and found that the stone-quarrying site located in the Mooreung-ri, Daejung-eup, Seogwipo City is illegal. Given the record, it can be estimated that tens of thousands of illegal sands and stones have been transported for 40 days around Jan. 31. Those illegal stones would never properly work in the basic construction of the base.

It has been also known that there are about nine transportation companies of which trucks commonly violate legal speed, freight amount, central line and traffic signs.

Putting sands and stones in the sea is also done in violation of the EIA. The silt-protectors have never properly functioned but rather contributed to the destruction of environment.

The navy and company should stop destruction of nature with illegal methods which are only for reduction of construction costs. The sea is of the soft coral habitats, which are ROK natural memorial NO. 442, as well as the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

While the Seogwipo Coast Guard is investigating on the illegality of sand and stones, the Seogwipo City and Seogwipo Police should also thorough examine the illegality of construction (destruction) rather than oppressing protesting people in violation of their human rights.

June 3, 2013
Morning with the Mayor | Organizing Notes

Reblogged with permission from: MORNING WITH THE MAYOR | by BRUCE K. GAGNON *

On my first trip to Gangjeong village Mayor Kang (just behind me in dark jacket) took me to see the place where the fresh water stream flows into the sea. This was to be one end of the massive Navy base now being built in the village. At that time I was able to see the undisturbed beauty of the coastline.

I arrived in Berkeley, California last night about 7:30 pm and was able to join a group of conference participants at a Chinese restaurant where they were having dinner together. When Gangjeong village Mayor Kang saw me he rose and gave me a big hug. At that time there was no translator available so we didn’t get to have much conversation.

This morning at breakfast Mayor Kang arrived with a Korean professor from the university. The mayor had just come from doing an interview for Democracy Now which is supposed to air on Monday. Koohan Paik (Hawaii) was on the radio with the mayor. Koohan has been a great Jeju supporter and made it possible for the mayor to speak at this event on behalf of the village.

During breakfast the mayor told me that when I first came to visit Gangjeong he remembers me talking about space technology. He told me that he now understands much better what I was saying. He said he believes that the US is bringing the South Korean government into the military space program as a junior partner to help control China. I was happy to hear that he has put all the pieces together.

A translator took the mayor and I for a long stroll through the vast University of California campus. We went to the top of a huge bell tower that enabled us to see the entire San Francisco bay area. While we were looking out over the bay I told the mayor how much their non-violent resistance has inspired people all over the world due to their strong spiritual grounding. He told me that they made a conscious decision to act in that way to help them deal with the obvious depression and sadness that comes from the Navy base construction project. He said that if they were going to resist then they had to find a way to stay connected to what was good in nature and in each other. He offered to teach me the dances…

*Reblogged posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Save Jeju Now

May 31, 2013
Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | May 2013 Issue

In this month’s issue:
Crackdown in Gangjeong, Catholics stand up to police, SOS international training, Jeong Young-Hee returns from US tour, Emily Wang’s reflection on deportation, Villager Mi-Lyang badly injured by police, Conscientious objection in Korea, and more!

Download PDF

May 29, 2013
“Police, if you move this altar, the world will watch over you”

Photo by Save Jeju Now (Source)/ Father Woo holds an Eucharist on May 3. For all 30 photos, see the source.

“Policemen, if you move this altar, 1 billion Catholic followers all over the world will watch over you.” The young Father Woo from Jeju finished ALL the orders of the Catholic mass despite the repeated remarks by Koo Seul-Hwan, security director of the Seogwipo Police Station, who was embarrassed but continued to threaten him that it is an obstruction of business.

It was for the first time that an altar was set up in front of the main naval base construction(destruction) gate since the navy forcefully set up fence on the way to the Gureombi Rock on Sept. 2, 2011.

Kim Mi-Lyang, a woman villager, held up a sign that reads, “Return back the Gureombi Rock to Kim Mi-Lyang, daughter of Gangjeong!” After the mass, we could observe an elderly follower teared and hugged Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon. There were lots of woman followers. It was really moving that they danced the Gangjoeng addictive dance together with the peacekeepers in Gangjeong.

Please see the video made by the Peace Nomad and Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon’s writing on the meaning of mass in front of gate, here. See also Organizing Notes, here.

