Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

Tag: base design

  • Villagers state on Island Council exposure and step for legal suit against the Island governor

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong, in his photo essay, Nov. 20, 2012. For contents, see No. 3

     

    1. People’s Nov. 20 statement on the exposure of the Island Council on Nov. 19

    ( Translated. Original Korean statement can be seen here)

     

    Title: The ruling and opposition parties should cut the whole 2013 budget for the Jeju naval base project as the decision on drive for the Jeju naval base project by the national policy control meeting turned out to be a clear fabrication!

    In the inspection by the Administrative Self-Governing Committee of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Island Provincial Council yesterday on Nov. 19, it was confirmed again that the government has doctored the meeting results of the technical verification committee to finish the committee’s technical verification committee report in the earlier period without design change and construction stop, thanks to the testimony by Prof Kim Gil-Sou who has participated as a member of the technical verification committee managed by the Office of Prime Minister. It was also exposed that there were models of 4tug boats not two boats in the 2nd simulation of which the report was made public by the Office of Prime minister. Further it was also exposed that the report was not the technical verification committee officially acknowledged but a mere reference.’

    The Office of Prime Minister has officially taken the 2nd report, asserting its basis that it was manifested following the recommendation by the technical verification committee. However, it turned out that the 2nd simulation report is clearly a fabrication in content and procedure.

    Therefore the decision to drive construction by the national policy control meeting on Feb. 29, 2012, which was held based on the report, is regarded as not valid from the origin, too. In detail, the decision of the national policy control meeting came out based on the 2nd simulation report and was concluded on the premise that it is guaranteed for 150,000 ton cruise to enter/ exit of port and to safely come alongside the pier. The premise was conditioned though, that west jetty dock is structured into the changeable and navigation route is changed by 30 degree angle. As the very basis of the decision turned out to be fabrication, the decision by the national policy control meeting can not be established as valid any more.

    It was also confirmed that three dimension modeling on the harbor and bay set up in the 2nd simulation was processed borrowing the harbor and bay model established in the 1st simulation. It is a serious reason of disqualification because even though the 2nd simulation is a test formed on the premise of 30 degree angle navigation route, it directly borrowed the area-detailed basic resource for the case of 77 degree angle (vicinity of navigation route, current, wind direction and wind speed). Because it is a test processed even without investigation on the area-detailed geographical and natural conditions in the vicinities of  the 30 degree angle navigation route, it is a test that lost even the value as a report.

    The matter is that there is a great concern that the revival of the 3rd simulation agreed between the Jeju Island government and Office of Prime Minister could be processed, borrowed of three dimension model used in the 1st and 2nd simulation. It is told that it takes six months only for collection of the area-detailed basic resource and for composition on the three dimension model for targeted ships and harbor & bay. Therefore, given the current situation, there is a high possibility [for the Prime Minister and Island government] to borrow the 1st and 2nd simulation models for the 3rd simulation,

    However, we claim that the test lay-out should be inevitably carried out on the ground of clearly collected area-detailed basic resources to take fair and objective verification that the Jeju island government has emphasized many times. Also the researchers who led the 2nd simulation that was proved out to be fabrication should be excluded in the selection of the researchers to join the tests. It is because objectivity and fairness cannot be secured if the tests are processed by re-employing the scholars who have abandoned their consciousness.

    [To conclude] the 2013 budget of the Jeju naval base project (Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty) of which only re-verification would take at least six months should be righteously cut.

    Thereupon, we demand like the below.

    Accepting the inspection result by the Administrative Self-Governing Committee of the Island Council yesterday(Nov 19), Governor Woo should revoke his position on the pass of the Jeju naval base budget and declare the demand on objective and fair simulation.

    We request the Island Council to deliver the inspection result of the Administrative Self-Governing Committee and to make efforts for the 2013 Jeju naval base budget to be wholly cut.

    To realize stop on construction and re-examination on project that Moon Jae-In, Presidential candidate has pledged, the Democratic United Party should not make any concession regarding the principle of budget cut before fair and objective verification

    Finally, the Saenuri party should agree with the whole budget cut for the 2013 Jeju naval base project , bearing in mind that it would be the critical elements in executing the national policy project to lose people’s trust on the Government and National Assembly to allocate budget for the project that does not secure fairness and objectivity such as of procedural flaws and in which unjust behavior such as layout flaws and unreliable construction would be confirmed.

    Nov. 20, 2012

    Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island (26 groups), National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups)

     

    2. Villagers steps for legal suit on the reclamation matter

    ( Korean language reference: See here)

    Regarding the Island government’s license of the navy on the reclamation on public water and its surface in the Jeju naval base project (so called Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty, the Gangjeong village entered for legal step on Nov. 20. The Gangjeong village delivered to the Island governor its application letter on the demand of the cancellation of the navy on the license on the reclamation on public water and its vicinity surface, demanding the governor to reply on his acceptance or denial of it by Dec. 5, 2012. The village said that if the Island governor rejects the application by the village or does not reply to the villagers by the defined date, it would enter the procedure on the lawsuit for the cancellation on the denial disposal on application, based on the law on the administrative lawsuit.

    On Oct. 22, 2012, the village has made public if Woo Keun-Min, Island governor does not cancel the navy of the license on the reclamation on the public surface and its water by Nov. 7, it would inquire him civilian and criminal responsibility for it.

    Reminder: The Navy Headquarter got the reclamation license on the public water and its vicinity surface from the Busan Regional Maritime Port Affairs and Port Office, without submission of diagnosis report on the date of March 3rd, 2010. It is an act that the Office permitted the reclamation license for the law-violating project, which is unlawful. Otherwise, the right to permission and cancellation on the reclamation construction on the public water and its vicinity surface was handed over from the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime affairs to the Jeju Island in September, 2011.

    (See also Headline Jeju, Nov. 20, 2012 강정마을회, 제주도에 해군기지 매립면허 취소 요구)

     

    3. Illegal destruction of the Gureombi Rock  in violation of the EIA

     

    Translation of photo essay by Cho Sung-Bong on Nov. 20, 2012. See original Korean language version, here:

    ‘According to the ‘Agreed Contents of Environmental Impact Assessment,’regarding the Jeju naval base project, it reads that double-layers of silt-protectors should be installed during the maritime construction and use of Fall Pipes and land washing of sands and stones during the input of them into the sea should be carried out.

    However, construction(destruction) is being done with nothing above  is observed.

    Even though scattered dusts and maritime contamination have spread far wide, yet no measures have been taken.

    The article 26 of the law on the Environment Impact Assessment reads that ‘matter on the performance on agreed contents should be confirmed and necessary measures should be taken for the performance of it when agreed contents were not carried out.”