Photo by Save Jeju Now/ Catholics dancing after the mass together with the peacekeepers in Gangjeong on May 3

It was April 8 that the construction company thugs blocked the gates then on April 25, Kang Un-Sik, a new chief of the Seogwipo Police Station, fostered threatening mood with his military boots and mobilization of 800 policemen who occupied the two gates. A police unit were searching village to arrest people.

It has become already four prisoners this year, including Yang Yoon-Mo, Park Sung-Soo (released on April 1), Kim Young-Jae, and Lee Jong-Hwa. The people’s press conferences led by the Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island on April 10 and National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island on May 2, were oppressed respectively.

Photo by Park Young-In on May 2 (Source) / People’s legal press conference to denounce government’s abuse of state power in front of gate at 1 pm was even interrupted by the police. For more on the day’s photos by Park Young-In and Kang Eun-Joo, see the source.

The press conference on May 2 was to demand the stop of illegal construction (destruction) and to criticize the government’s recent abuse of state power- indiscriminate arrest, imprisonment, and deportation of people. In Korea, press conference can be legally held without report. However, the police removed people twice to allow the construction trucks to pass by, despite people’s demand for time and protest to it.

The National Assembly has passed about 200.9 billion won budget for the 2013 Jeju naval base project on Dec. 31, 2012. Why does the government enforce illegal destruction that is already tremendous violation of EIA and human rights? Is it because of Samsung that gets 108.3 billion won for caisson production & stationing and basic formation of breakwater in the 1st work area of the project? See here.

The police interrupt people’s press conference to denounce the abuse of state power ( Video by Go Gwon-Il on May 2)

The peacekeepers who have kept the gates day and nights have been at the risk of worsening health, arrest and imprisonment. Wang Yu-Hsuan who has acted in Gangjeong for a long time has become the 21st victim of ROK government’s entry denial, in relation to naval base issue.

Mass that has been daily continued got oppression, as well as life and peace 100 bows. Even though the article 20 of the South Korea Constitution protects the freedom of religion.

However, the exemplar struggle by the Catholic Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and followers in Gangjeong is raising a new beacon of hope in the struggle against the Jeju naval base construction(destruction).

The Fathers’ struggle risks their own dignity as human beings and priests.

Photo by Pang Eun Mi on April 30/ Catholic Fathers are encircled during the mass in front of naval base construction gate to stop construction (destruction) trucks. For more photos, see here.

Photo by Pang Eun-Mi on April 30/ Catholic Fathers are encircled when they take a mass in front of naval base construction gate to stop construction (destruction) trucks. (Source)

Photo by Leejesu on April 29/ Catholic Fathers block destruction trucks

Heart-breaking struggle by Catholic Fathers and Jeju Island people continues while hymns are sung (Video by Pang Eun-Mi on May 2 : Source)

However, isn’t it amazing to imagine all the Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters, in Korea appear in front of the gate to express opposition against the Jeju naval base and will for the true Peace Island?

Such possibility has been shown when lots of Fathers and Sisters from the Jeju stood in front of destruction area and danced together. On the day, you could say The Holy Spirit has arrived in the village.

Photo by Leejesu on April 29 (Source)/Fathers and sisters stand together in front of destruction gates to hold a holy mass.

Dancing Fathers and Sisters (Video by Leejesu on April 29)

Update on May 4: Is it because of Fathers’ strong protests including the setting of altar on May 3? On Saturday, May 4, trucks did not pass by the main gate during the 11 am mass. It could be for a short time. But Fathers’ struggle is very appreciated. Here are some photos of Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Catholic followers who pray and meditate during the mass. The big brother, Samsung is looking over the field in the form of a big monitor. The police with ‘red hats,’ with the background of fence where people left resistance slogans are decorations of the world where people’s aspiration for peace and democracy is urgent. For more photos, see here. The 1st photo is by Pang Eun-Mi. The others are by Save Jeju Now.

Photo by Save Jeju Now (source)/ Trucks do not pass by the main gate during the morning mass on May 4.

May 4, 2013
Catholic Fathers Stand Up as Oppression Starts in Earnest.

It is the summary of what happened in the village from April 25 to 28.

Photo by the unknown (source)/ Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon is carried off by the police during his protest to stop destruction trucks during recent daily Catholic mass.

The Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK) wrote on April 26:

“The Park Geun-Hye government’s oppression on people is being started in earnest. Days ago, the incense burning site of the Ssangyong automobile workers installed in the Daehan gate, Seoul, was violently demolished while a warrant of arrest was [unjustly and violently] issued to Ms. Kwon Myung-Sook, member of the bereaved families of Yongsan tragedy.” (* She was released soon)

Prior to it, the Jeju Court confirmed the imprisonment of Mr. Kim Young-Jae (41), a peace activist in Gangjeong, for the charge of obstruction of business on April 24 (Prisoner No. 435). He had been arrested on April 12. Two Jeju activists including Mr. Bae Gi-Cheul and Ms. Lee Jin-Hee, (47), Jeju branch co-representative of the Korea Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) were being arrested on April 8 and 16, respectively. Both were released days later. Those arrests happened during everyday people’s protests at the construction gates against the navy’s illegal construction (destruction of the environment) that threatens the UNESCO and government-designated soft coral habitats near the construction area.

Photo by Save Jeju Now/ Mr. Kim Young-Jae in the Dongbu Police Station, Jeju, April 17/ Mr. Kim Young-Jae who was arrested on April 12 has been imprisoned since then despite about 650 people’s appeal.

To enforce drastic policies against people’s just demands, the newly launched Park Geun-Hye government started to clearly show its fascistic nature on April 25. In the Seogwopo Police Station, Kang Un-sik, a Jeju-born, was inaugurated as a new police chief to brutally suppress people’s struggle.

Photo by Cho Sung-Bong (source)/ Kang Un-Sik, the news Seogwipo Police Station chief is with black sun glass and military boots. His brutal words of ‘shot them,’ [with handy fire extinguishers that are known to greatly harm human bodies] on April 25, have been big controversy in the Jeju media. His policies and style reminds April 3rd period (1947 to 1954) when the military and policemen mercilessly killed Island people, under the Rhee Syngman puppet government backed by the US Army Military Government of Korea then.

On April 25, the situation in the village was in emergency. On the day, 10 police companies occupied the gates the naval base construction area. About 800 police personnel including 300 from Jeju, led by Kang Un-sik, a Jeju-born and a new Seogwipo Police Station chief, were mobilized. Three police cars stationed nearby gates to arrest people. People-especially people who have not responded to the police call or didn’t pay fine- were at the risk of being arrested. About 40 policemen searched for the village to arrest some people. Activists who have been fighting long time in front of the gates have been under the great danger of arrests, as well.

Photo source: SPARK

Video by Guerrilla (nickname)

Three activists including one woman activist, mother of a little daughter and two Jeju activists of Mr. Kim Kook-Nam and Mr. Kim Dongdo( Organizing Director of the Jeju brach of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions) were arrested. The woman was for the reason that she had not responded to the police call many times while the two were carried by police for their act to stop the trucks. On the day, even the Press Conference to denounce police oppression and daily Catholic mass was blockaded. The three were released soon days later.

Photo by the unknown/ source/ Mr. Kim Kook-Nam, just before being arrested. He was holding civil disobedience sign in front of gate.

It was the next day of April 24 when Wang Yu-Hsuan, a Taiwanese young woman peace worker who has been in Gangjeong since July 2011 was denied entry to Korea from her two months’ overseas trip, without proper explanations given, and was stuck in the airport, while demanding the ROK authority exact reasons of her entry being denied. She would eventually leave on April 26 with no explanation given. On the day, people’s press conference to denounce the police oppression and even Catholic mass were blockaded. The Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island that held the press conference denounced the police oppression:

” It is told that the police set up drastic measures in Gangjeong. It is really dumbfounding. The police have protected naval base construction (destruction) site that is like a department store of illegal acts in violation of various present laws. Now they threaten citizens who are willing to stop the illegal acts and says they would arrest them [..]

As disclosed, the navy has greatly damaged the Sea of Gangjeong, the treasure of Gangjeong villagers and citizens. However, it has enforced construction(destruction) without any proper measure. It has not even carried out what it made negotiations with the Jeju Island government. It is clearly a violation of approval condition to the naval base construction. What have the police done to such navy?” (source)

Photo by the unknown/ Even people’s press conference was blockaded and interrupted by the police on April 25 (source: SPARK)

Photo by Cho Sung-Bong (source)/ Even daily morning Catholic mass was interrupted on April 25

On April 26, another Jeju activist, Kim Kook-Sang was arrested for his act to stop truck. He was release the next day.

Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Mr. Kim Kook-Sang holds a sign that reads, “the navy’s illegal construction(destruction) is a violation of the present law. Police, arrest the navy!”

On the same day, the Jeju media reported that the supreme court dismissing Yang Yoon-Mo (prison No. 301)’s final appeal, confirmed the decision of higher court against Yang. The Higher court made decision of 18 months’ actual prison sentence on him on Feb. 1. He was directly arrested from the court on the day. Yang has carried out 52 days’ prison fast until March 24. As of April 29, he hits 89th day in prison… while another prisoner, Mr. Kim Young-Jae hit 18th day. Regarding the case of Yang Yoon-Mo, you may refer to UN Special Rapporteurs’ joint allegation letter to South Korean government on human rights violations in Gangjeong, Jeju. Here is Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon and other Catholic Fathers who continue to give hope to people and inspire them again and again.

Video by Pang Eun-Mi on April 27.

Photo by the unknown/ Mr. Lee Jong-Hwa,(in yellow jacket) was arrested in the morning of Sunday, April 28, during his protest

On April 28, a bright Sunday, another peace activist, Mr. Lee Jong-Hwa was arrested around 11:30 am. It is the 5th arrest since April 25.

Video by Leejesu Youmyoung

Photo by Leejesu Youmyoung/ Fr. Kim Sung-Hwan on April 28.

A heart-breaking Catholic mass on Sunday

Video by Pang Eun-Mi

Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon finally bursts tear when he sings a daily song of ‘Peace of Gangjeong and love you, Gureombi.’ The videomaker, Ms. Pang Eun-Mi cannot but cry along with him. Since April 25, the construction main gate has been occupied by the policemen and has been forcefully opened to allow 24 hour entry/ exit of construction trucks. Fr. Mun provides communion to Fathers, Brothers and people through the policemen. When he comes to the gate of naval base project committee, he hears one activist has already been arrested. After returning back to a tent across the main gate, he fell down for a while, though he would be recovered soon. Fr. Kim Sung-Hwan keeps the gate alone. Tearful resistance is continued in Gangjeong on a bright Sunday.

April 29, 2013
“Where there is oppression, there is uprising!”: Another activist to be imprisoned

1. Mr. Kim Young-Jae, a peace activist was illegally arrested and got the arrest warrant.

Photo by Park Yong-Sung/ Mr. Kim Young-Jae was arrested on April 12, 2013.

On April 12, Mr. Kim Young-Jae, a dedicated Gangjeong peace activist and a member of the SPARK (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea) was arrested. He was standing in front of a truck around 1 pm in protest to illegal environment-destroying construction (destruction). His arrest marked the 2^nd arrest this year, following the April 8 arrest of Mr. Bae Gi-Chul, representative of the Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island (Pan-Island committee afterward). Mr. Bae was released next night.

On April 14, the prosecutors filed for an arrest warrant against Mr. Kim Young-Jae and the Jeju court issued it against him around 2 pm. With prof. Yang Yoon-Mo who hits his 74th prison day as of April 14, 2013, Mr. Kim became another current prisoner. The total numbers of imprisonment became 24.

Mr. Park Young-Sung, a fellow activist, has reported on April 12 that the arrest on Mr. Kim Young-Jae was illegal and unreasonable. He reasoned that:

1. Even though Mr. Kim left the site after the police’s 2^nd request for leaving, the police obstinately and illegally arrested him

2. Even though another activist with a sign stayed longer than Mr. Kim, sitting on chair in front of the truck, the police arrested only Mr. Kim.

Photo by Park Yong-Sung on April 12/ Mr. Kim Young-Jae holds a sign

It should be mentioned that Mr. Kim Young-Jae has been remarkably dedicated activist responsible for coordinating activists in Gangjeong, as well as being a member of the SPARK that has been targeted by the government for years. He was also one of the five who climbed up to a caisson dock in Hwasoon in protest to naval base construction on the opening day of 2012 WCC (World Conservation Congress) Jeju, Sept. 6, 2012.

Photo source: Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon’s tweeter/ Mr. Kim Young-Jae being detained in the Dongbu Police station, Jeju City on April 14.

2. “Where there is oppression, there is uprising!”