     

     

    4. Night time protest with the resumption of night time entry/exit of construction vehicles.

    Around 11 pm, Nov 20. it is common to be like this every night during night protest. But people don’t lose hope and optimism
    Around 11:20 pm Nov 20. Today small tower of stones. The police took away people’ stuffs of lumbers, bicycles, and other materials this evening. But people’s imagination will be unlimited. Tonight the police threw down all the stones, too, during their roughing out. so people built the stone tower again. it will be again and again over night.
    Around 3:30 am, Nov. 20, Police take away stones then the people will build the stone tower again. people are building stone tower repeatedly and the police are destroying them repeatedly, too.
    Around 7:30 am, Nov 21, People’s recovered tower, after police roughing out of them.

  • Technical verification committee member’s exposure: Lies on the simulation report by the Prime Minister Office were clearly revealed in the Island Council inspection.

    Photo source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 19, 2012(above) and Media Jeju, Nov. 19, 2012(below)/ They are the scenes of  movie on simulation on the cruise entry/ exit of port in the Jeju naval base project (So called Civilian-Military Complex port for Tour Beauty). In the scenes, it is possible for cruise to come alongside the pier only by the support of four tug boats, which exposes that the Office of Prime Minister has thoroughly lied and hid on the matter. The movie was open to public by an Island Council member, Park Won-Chul, during the Island Council inspection session on Nov. 19, 2012. The Office of Prime Minister, ignoring the opinions by the technical committee, has adopted the report based on such newly lie-exposed simulation.  The simulation had been requested by the Ministry of National Defense to the Korea Maritime University through the Samsung C & T, which resulted in the Feb. 23, 2012 report. To see the contents on it, see No. 2

     

    1. Budget talk was postponed again. Pressures on the members of the National Assembly, including those of Budget and Balance committee should be increased.

     

    On Nov. 19, budget talk was postponed again because of gap between the parties but possibility of vote was implied, which may bring the ruling party’s forceful sole disposal on budget.

    The talk in the National Defense committee of the National Assembly on the 201 billion won of the 2013 Jeju naval base budget was postponed again following Nov. 7-8, 12 and 16.

    The general meeting of the National Defense committee could not even talk on the Jeju naval base budget because of gap between the parties. The ruling party insists the pass of budget as the original (or at least partical cut) but the DP insisted the whole cut.

    The chairman ( Ryu Seung-Min, ruling Saenuri Party) and coordinators ( Han Ki-Ho, Saenuri Party and Ahn Kyu-Baek, Democratic United Party) of the committee decided to hold a meeting again prior to the day’s general meeting but the concrete schedule was not decided yet. If gap between the parties is not to be narrowed, there is a possibility of vote that was mentioned by the chairman of the committee on Nov. 19.

    If vote is enforced, there is a possibility of the Saenuri party’s forceful sole disposal, excluding the DP, [if the DP opposes the vote itself.] that will bring the creeping and clash in the committee. The proportion of the committee is 9 from the Saenuri Party, 7 from the DP, and 1 of independent among the total 17 committee members.

    If the proposal on the Jeju naval base is to be passed by the National Defense committee, it will be examined again by the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly (whose schedule is not known yet) that will bring final result probably by the end of December, which is after December 19 Presidential election . The whole numbers of the Budget and Balance committee members  are 51.

    Continuous pressure on the members of the National Defense and Budget and Balance committees will be important.

    Protest against the Jeju naval base project, Gangjeong village, Nov. 19, 2012/ The sign reads, “Cut the whole 200.9 billion won of the 2013 Jeju naval base project!’

     

    2. Important exposure in the Island Council inspection: Construction should be stopped and budget should be cut as total lies by the Office of Prime Minister were clearly proved out.

     

    Meanwhile on the same day, important testimony by a member of the [base design-] technical verification committee meeting (Prof. Kim Gil-Soo, Korea Maritime University) and simulation screening that shockingly exposed government lies were held in the Island provincial council (Administrative self-governing committee) during its inspection on the Promotion Committee on the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty.

    Related to budget matter, the Island council inspection clearly proves out that the remark by the Office of Prime Minister that it would hold simulation ‘show‘, accepting the demand by the Island government, is only an excuse to appropriate budget on base project next year, shutting down all the critiques on its enforcement of naval base construction.

    The main testimony by Prof. Kim Gil-Soo was that: The report on the result of the 2nd simulation by the Office of Prime Minister [on Feb. 23] is different from the proper position of the technical verification committee (on the entry/exit of 150,000 cruises in the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty project) who adopted its proposal in its 4th meeting on Feb.14, after its session from January 26 to February 14.

    It was also ‘confirmed’ that the Feb. 23, 2012 report that had been ordered by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) through Samsung C & T was adopted as a simulation verification report by the Office of prime Minister. The villagers have raised a big suspicion on it in March 27, 2012. See here.

     

    Reference: It is useful to remind that

    1. The President Lee Myung Bak declared to enforce the Jeju naval base project in the 4th anniversary of his inauguration on Feb. 22, 2012)

    2. Based on the above Feb. 23 simulation report, on Feb. 29, 2012, the Office of Prime Minister claimed in its nation policy control meeting that the Lee Myung Bak government has made a final decision in September, 2008, to build the Jeju naval base as the civilian-military Complex Port for Tour Beauty where the civilian and military co-exist together. The remark by the Office of Prime Minister was criticized by the critics for distortion of facts because it added that the port had been built ‘as the Jeju naval base by the agreement from the villagers in 2007.’ There has been no agreement by the majority of villagers on the project whatever it was named. Additionally when the base building was first decided under the Ex-Roh Moo-Hyun government, it was under a cover called ‘civilian-military PORT OF CALL,’ not the ‘civilian-military Complex PORT for Tour Beauty, ‘ a new cover under the Lee Myung-Bak government (refer to Cheong Wooksik, Oct. 25, 2012)

    3. The first simulation by the Ministry of National Defense(navy) was in 2009.

    Finally, it was confirmed that, with the current base design, it is not easy even for military vessels, not to mention cruise, to enter and exit port. There have been numerous investigations by people themselves on it that back such confirmation.  One of them is by the villagers themselves. Watch the video here.
    Photo: Jeju Sori, Nov. 19, 2012/ Prof. Kim Gil-Sou, a member of the technical verification committee formed under the Office of Prime Minister on Jan. 26, 2012,  has been recommended as a member of the committee by the Jeju Island. He is also a member of the civilian verification task force team of the Jeju Island.

     

    The focus of the Island Council inspection on the base design were:

    Whether there was a pressure by the Office of Prime Minister  on the committee’s discussion result, also related to the 150 billion won mentioned to be needed for change of base design

    Whether the 2nd simulation report by the Office of Prime Minister properly reflects the position of the technical verification committee

    Whether the base was originally designed solely for naval base

    Whether the base fits even for military vessels, not to mention 150,000 ton cruise

    During the National Assembly inspection on the government offices, there has been a suspicion that has been strongly raised that the Office of Prime Minister pressured the committee to adopt the result report for the base design not to be changed.

    Here is the rearranged translation of the Jeju media, mostly from the Headline Jeju.

     

    Photo: Headline Jeju, Nov. 19, 2012/ Island Council members, Park Joo-Hee and Park Won-Chul

     

    ◇ “From the beginning, the design was not for the civilian-military complex port.”

    Prof. Kim Gil-Sou pointed out that there were problems in the simulation data by the Ministry of National Defense in the beginning.

     

    Question by Park Joo-Hee, Island Council member:

    In the meeting minutes, the members of the technical verification committee, recommended by the Island Council to be the members of the committee, lastly asked to the navy personnel in charge of simulation, pointing out ‘Why is it that the simulation data of wind speed 15 knot while it should be set up to 27 knot’ and ‘navigation route is wrong.’ And there was the remark by the navy personnel that ‘It is because it is hard for cruise to enter[the port] if the data is set up to 27 knot.’

    Does it mean that the base design was not for the civilian-military complex port from the beginning?

    Answer by Prof. Kim Gil-Sou, technical verification committee member

    “We understand so. But I don’t know how the navy considers it.”

    Question by Park Joo-Hee

    “Given the contents of the 4th meeting minutes, it can be seen there was an outside pressure from the Office of Prime Minister. There appear remarks such as that the verification matter should be finalized in the early period.”

    Answer by Prof. Kim Gil-Sou

    “(The measure to finalize the matter quickly) has been maintained from the start to the end.”

     

    ◇ “There was no outside pressure. But [the committee members] must have felt such mood in the meetings.”

     

    Question by Park Won-Chul

    “Was there outside pressure from the chairman of the technical verification committee (on Chairman, Jeon Joon-Soo, please see here) and the Office of Prime Minister?

    Answer by Prof. Kim Gil-Sou

    “It was the chairman who worried about the possibility of construction stop and made remark on it. It became clear in the 4th meeting that the most worrisome thing for those was on the possibility of construction stop. We sensed that Office of Prime Minister was afraid of the possibility of construction stop if something advantageous to the Jeju [Island government] is brought on in the verification meeting.”

    Question by Park Won-Chul

    “Is it proper for us to see the reason that the Office of Prime Minister avoids construction stop is because the port has been designed ONLY as a naval base and there would be additional design costs [if the design is changed]? Is it proper for us to see that the chairman of the verification committee was clearly aware of that part, given many problems [in the design]?”

    Remark by Park Joo-Hee

    “There was a pressure from the Office of Prime Minister. It is confirmed.”

    Answer by Prof. Kim Gil-Sou

    “There was no outside pressure. But [the committee members] must have felt the mood in the meetings.”

     

    ◇ “ The 2nd simulation report by the Ministry of National Defense(MND) is not [the committee’s] proper report.”

     

    The next questions were related to the MND’s submission of 2nd simulation report on Feb. 23, as soon as the technical verification committee adopted its result report on Feb. 14.

    On the question of Prof. Kim’s view on the matter that the Samsung ordered works on simulation already before the the committee’s adoption of  its own report, here are Prof. Kim’s answers.

    Answer by Prof. Kim

    “We did not acknowledge the [Samsung report]. At first, we thought it is for a new simulation but we found later that [the Office of Prime Minister] was to replace [ours] to it, which had already been ordered in December.

    “(During the meeting) the government personnel asked us to hear the MND 2nd simulation. When we said we would not do that, they asked us again to take it as reference material. It was not our proper document. However, the government personnel changed their words later. They say as if we, the technical verification committee acknowledged it, but it is TOO WRONG. The committee has NEVER officially acknowledged it. That is why we have continuously claimed on correct simulation. Correct simulation has to be done even from now on.”

     

    ◇ Cruises can barely come alongside the pier only with the support by four (not two) tug boats

    The central and Island government have argued each other on the ‘show’ of simulation, on the supposition that 150,000 ton cruise can safely come alongside the pier with the support of two tug boats of 3,500 horse power.

    However, in the 2nd simulation movie made public during the Island Council inspection by Park Won-Chul, Island Council member, there are scenes that a cruise ship barely comes alongside the pier supported by  four tug boats.

    Given the movie, it is confirmed that the simulation was carried on with four tug boats during the entry/exit of cruise in all cases in the conditions of wind speed 27 knot and west part jetty harbor as the changeable.

    However in the MND report on the result of simulation verification, it recommends to operate two tug boats with 3500 HP in case of more than 24 knot wind speed in the south breakwater; and to rearrange harbor structure and operate two 3500 HP all the time so that it would relieve psychological pressure of using jetty dock when big cruise is operated in the west breakwater (conditioned by maximum 27 knot of wind speed)

    Prof. Kim Gil-Sou stated watching the movie. “It is not common that four tug boats follow cruise.” He also stated that it is for the first time he got to know it.

    According to him,

    “ Since the size of water surface area of cruise is big, it is impossible for cruise to come alongside the pier without four tug boats in the condition of wind speed 27 knot or more. When I pointed out that the entry of cruise would be difficult in the condition of a jetty dock in the west breakwater, [the design of the jetty dock] was changed to the changeable. However, changeable dock is very difficult to build from the point of view of harbor and bay engineering technology. The reason that it was changed to the changeable is because the (government and navy0 wanted to maintain its original purpose (construction without  base design change)

    Park Joo-Hee, Island Council member said, “ The Island government should be furious together on the objectively proved out facts today that; The tug boats are four not two; it was originally a design purely for naval base; It takes additional 150 billion won to change the design; even military vessels are difficult for entry and exit/and  the chairman of the committee remarked that there should be no construction stop.” She demanded construction stop and space for true discussion by the Island people.

    Park Won-Chul also demanded construction stop pointing out that there have been as much as 22 cases of violations of the license regulation of Public waters Act (the law on the reclamation on the public water and its vicinity surface )since last October , which have not been properly asked of responsibilities with charges. Park also demanded thorough measure against unreliable caisson production of which seven have been demanded by last typhoons through fact checks

     

    3. Still 24 night time entry/exit of construction trucks resumed in 10 days on Nov. 19

    The night time entry/exit of construction vehicles that started on Oct. 25 has been posed since Nov. 10, 2010. For the background of it, see here. On Nov. 19, the nightmare of 24 hour police mobilization and 24 hour people protest started again.

    Around 9am. Nov. 19, 2012/ Protesters blocking construction trucks
    Around 2:30 pm, Nov. 19, 2012/The construction companies poured down dirty water toward outside gate. The dirty water flew into the Gangjeong stream, one of the absolute preservation areas along with the Joongdeok coast to which the Gureombi Rock belongs.
    Around 2:30 pm, Nov. 19, 2012/ Dirty water from the naval base project committee building complex flows into the Gangjeong stream.
    Photo by Dolgorae Goon, Nov. 17, 2012/  Such crime like above happened on Nov. 17, Saturday, too.  For many more photos on the day, click here.
    Photo by Carol Rekinger/ Around 11pm, Nov. 19, 2012. For many more photos, click  here.
    Photo by Carol Rekinger/ Around 11pm, Nov. 19, 2012. For many more photos, click  here.
    Photo by Yange Gone/ Around 3am, Nov. 20, 2012. Sleepless people
    Photo by Lee Woo Ki/ Around 5am, Nov. 20, 2012.  Protestors barely sleep between police roughing out of them.