Amid the people’ fury for the arrest of Mr. Kim, a big trailer advanced into a gate of the naval base project committee building complex 30 minutes later of his arrest on April 12. The trailer was ignorant and uncouth to load its heavy weight on a small road in front of gate. There were risks that protesting people might be injured or some of them could be arrested, too…

In the afternoon, there were also Pan-Island committee activists who visited Gangjeong for protest after their press conference in the morning, which was on the environmental destruction for the naval base construction (destruction). The police forcefully encircled them with physical force, too. However, as the words that ‘where there is oppression, there is uprising, stated by people during 4·3 uprising are still remembered by many people, more people will rise up against bigger government oppression . The aspiration for peace would be greater.

On April 12, a big trailer advanced into a gate. For more photos, see here.

The Pan Island committee’s banner reads, “The Jeju Island government should promptly demand stop on the navy’s illegal construction!
Immediately carry out joint investigation on the ecology affect following illegal construction(destruction)!”

A Jeju activist stops a truck, April 12, 2013

Police forcefully encircling protesting activists on April 12, 2013

Photo and caption by Cho Sung-Bong (site) / The sign reads… “Police, there can be no difference between you and [the oppression force during the 4·3! At the time of 4·3, people’s public sentiments exploded! Ignoring the public opinion that cause should be healed, U.S. captain Brown (* Commander of the US military of Jeju then) killed more than 30,000 Island people, led by military and police, saying, “ I am not interested in the cause of the uprising. My mission is to crack down only.”

The content is clearly exhibited in the Peace Memorial Hall of the Jeju April 3 Peace Park.

Trucks and police were coming every 30 minutes…

(video by Pang Eun-Mi on April 12)

Photo and caption by Cho Sung-Bong/ “How can you endure this tough world without dance?,” she/he asked. You may dance if you love. For more photos by Cho Sung-Bong, see here.

People who can’t leave the gate.. photo by Cho Sung-Bong. For more photos, see here.

April 14, 2013
Company workers enforce illegal construction, blocking the gates

Update: The arrested was released in the night of April 9. See the below.

Photo sent by Fr. Kolbe Jung on April 9, 2013
Above: company workers blocking the main gate from people
Bottom: Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon, mayor Kang Dong-Kyun and people blocking the trucks. For more photos, see here.

Photo by Yange Gone on on April 8/ People blocking construction trucks.

Gangjeong has been in emergency from the early morning of April 8.

While company workers block the gates, police are intentionally silent on it. People are desperately keeping the gate. Company workers’ violence to people is very high possibilities. One young man was hit in eye glass and needed medical investigation in face on April 8. One person was arrested on the same day.

It was from the early morning of April 8, Monday, that such change in situation happened in front of the naval base construction sites in the village. During the conflicts between the people and construction company workers, Mr. Bae Gi-Chul, co-representative of the Jeju Pan Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island was arrested while he was sitting in front of a truck. He was the first arrested this year. (See the video underneath. Update: He was released in the night of April 9)

Village siren rang on April 9 following April 8.

The Jeju Pan Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island stated in April 9. See the Original Korean statement, here:

‘The navy has enforced construction in violation of the project approval conditions, such as dumping sands and stones on the sea even before the silt-protectors that have been damaged by strong rain and wind last weekend are restored. Further, large amount of earth and sands have been leaked into the sea due to the rainy weather last weekend, resulting in mud water, while the people’s criticism on the navy’s illegal construction has been bigger.

Moreover, the Jeju Island government, confirming the fact on the damage of the silt-protectors, has noticed the navy to pose maritime construction until the completion of repair on them. Despite that, the navy, enforcing construction(destruction), is oppressing the villagers and activists protesting to it, rather with mobilization of company thugs. And the police are abusing their state power, demanding people of ‘unconditional scattering,’ with neither understanding nor judgement on the people’s reason of protest.’

For more photos of protests, see here.

Illegal construction, destroying the UNESCO-designated soft coral habitats

As mentioned, illegal construction enforced with broken silt-protectors and dumped unwashed sands & stones on the sea was continued.

A Jeju media, Headline Jeju on April 8 reads:

‘It appeared that the sea area of the Beomseom (Tiger Island) designated as the government natural memorial is largely being threatened as big amount of mud water was leaked from the Jeju naval base construction site into the sea, for the strong rain and wind last weekend.

The Jeju branch of the Korean Federation for Environment Movement stated on April 8, confirming the fact that the damage of mud water reached even to the sea areas of the Beomseom and Seogun Island where soft corals inhibit in group. It would affect their ecology environment not a little. [..]