    ……………………………………………

    Reference:

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122762
    결과도 조작하는데, 시뮬레이션 다시 한들 믿을수 있나
    2012.11.20 13:25:50

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=36479
    해군기지 크루즈 시뮬레이션 ‘엉터리’ 확인
    예인선 2척 아닌 4척…군함용 설계 불구 짜맞추기 행자위 행감서 동영상 공개 …김길수 교수 증언도
    2012.11.19 19:26:01

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165252
    제주해군기지 ‘거짓말’ 들통…”애초 민군복합항 아니었다”
    총리실 기술검증위 참여 김길수 교수, 도의회 출석 반박 증언
    ‘2차 시뮬레이션 보고서’?…’외압’?…’예인선 4척’?
    2012.11.19 18:35:16

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122721
    총리실 크루즈 입출항 조작지시 의혹 사실로
    [행감] 총리실 검증위원 김길수 교수 참고인 출석 “시뮬레이션 보고서 인정 못해”
    2 012.11.19 17:19:13

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122706
    총리실 검증위원 제주도의회서 무슨 말할까?
    2012.11.19 13:38:12
    [행감] 한국해양대 김길수 교수 참고인 출석…박원철 의원, 삼성물산 시뮬레이션 CD 입수

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122722
    정부, 15만톤 크루즈 예인선 2척 필요도 ‘거짓말’
    2012.11.19 17:29:25

    http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=136790
    “15만톤급 크루즈 선박 시뮬레이션, 처음부터 허구였다”
    박원철 의원 해군기지 입출항 시뮬레이션 동영상 최초 공개 … 예선 4척 사용 확인
    2012.11.19 16:41:55

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165256
    국회 ‘제주해군기지 예산’ 처리 연기…막바지 표결처리?
    유승민 “쟁점 합의안되면 표결로라도 처리”
    과반의석 확보 새누리 단독 처리 가능성도
    2012.11.19 19:50:50

  • Island governor sides with the navy on budget despite suspicious breakwater construction before simulation


    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ The 14th caisson. Despite the Island governor’s demand to the navy on Oct. 30 to stop the input of caisson on the sea until the finish of simulation on 150,000 ton cruise, the navy thoroughly ignores that. The navy-contracted company, Samsung C & T moved the 14th 8,800 ton caisson from the Hwasoon port to Gangjeong sea on Nov. 15. See more photos by Cho, here.

     

    During both days of Nov. 16 and 17, issues regarding the budget on the Jeju navy base project were hot, especially with the Island governor’s request to the visiting Democratic United Party members to pass the budget on subsidiary condition. The villagers criticized on it with statement (see its translation on No.3). This article is a summary of four subjects during both days.

    The four subjects are:

    1. Even no discussion: National Assembly discussion on budget was postponed again because of gap between the parties.
    2. Controversy on the matter of fair simulation
    3. Island governor, Woo Keun-Min, sides with the navy. Villagers criticize his will to pass the budget
    4. Suspicion on the navy’s enforcement of breakwater construction before simulation is raised.
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    1. Even no discussion: National Assembly discussion on budget was postponed again because of gap between the parties.

     The Jeju media report:

    The National Defense committee of the ROK National Assembly had the plan to hold the 3rd Budget and Balance sub-committee meeting in the morning of Nov. 16. It was to talk on the direction on the disposal on the 200.966 billion won budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2013. However the committee could not even discuss on it.

    The Budget and Balance sub-committee has had the meetings on Nov. 7 to 8 and Nov. 12 but those have been with no result as the parties could only confirm different positions between them.

    The National Defense Committee plans to have its general meeting on Nov. 19, Monday, and will try to reach to an agreement. If it is without result again, it will consider on opening the Budget and Balance sub-committee again.

    In the Nov. 19 meeting, talks on the Jeju naval base and inspection on K2 tank will be talked.

    The biggest reason that the disposal on the Jeju naval base budget has met difficulty is because of big gap between the ruling and opposition parties.

    The ruling Saenuri Party (New Frontier party) is insisting its position to pass the budget as the original proposal by the Defense Acquision Program Administration (DAPA). However the Democratic United Party (DP, afterward), the main opposition party has different opinions of whole cut, part cut and conditional pass within the party.

    The National Assembly has cut 96% (127.8 billion won) of 132.7 billion budget last year. However, unused budget of about 107 billion won in 2011 was transferred to 2012 with law-evasive way.

    How you can help? Please pressure as seen in No. 2 of here. The pressure works.

     

    2. Controversy on the matter of fair simulation

    Otherwise, regarding the decision by the Office of Prime Minister on Nov. 15 that it would ‘show’ (not ‘verification) on the simulation of 150,000 ton cruises, accepting the request by the Jeju island government, anti-base groups criticized on it on Nov. 16, saying, “The [Office’s] acceptance on simulation means that the Office acknowledges itself that there was problem on the trust matter in the 2nd simulation.”

    The groups including the Gangjeong Village Association, Pan-Island and National Organizing Committees  to stop the Jeju naval base, criticized that the Prime Minister Office’s acceptance of simulation is merely to pass the budget on the naval base project.

    The groups also said:

    “However, the limitations in the conditions of simulation that the Jeju Island government and Office of Prime Minister agree with each other are too clear to clarify on the citizens’ suspicions on the safety of the navigation by 150,000 ton cruises . The Jeju Island government has asked simulations on five types but the Office reduced them into two because the Office hard pressured the Island government to concede it.

    The groups also pointed out:

    “Among the three researchers in the ‘show’ team, two are recommended by the Government. Further one of them, Lee Yoon-Suk, professor of Maritime University has already brought serious controversy on objectivity and fairness matters in his order of service in the second simulation [of which the report came out on Feb. 23, 2012].”

     

    Reference:

    On July 18, 2012, the Jeju-based or origin four National Assembly members of Kang Chang-Il, Kim U-Nam, and Jan Hana (All DP) have raised an issue that the 2nd simulation on the control of ships, which should be based on observing regulations, has not been properly carried out. The four members pointed out that there are serious flaws in the 2nd simulation and demanded the Government and navy temporary stop of construction and observance on the National Assembly subsidiary opinion in 2011.

    In October, 2011, the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base project that belonged to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly recommended to the Government to “verify on the matter of free entry/exit of port for two 150,000 cruises through the specialized 3rd institute in need. However, the Ministry of National Defense unilaterally carried out simulation and made public the 2nd report in February 23, 2012.

    Otherwise, the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs submitted its opinion statement to the four members around July that it is desirable to carry on simulation again because there is a great risk of danger by occurrence of accident, with the low variables given in the 2nd simulation scenario.

    (See the Korean language Hankyoreh article on July 18, 2012)

     

    3. Island governor Woo Keun-Min sides with the navy. Villagers criticize his will to pass the  budget

    Four members of the Democratic United Party, belong to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly visited Woo Keun-Min, Island governor in the afternoon of Nov. 16. The four members are Park Min-Soo, Yang Seung-Jo, Choi Min-Hee and Choi Jae-Sung.

    The total number of the members in the Budget and Balance Committee is 51. Among them, 21 belong to the DP.

    To people’s indignation, the Island governor Woo asked the DP members to pass the budget on the condition that they stipulate the ‘subsidiary opinion’ of the National assembly last year. To be concrete, he suggested to stipulate that ‘[the Government] execute budget on the premise that the recommended items by the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base under the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly last year to be carried out in substance.” (For detail, see the reference in the below)

    Hearing the governor, the four members promised to the governor that they would actively support for the proposed items by the Jeju Island governor in the National Assembly. However, it is still uncertain for the DP as the party has taken construction stop and re-examination of project as the party opinion since April 11 general election, despite its recent being stirred regarding budget.

    Source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 16, 2012. Governor Woo (right in the photo) asked four visiting members of DP belong to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly to pass the budget on naval base on Nov. 16, 2012.

     

    Here is the villagers’ statement refuting on the governor’s such behavior (translated from the original Korean statement):

     

    Why does Island governor, Woo Keun-Min represent the interest of navy?

    Island Governor Woo has finally revealed his hidden intention.

    While he has shown his shifting attitude many times such as in the hearing on the navy in May when he was even seem to consider to make order the navy to stop construction, [on Nov. 16] he requested to [the visiting four DP members] to pass the budget [on the Jeju naval base project] with subsidiary conditions as the budget got brake in the National Assembly.

    It has been clearly turned out that the Jeju naval base is a project that would make the Jeju Island to be militarized with the posturing cover of civilian-military complex. The proof is that it is conditioned that ships’ entry and exit of port is only possible under the permission of jurisdiction unit commander in the revision on the enforcement order on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act. It has also been exposed that the CNFK (Commander of US Navy Forces of Korea) has demanded the layout possible for nuclear aircraft carrier to come alongside the pier and it has been accepted in building of it.

    Through exposed meeting minutes by the technical verification committee under the Minister of Prime Office, we could also confirm the will of the Government who is to drive the project without base design change. The Prime Minister office accepted the joint simulation show to merely pass the naval base budget next year in its hidden intention. It is the calculation of timing that it is to that extent only once the National Assembly passes budget biting the [government acceptance] of simulation verification that could be done only next year.

    Combining all those situations. it is clear that the ROK Government neither concerns with the interest of the Jeju Island nor the public sentiment of the Island people. It is mad only to drive for military base project, hammering away to ignore even the position of the Jeju Island that is stepping toward international tourism site and whose role of bridge in the international civilian diplomacy is being promoted.

    Meanwhile the Jeju naval base project committee has enforced construction (destruction) hourly ignoring the demands by the Island governor. As if deriding his words that there should NOT be breakwater construction before verification, it is enforcing actual breakwater construction by stationing caisson, only without sands filled inside, and processing reclamation in the Metboori (* east tip of the project area) for the construction of breakwater shore protection. (See the below)

    In such situation, governor Woo demanded to the National Assembly to pass the 2013 Jeju naval base budget when the Office of Prime Minister agreed with re-revelation on simulation, which is not re-verification. Even though he says he conditioned that the budget should be executed under proper verification, there is no reason that Island governor demand to pass the budget since the budget that might be passed by then purely comes from the Ministry of National Defense, not from the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs.

    Why does governor Woo demand the budget from the Ministry of National Defense?

    Is he entirely forgetting that he is the governor of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Island?

    Is he naively expecting that the navy would step for proper verification if it is allocated with budget?

    Why is he requesting to pass the budget in prior to a proper simulation while the navy could be re- allocated with special budget after it as it wants?

    Finally it was proved out that the Island governor Woo Keun-Min has no concern with whether the Jeju naval base would be a proper civilian-military complex port for Tour Beauty or not; and whether the Island people would get any damage from it or not. We don’t need Island governor who takes the lead as the representative of the navy and save only the interest of Samsung and Daelim.

    Nov. 17. 2012

    Gangjeong Village Association

    Reference:

    On Nov. 7, 2011, the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base project under the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly stipulated two recommendation items when they adopted its activity report.

    The first was the recommendation to revise the enforcement decree on the Port Act and Enforcement Decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act and to conclude on the protocol on the joint use on the civilian-military harbor and bay, so that there should be no worry that the Jeju naval base would be operated centered on military port.

    The second is a fair simulation on the possibility of entry & exit by 150,000 ton cruises

    The revision on the decree has been carried out on June 29 while the talks on the conclusion on the protocol is still being processed and there remains the matter of simulation verification. The Jeju Island expects the simulation period at the end of December or January, next year.

    Otherwise, beside budget, governor Woo requested supports on other budgets. Among them, one of the noticeable is request for service work on the ‘basic plan to form the global environmental herb,’ which is for smooth drive of following measure after the 2012 WCC (0.7 billion won)

    (Translated: See the Jeju Sori on Nov. 16, here)

     

    4. Suspicion on the navy’s enforcement of breakwater construction before simulation is raised.

     

    On Oct. 18, 2012, Governor Woo has declared to the villagers in the talk meeting with them that he would ‘stop the breakwater construction in the Gangjeong Sea without fail’ even though it is difficult for him to order construction stop before simulation.”

    On May 1, 2012, even Park Geun-Hye, the daughter of military dictatorship and Presidential runner of the ruling conservative Saenuri Paty said that simulation verification has to be prior to construction on break water. See the Korean article on it here.

    However, the village has raised suspicion on Nov. 17 that the construction being done in the Metboori coast(in the east tip of the naval base project area) could be breakwater construction.

    Source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 17, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong Village Association)/ Construction in the Metboori coast (east tip of the project area). In the map, the spot is marked with red color,  planned to be the east breakwater shore protection. The current construction on the spot  raises a suspicion that the navy is enforcing construction on breakwater by reclaiming land from the sea before simulation verification.  For more photos by Cho Sung-Bong, see here. The east part is also for docks for submarines and small ships.

     

    Given the photos by movie director Cho Sung-Bong, the sands and stones being put into the sea are in violation of the EIA. Those should be put into the sea after the washing process on the land. There is no washing facility for sands and stones inside the construction area and those coming from the field are directly put into the sea.”

    “The biggest problem is that substantial breakwater construction is being done. Given the photo (above), it is the area spot being reclaimed from the Metboori coast to the sea, along the silt protectors. This area belongs to the east breakwater shore protection ( * in charge of Daelim) and outer facilities on the base layout map.”  See the construction map here.

    “ not only that, the navy is processing the substantial construction on the west and south breakwaters, too, by stationing caissons. By when will the Island government on-look companies’ such law-evasive construction.

    Source: Headline Jeju, Nov. 17, 2012/ Working ships to station caissons to build west breakwater.
    Source: Headline Jeju, Nov. 17, 2012/ Working ships to station caissons to build southbreakwater.

     

    ………………………………………………..