The organization stated that “Even though there was weather cast days before, the navy has had no prevention measures on it. [..]’

Photo by KFEM/ Headline Jeju, April 8, 2013: Sea water became muddy after the bad weather last weekend. Before and after.

Photo by KFEM/ Headline Jeju, April 8, 2013: Further, the broken silt protectors damaged even in their canvases function nothing, not to mention the sea water that has become muddy.

Photo by Park Inchun (Metboori Park)

Photo by Park Inchun

Come only Human beings.. photo by Park Inchun

Mr. Bae Gi-Chul, just before the arrest on April 8. The 100 peace bow music had been being played. The police threatening him to arrest under the charge of obstruction of business, finally arrest him. video by Kim Bok-Chul.

Don’t cry.. video by Kim Bok Chul on April 8.

Company worker (security) violence to people during the catholic mass from 11 am to 12:20 pm. Video by Kim Bok-Chul on April 8

People in front of 25 ton dump truck on April 9. Some people praying in front of it. Video by Kim Bok-Chul

Fr. Mun’s teared rosary prayer in front of cement mixer truck on April 9 (Video by Pang Eun-Mi)

April 9 protest (video by Peace Nomad)

Words from Felice Cohen-Joppa, US

‘Take care, friends – thinking of you all… Your courage and persistence in the face of violence, in the struggle for peace, is an inspiration that echoes around the world. Last night Jack and I went to see Arlo Guthrie in concert – celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of his late father Woody Guthrie. He invited us to sing the last song with him, loud enough so that it would reach people around the world engaged in struggle.

My Peace

Words by Woody Guthrie,

Music by Arlo Guthrie

My peace, my peace is all I’ve got that I can give to you

My peace is all I ever had that’s all I ever knew

I give my peace to green and black and red and white and blue

My peace my peace is all I’ve got that I can give to you

My peace, my peace is all I’ve got and all I’ve ever known

My peace is worth a thousand times more than anything I own

I pass my peace around and about ‘cross hands of every hue;

I guess my peace is justa ‘bout all I’ve got to give to you’

April 9, 2013
Leave us for farming!: Villagers succeed to dissipate the navy presentation on the military residential housing project

Image source: Seogwipo Daily Newspaper, March 26, 2013

“Even though the naval base construction has not been completed, the navy is again raging wind with the matter of the military residence house in the Gangjeong village. The naval base would bring lots of conflicts such as radar base, helipad, powder magazine, training facilities, military airport, and more and more military residential house projects..”

How does the navy push the projects that accompany the large size land expropriation again when the tears of the Gangjeong villagers have not been dried yet for already large size land expropriation to build the naval base!

If it is a society where the powerless’ rights are repeatedly violated, even though the land expropriation is legal by the Act on Acquisition of and Compensation for Land, ETC. for Public Works, it is a society that has lost its justice.’

(Translated quotation from the statement by the Gangjeong Village Association, March 25, 2013: Source)

In July 2012, the government expropriated 132,460 ㎡ for the whole base project land area of 277,604 ㎡. At the time, 64 among 103 landowners had refused to sell their lands to the navy.

The expropriated lands included the best floriculture export complex in Korea. The government has acknowledged the Gangjeong floriculture export complex as the best floriculture–specialized production area in 2009 and 2010-the only Jeju region that got two years’ continuous honor on it by the central government.

The expropriated complex was 49,500 ㎡, more than 42 % of the whole Gangjeong floriculture complex (115,500 ㎡). See the source. For on the matter of the injustice on the land expropriation, as a whole, please come by later.

The navy planned to hold a presentation on the military residence housing project in the KimJung Culture Hall, Seogwipo City at 5 pm on March 26, 2013, but it was dissipated again in 10 minutes by about 100 Gangjeong villagers and peace keepers who stormed into the hall.

The villagers have already dissipated its hearing on May 29 and June 15, 2012. The navy plans to build an apartment of about 616 households in the 99,500 ㎡ in the B area by 2015. For that, they planned to build 384 households first in about 594,000 ㎡ there. The B area is composed of more than 60% rice paddies and fields, the best farming field of the village.

See the source

The villagers strongly denounced the navy saying “we did not receive an official letter from you,” “It is nothing but to say that we, villagers should die if you rob of our farming lands,” “Does it make sense that the navy who has said that it would co-exist with the local residents is to trample down us again by unilaterally holding a presentation?”