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165031
    국방위, 제주해군기지 예산 진통…또 다시 처리 연기
    예산소위서 결론 못내…19일 전체회의서 이견조율
    2012.11.16 12:25:18

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122626
    제주해군기지 예산 진통, 19일 전체회의서 논의
    2012.11.16 11:54:40

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165052
    강정-범대위 “총리실 시뮬레이션, 공정한 검증 이뤄져야”
    “총리실 수용은 객관성과 공정성 문제 스스로 인정한 것”
    2012.11.16 15:16:55

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122634
    제주해군기지 시뮬레이션, 공정성 논란 고개
    2012.11.16 14:40:00

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122562
    시뮬레이션 준비만 4~6주…올해 불가능할 듯
    2012.11.15 10:34:53

    (http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/area/543194.html
    “해군기지 2 차 시뮬레이션 중대 오류”
    제주 출신 국회의원, 공사 중단 요구
    국토부”선박 출입때 사고 위험 커”
    2012.07.18 19:25

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165050
    국회 예결위 의원들 제주 방문, 예산요청 사안 현장확인
    민주당 소속 의원 4명…우 지사와 면담
    2012.11.16 15:00:30

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165112
    ‘제주해군기지 예산’ 조건부 통과 건의에 강력 반발
    강정마을회 “우근민 지사는 왜 해군의 이익 대변하나”
    2012.11.17 11:28:51

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122648
    내년 제주해군기지 예산, ‘부대의견’ 달아 승인?
    2012.11.16 17:18:38

    http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=164430
    해군기지 예산 난항…국회 예결위 민주의원들 제주지사 만나
    제주도 “예산승인시 부대의견 명시”건의…산지천 현장방문
    2012.11.16 18:07:34

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122661
    강정 “방파제공사만큼은 안한다더니•••”
    2012.11.17 13:59:22

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165121
    “검증도 안하고, 이미 제주해군기지 방파제 공사 시작?”
    강정마을회, ‘매립공사’ 조기착수 의혹 제기
    2012.11.17 15:11:35

  • Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | November Issue

    In this month’s issue:
    National Grand March for Life and Peace Comes to a close, outrageous findings in National Assembly inspections, Jesuit priest imprisoned, illegal security company hired to guard the construction site, 24-Hour construction begins and much more!

    Download PDF

  • National Assembly Defense Committee starts the examination on budget. Cut the budget for the Jeju naval base project!

    [Nov 5] National Assembly Defense Committee starts the examination on budget. Cut the whole budget for the Jeju naval base project!

    Photo source: See here. The Youth group called ‘100,000 Young People for the Peace of the Jeju,’ is actively working to cut all the budgets for the National assembly. They call for the budget for people’s welfare instead war base. The photo is the press Conference on Nov. 6, 2012. The group has submitted the No. 1 petition against the Jeju naval base project to the new 19th National Assembly on June 5 this year with signs by more than 27,000 people.

     

    The National Defense Committee of the National Assembly starts the examination on the government budget included of Jeju naval base project next year on Nov. 5. The committee is composed of 9 members of the ruling Saenuri Party (New Frontier Party), 7 members of Democratic United Party and 1 independent. See here.

    On Nov. 5, the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island (26 groups) and National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups), delivering the defense committee 19 page ‘opinion statement for the budget cut on the Jeju naval base project, 2013’ strongly demanded the whole budget cut on the project, 2013. See here.

    Among the 2013 compiled budget for the Ministry of National Defense and Defense Acquision Program Administration (DAPA), The Jeju naval base-related budget for 2013 is about 200.9 billion won. According to Oh Hye-Ran, Secretary of the SPARK, the budget, 200.9 won  is compiled of:

    About 186 billion won (92.5%): Harbor and bay construction

    108.3 billion won: Caisson production & stationing and basic formation of breakwater in the 1st work area ( *Samsung- supervised)

    48.5 billion won: Caisson production & stationing and basic formation of dock in the 2nd work area ( *Daelim-supervised)

    See the related article here.

     

    About 21.9 billion won: Land construction

    Among them, 10.1 billion won (5%): Military residential house (outside barracks).

    (* In detail: The navy plans to use about 9 billion won for the purchase of land and 1 billion won for layout. It is the budget to build 616 households military apartment for the soldiers and their families in about 100,000 square meter size land. However, the navy presentations on the military residential house have been all dissipated because of the villagers’ strong protests on May. 29 and June 15, 2012. About 90% of the villagers who live in the land area that is chosen as the most probable for the military residential house have also submitted their opinion statement that they oppose the navy’s purchase and expropriation of their lands.

     

    See the related article, here

     

    People stated 8 reasons for budget cut:

    1. The validity of the purpose is lack in the Jeju naval base project
    2. The technical matters on the two 150,000 ton cruises’ coming alongside and out of pier and their entry & exit safety have not been verified. ( *The government’s violation of its own MOU with the Jeju Island government on April 27, 2009)
    3. The navy has violated the recommendation items of the Budget and Balance Special Committee of the National Assembly, in 2008.
    4. By the layout, the port will not work even for  military function, [therefore waste of people’s tax]
    5. The suspicion that the Jeju naval base is the US base. [Then why South Koreans’ tax?]
    6. The Jeju Island and Island people demand verification on the current base layout. The Island people and villagers oppose the project and there is possibility that the construction would be stopped.
    7. The suspicion on the unreliable production of caissons that would be used for harbor and bay construction therefore the suspicion on the unreliable harbor and bay construction, as well.
    8. Low budget execution possibility (* The construction has been far delayed, given the navy’s 2011 and 2012 plans)

     

    In the statement delivered to the National Assembly, the groups pointed out, above all, that the navy has thoroughly ignored the recommendation by the sub-investigation committee of the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly that has demanded ‘to objectively verify the matter through the 3rd party institute on the 150,000 ton cruises’ entry & exit of port and safety in their coming along and out of pier.’

    People pointed out the matter of verification on the safety of cruse’s entry/exit of port is critical for the function of civilian-military complex port for tour beauty [that the government and Island government themselves have stipulated as the purpose in their MOU, April 27, 2009]. (*People know that the Government can never verify on it as the base layout has been not for the cruise but for the US nuclear air craft carrier and submarines, as recent exposures clarified it)

    The people demanded to stop whole construction until verification is completed.

    Three Jeju-based National Assembly members, Kang Chang-Il, Kim U-Nam, and Kim Jae-Yoon(all Democratic United Party) and a Jeju-origin National Assembly woman, Jang Hana(Proportional representation of the Youth, Democratic United Party) havel expressed their positions that the budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2013 should be cut.

    Otherwise, for reference, While the government attempts to blind people with the false promise of local economic development with the Jeju naval base project, Park Ki-Hak, Research Institute for Peace and Reunification of Korea has written last year that the Jeju naval base would seldom help local economic development of Jeju. See here.

     

    Photo by the SPARK/ People hold a sign of ‘Cut all the 200.9 billion won budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2012.’

    …………………………………………………………………..

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164118

    “국회는 제주해군기지 예산 전액 삭감하라”

    강정마을회 등, 국회에 해군기지 예산 2010억 전액삭감 의견서 제출

    “예산 삭감해야 할 이유 충분”…국회 국방위 5일 예산심사 착수

    2012.11.05  09:01:23

     

  • Worker’s exposure: Caissons for the Jeju naval base project are unreliably built/ The base layout on the breakwater is critically short of necessary sea wave height design.

    Photo: Headline Jeju/ A worker, Ryu Yoon-Sun exposes on the problems in the caisson production in Hwasoon.

    It was on May 12, 2012 that the Jeju Sori first reported about unidentified informant’s words and visual proofs about unreliable caisson production in Hwasoon. The village made a statement on it on May 22. See the statement and summary of the Jeju sori article, here.

    In the press conference on Oct. 30, 2012, the people including the Gangjeong Village Association raised on the matter of unreliable caisson construction again along with the matter of the breakwater design.

    Remarkably, a former caisson worker testified on the unreliable caisson production in Hwasoon port on the day. On the same day, the superintendent committee of the naval base project soon made a refuting statement saying that “the claim on the unreliable caisson production is false and distorted.” However, the next day of Oct. 31, the village association made a statement again proving that the superintendent committee’s asserts are totally wrong. You can see the village association’s statement in Korean here. The below is the summary translation of Jeju media articles regarding the press conference on Oct. 30.

     

    1. A worker exposes on the unreliable caisson production

     

    On the day’s conference, Mr. Ryu Yoon-Sun(45), a former worker in the caisson production site in the Hwasoon port, Andeok-myon, Jeju, testified on the matters on unreliable production of caissons. The work site, under the supervision of Samsung C & T, is producing 8,800 ton caissons that would be used for the frame of the breakwater in the 1st work area of the Jeju naval base project. The total caissons that would be produced there are 57 and each costs 1.5 billion won.

     

    Mr. Ryu with 30 years work career has been an employee of a construction company, a sub-contacted company of Samsung since last April. During his term of working at the Hwasoon caisson production site, he raised the problems of the caisson production process but was ignored. Since then he has taken photo records to secure the proofs. He left Hawsoon work site at the end of September.

     

    Recently he visiting the Gangjeong village association along with other three workers, accused on the company’s unreliable construction behavior.

     

    The focal point of the workers is that the navy and contracted companies are carrying out unreliable construction to move up construction, shortening the caisson production period into a week, which usually takes 15 days.

     

    According to him, a caisson divided of many rooms that would be filled with concrete is being designed without installation of reinforcing bars in the parts of 50 H-beams of which two H-beams are in each room working as column, which makes caisson weak to the outside shock.

    Photo: Media Jeju, Oct. 30, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong village)/Not only joint part is short but tie is weak. 

     

    Photo: Headline Jeju/ Oct. 30, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong village)

     

    Also, even though it was designed that the gap between the reinforcing bars is to be 20cm, it is 50cm in reality. The space made for the workers’ passage is not filed with reinforcing bars therefore it would be the first site to be cracked in concrete during the typhoons.

     

    Regarding foreign workers, he said, “In case of reinforcing bar construction in caisson production, the workers are divided of two teams, working 12 hours each in shift. Since April 26, foreign workers were put in but they are not managed well because the numbers of Korean artificers are only 12 who are the chiefs of the teams. Most of the foreign workers are not artificers.”

     

    Ryu also explained that another reason of cracks in concrete is because the company, for the purpose of moving up construction, has reduced the putting numbers and amounts of retarding element when it is put into concrete.

     

    “When you pour concrete, you should operate a tremor plate so that the density of concrete is heightened and there should be no bubbles. However, I saw myself that holes occurred like an osteoporosis diseased bone on the concrete plane after the concrete cure because the operations of tremor were not done enough.”

     

    “The 1st caisson was the least destroyed by the typhoon at the end of last August. That was the best made.”

     

    Ryu also stated that “I have never seen a superintendent comes and checks the process inside the construction site for six months. Superintendent daily come once but only glance the process, circling around outside the caisson concrete cube. That’s it. He can never have chance to see the construction on the reinforce bars and concrete construction inside caisson.”

     

    All the seven caissons that Samsung C & T have made were destroyed by the typhoon Bolaven at the end of August therefore new ones are being made again.

     

    The Gangjeong village demanded that the Government punish the related personnel and the National Assembly cut the whole budget on the naval base construction in 2013.

     

    2. The village raised on the matter on the navy’s reduction of sea wave height in the harbor and bay layout.

     

    The village reminded that the element of wave height in design is an important variable to predict the intensity of breakwater, fixed temperature of port, and mooring safety; that it is custom that setting the standard with the strongest wave height among the wave heights observed for last 20 years is custom, ; and that all the military ports in Korea have been designed to be equipped with the ability of prevention against inner side and cross-over sea waves, by setting up one design sea wave as standard.

     

    According to the village association, it is only in the Jeju naval base project that the design sea wave has been set up by sections with lower size than 13.7m, the highest sea wave at the time of typhoon Bolvan.

     

    The design sea wave of A section in the west breakwater is 8m, while A and B sections in the east breakwater is merely 6.5 m and 5.4 m each.

     

    The village stated that [the navy and navy-contracted companies] have designed reducing the design sea wave, concerning the over-excessive occurrence of construction cost.”

     

    According to the ‘outer facility plan’ in the report on the basic plan of the Jeju naval base, written in January 2010, it reads that ‘the south breakwater has to be secured of construction and safety element at the time of sectional plan regarding the plane arrangement plan, and as it is expected that [the south breakwater] occupies 60~65 % of harbor and bay construction fee, construction, safety and economic element should be considered above all.’

     

    Otherwise, Jang Hana, Jeju-born member of the National Assembly, Democratic United Party, also making public the inside accusation material on the unreliable naval base construction, criticized that ‘it is not accidental that 7 caissons were destroyed by the typhoon Bolaven. And it turned out that it was an inevitable result that the Samsung C & T that has connived and backed unreliable construction brought on itself. “

     

    Jang scolded that “Now in Gangjeong village, 24 hour restless construction is being processed so that the navy could advantageously get the approval on the budget by the National Assembly by raising construction rate. And the villagers and peacekeepers are taking sleep on the ground in front of the construction site. What is the difference between this unreliable construction and four river project by which many workers have died?”

     

    Jang stated that she would carry the inspection on the caissons with the media reporters being present and would drive to take all the legal measures such as cancellation of business of the Samsung C & T and construction-supervising committee according to the law on technical management, if it turns out that there has been done unreliable construction.

     

     3. Issues on foreign workers and wages.

     

    Otherwise regarding the matter on employing foreign workers, it is interesting to read the statement by the naval base project superintendent committee. According to it, “Among the 180 Vietnamese workers working in Hwasoon, about 10 Vietnamese who are very well in Korean and 8 Vietnamese whose communication in Korean is possible are arranged in work site. There is no problem in the communication between the domestic and foreign workers since a team chief takes a role as a translator.”