Despite that, the navy made a woman to hold a mike and speak that ‘the presentation starts now,’ bringing tremendous fury from the villagers and peace keepers. Eventually, the navy could not but acknowledge that the presentation was dissipated in 10 minutes. The navy is told to have originally thought that it would finish in 30 minutes.

Image: headline Jeju, March 26, 2013/ The navy’s presentation material was torn by the villagers.

The villagers and peace keepers made a strong unity again to stop the military base to enter into their Peace Island, to inherit the descendent the nature, culture, and history of the ‘Il-Gangjeong: The best village,’ of more than 450 years old in Jeju. Watch the video made by the Peace Nomad that made it on behalf of Dungree, the video maker who was jailed on March 25. (Source)

‘It reminds me 2007 when the Gangjeong village was chosen as a naval base construction area. At the time the navy drove the naval base construction project, [falsely] asserting that the villagers decided to install it even though the navy did not have any necessary reason to do it.” [..] It is a 65^th anniversary of the 4.3 period again in a week. If the navy pushes the Jeju society with division and conflict again to enforce the military residential house in the Gangjeong village, the 4.3 spirits will never forgive them.” (Translated quotation from Prof. Shin Yong-In, Professor of the Law School, Jeju University: Source) You can see some photos of March 26 here and here. Here, two people are introduced. Here is a navy commander, Soong Moo-Jin (right in the photo)

Song Moo-Jin (left in the photo), the navy commander, employed in the naval base project appeared in the presentation on march 26.

After the Korean Presidential election on Dec. 19, 2012, some navy strategist have been (re)employed to take dividing strategies against the villagers. One of them is a man called Song Moo-Jin, who was in chrage of planning in the naval base project committee in the earlier period and now a navy commander.

He has entered the village in the beginning period of struggle, 2007 and had a role to decoy some villagers, eventually breaking the community. At the time, he was a lieutenant commander but a commander, now, after a service in the SSU (special salvation unit). His works included the followup of the Cheonan ship incident. It was coincident that the navy presentation and the 3^rd anniversary of the Cheonan ship incident was on the same day. But is it just coincident? Wasn’t the navy planning to mislead people to remind the patriotism, blah, blah?

Image source: Yonhap News, 2012/ Song Moo-Jin (left in the photo)

Video maker Dungree has made a video on his returning to the village on Jan. 24. See here. In the video, villagers are strongly criticizing him as soon as they saw he was stepping into the village. In the video, a man of dark green jumper. Song has greatly denounced by people when he sneaked into the Korean facebook called, “Gangjeong people” and made a pro-base propaganda on March 3, 2012. He was soon removed out from the group. Here is another navy.

The person in the right of the photo is a Captain Yoon Seok-Han. He was one of the representatives of the government side in the 3^rd contact group meeting on Sept. 14, 2013, during the 2012 WCC Jeju from Sept. 6 to 15, 2012. You can see his face better in the video. He was the one who made remarkable remarks that ‘it is not right that the Gangjeong village and government talk on an equal position.” It was a remark that thoroughly ignores local autonomy and democracy. ( See related Korean script)

Image source: Headline Jeju, March 26, 2013

Both men were in civilian costumes. There were no pro-base side personnel who were in the military costume. There appeared also a man from the Daelim Industry who was often it working hat and cloth.

Pro-base people after the presentation was dissipated on March 26, 2013

2. In the Gangjeong filed, the struggles by Catholic fathers and activists went on.

When most people went to the navy’s presentation for protest, Fr. Mun kept the main gate. The main gate opened again on the World Water day, March 22. The people have now to keep both gates in front of the naval base project building complexes and main gate.

Fr. Mun kept a main gate from the entry of construction trucks, March 26, 2013

Fr. Kim Jeong-Wook replaced Fr. Mun Jeong –Hyeon.

A picket made for Dungree, 4th day of his imprisonment as of March 28

The entry/exit of construction trucks went on even in the night.

March 28, 2013
POSCO is another main construction company

The Jemin Ilbo, one of the Jeju media, reported on Dec. 6, 2012 that the POSCO construction consortium received an order for the land facility construction of the 1^st work area of the Jeju naval base project, which is about 130 billion won size.

Image source:

The Posco Consortium became additional main navy-contracted companies along with the Samsung C& T that is in charge of the 1^st work area that includes the west breakwater (420 m), South breakwater(1,076 m), and accessory facilities and the Daelim Industry consortium that is in charge of mooring dock(2,235 m), east breakwater(953 m), land area formation (478,500 ㎡) and accessory facilities.

The business size is 300.7 billion won for the Samsung C & T and 202, 2 billion won for Daelim Industry.

(See the Chosun Ilbo article)

Photo taken on April 18, 2011/ The companies that join Samsung C & T in the 1st work area are:
Daewoo Construction, Deokyoung General Construction, and Maritime General Construction
The companies that join the Daelim Industry in the 2nd work area are:
Hyundae Construction, Gyeryong Construction Industry, Daeyoung Construction, Samhwan Corporation, and Beomyoung Inc.

The POSCO construction consortium includes the Jeju-based Deokyoung general construction Inc. that has received orders of three constructions related to the Jeju naval base one after another.

The POSCO consortium includes the POSCO Construction (40%), Shindongah Engineering & Construction (20%), Seohee Construction (12%), STX Construction(10%), Deokyoung General Construction (10%) and Samwhan Corp. (8%). The Deok young is the only Jeju-based corporation.

The construction is to build the office and residential buildings inside the Jeju naval base project area.

It is known that the POSCO Consortium had a fierce competition with the Daelim Industry Consortium and win over it on Dec. 4, 2012. You can see some disgusting so called eco-friendly map pictures of landscape architectures designed by the Jteng Co that joins the POSCO here

Regarding Deokyoung General Construction, it is known that it received the order for the 1^st work area of the harbor and bay construction in the Jeju naval base project area(outer area construction)-which is about 310 billion won size- in 2009, joining the Samsung C & T Consortium with 5 % share.

It also received an order on naval base related construction one after another by receiving order on the construction on the 2^nd work area of the land facility of the Jeju naval base, which is about 82 billion won size, by joining the Hyundae Construction Consortium, with 10% share, last September.

Photo and caption by Inchun Mpark on March 19, 2013/ ‘A villager, riding an auto bicycle, comes to the naval base project building complex every morning and appeals to the people inside the complex to please show his land inside the project area. But he is turned away every time.’

The last tomb inside the project area was moved out.

In the dawn of March 19, the last tomb of a villager’s ancestor was moved to the outside the naval base project area. While many villagers’ ancestors’ tombs have been moved, the villager, Mr. Lee, has been the one who has persisted to keep it in its original place. It is told that there was a traditional ceremony when the tomb was moved this dawn.

March 21, 2013
Villagers’ battle against the military residential housing project will re-start

The Jeju Sori reported on March 5, 2013 that the planned land area for the military residential house for the Jeju naval base project was changed. The navy has originally planned to build it in the E area (violet part in the northwest, in the map) but recently changed to the B area (pale blue part in the south, in the map) as the villagers in the E area have strongly opposed it.

Map source: Jeju Sori, March 5, 2013

According to the article, the companies who received layout order from the navy have originally chosen the E area as the best to build the apartments of more than 600 households as the area is adjacent to an about 100,000 ㎡ road. The navy plans to build a large size apartment complex that can accommodate 616 households in 99,500 ㎡ area by 2015, the planned year for the completion of the Jeju naval base project.

Another benefit of the E area for the navy has been there are no houses that should be demolished.

However, the protests by the villagers who have lands in the E area have been strong. The villagers there refused to sell their lands to the navy. The Gangjeong villagers including those in the E area have already dissipated the navy’s presentation on the military residential house project on May 29 and June 15, 2012.

On the contrary, the B area is where many pro-base villagers (about 25~20 % of the whole village population) reside. It is a west south area that starts from the Gangjeong elementary school to the Gangjeong port. A road is located between the area and naval base project area.

Gangjeong elementary school/ The photo was taken on a rainy day, March 17, 2013

Photo: A road from the elementary school to the port

The article says the difficulty of the B area for the navy is there are relatively more vinyl houses than in the E area so the navy should be burdened by compensation land purchase costs.

The navy plans to hold again the presentation on the military residential building in the E area within March (around March 26), 2013.

The villagers’ struggle to stop the navy’s military residential housing project will be hot again in coming days.

Source: Go Gwon-Il (Original: ROK navy)/ the navy’s disgusting picture of the village in the future that is to be transformed by the naval base project.

March 19, 2013