    The superintendent committee also mentioned on the unpaid wages that Mr. Ryu Eun-Sun complained. The committee said that “there were no cases that the wages have been delayed even though there were loopholes during the tuning process between the section chief and workers.” It also said about the wage system that wages were negotiated with workers for change and there was no unilateral change when the  wage system was changed from the monthly to daily.” The committee said that they would strongly take legal measure against Ryu.

    However, the village stated on Oct. 31 that “When Mr. Ryu visited and talked with us, we witnessed in person that the company continuously called him and paid him three days’ delayed wages among more days’ through his bank account. Ryu also testified that not only him but most workers who quit the job experienced same. The three workers who came with Ryu also acknowledged it.”

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Reference

     

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=36185

    해군기지 케이슨 파손 “부실시공 때문”

    현장 근로자 등 폭로…항만 설계파고 축소도

    2012.10.30  13:27:07

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121894

    “제주 해군기지 케이슨 파손 우연 아니” 폭로

    2012.10.30  11:31:40

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163663

    “해군기지 공사 총체적 부실…시공사 엄벌하라”

    강정마을회, 해군기지 케이슨 부실시공 의혹, “설계대로 안돼”
    “철근 헐겁고 콘크리트도 대충…케이슨 부실 심각”

    2012.10.30  12:40:13

    http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=136085

    “50년 태풍에도 견딘다는 방파제가 파손된 진짜 이유는?”

    케이슨 작업장 근로자 “제주해군기지 방파제 설계오류·케이슨 부실시공” 폭로

     2012.10.30  12:22:40

    http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=162469

    강정마을회, “해군기지 감리단은 말에 책임 지고 공개 검증하라”

    2012.10.31  11:30:28

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163709

    해군기지 감리단 “케이슨 부실시공은 명백한 허위사실”

    2012.10.30  18:24:19

     

     

  • Villagers state: Full of unlawful procedures, in approval to the navy on the reclamation license

    The Jeju naval base project is divided of the 1st and 2nd work areas
    The 1st and core work area is ordered to Samsung C & T: The outer blocks of the south breakwater, west breakwater, and dock for aircraft carrier and cruise.
    The 2nd work area is ordered to Daelim: East breakwater, east break water shore protection, mooring facility and west breakwater shore protection.
    (Source: P. 2 & 3 of the attached file to the villagers’ open statement/inquiry, on the violation on the directives on the maritime traffic safety, Oct. 22, 2012)

     

    On Oct. 18, the villagers raised a very important issue to the Island governor: The navy’s OMISSION on the ‘maritime traffic safety diagnosis report’ during the process of the government approval on the Jeju naval base project. See its original Korean script here. According to them:

    1. The Ministry of National Defense (MND)’s first approval on the defense/ military facility on Jan. 21, 2009 did not need the navy’s submission on the diagnosis report since the revised Maritime Traffic Safety Act became to be effective only from Nov. 28, 2009.
    2. HOWEVER, the MND’s alteration approval disposal on March 15, 2010 that even the Supreme Court acknowledged as a separate disposal needed the navy’s submission of the diagnosis report, which was NOT carried out: A violation of law.
    3. Also, since the reclamation license permitted on the navy on March 3, 2010 was DONE WITHOUT the submission of diagnosis report, it is unlawful, as well.

    Those exposures are very important since the Supreme Court has made a court decision that the Jeju naval base project is LEGAL on July 5, 2012. See here.

    On Oct. 22, the villagers developed the issue again with the below translated statement. The village Association attached the two proof documents not translated here but useful. You can see those two PDF files at the bottom of here. The villagers demanded the Island governor’s reply to their inquiries by Nov. 7.

    ……………………………………………………………………………………..

     

    [Gangjeong village statement, Oct. 22] All approval disposals related to the issue on the public water and its vicinity surface is violation of law in the Jeju naval base project (So called Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty)

     

    Through the material resources collected upon the National Assembly inspection on the government offices, it has become clear that the Jeju naval base project has so many procedural violations of laws.

    On the first inspection, regarding the matter on the non-enforcement on the maritime traffic safety diagnosis following the Maritime Traffic Safety ACT (Enforcement Date 27, May, 2009), claimed [on Oct. 18], it reads in the maritime traffic safety diagnosis guidebook supplementary provisions that [only] research reports ‘on the projects whose research service works have been finished before Jan. 26, 2010,’ should be switched to ‘diagnosis document.’ [Please notice] the investigation and test report on the Jeju naval base project 1st work area (Samsung C & T) was issued in April, 2010.

    In other words, the Ministry of Land,  Transportation and Maritime Affairs (MLMT) did not demand the Chief of Naval Operations on the submission of diagnosis report even though it is clear that it is the project subject to maritime traffic safety diagnosis.

    Also, the Navy Headquarter got the reclamation license on the public water and its vicinity surface from the Busan Regional Maritime Port Affairs and Port Office, without submission of diagnosis report on the date of March 3rd, 2010. It is an act that the Office permitted the reclamation license for the law-violating project, which is also unlawful.

    Further, the Navy Headquarter applied for the approval on the reclamation execution plan on the public water and its vicinity surface on the date of March 5, 2010. Even though it was supposed that it should submit the construction specifications and execution layout books etc., it got approval on the execution plan without submission of specifications on the 1st work area and execution layout books on the date of April 6, 2010. Since the 1st work area (Samsung C & T) construction specifications and execution layout books were issued in May 2010, it could not present those [to the Office].

    In other words, it turned out that the Jeju naval base project is full of all the procedural violations, related to the matter on the public water and its surface, not to mention the violation of non-execution on the maritime traffic safety diagnosis following the Maritime Traffic Safety Act.

    Therefore, Woo Keun-Min, the Jeju Special-Self governing Island governor, who has all the authority on the reclamation license on the public water and its vicinity surface should be responsible for all the recovery of flaws and immediately cancel the approval on the execution on reclamation.

    As the Island governor Woo Keun-Min claims fair simulation, what he should do is to demand the navy maritime safety diagnosis, according to law. It is needless to say that verification process could be objectively and fairly done ONLY when the construction stop precedes it through cancellation of reclamation license.

    As clear proofs that there have been administrative procedural flaws in the Jeju naval base project beyond political arguments, we will proceed a process to strictly inquire on the responsibility on the illegality to the Chief of naval operations and Chief of Busan Regional Maritime Port Affairs and Port Office.

    Finally we make clear that we would inquire Woo the responsibility for civilian and criminal cases, if he does not make a cancellation disposal on the unlawful approval to the unlawful project. We also make clear that we would recall him as the Presidential election period finishes ( * You cannot do recalling movement during the Presidential election period in Korea)

    Oct. 22, 2012,

    The Gangjeong Village Association

     

    Original Korean script:  http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/49kU/2045

    …………………………………………………………….

     

    Reference:

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162951

    “제주해군기지 건설, 공유수면 관련 모든 승인처분 위법”

    강정마을회, 제주도에 공문 전달…국토부엔 질의서

    2012.10.22  12:23:28

  • ‘No verification on cruise, no budget,’ ‘no function for operational water area,’ National Assembly man claims

    Image source: Jeju Sori, Oct. 18, 2012 (translated)

    In the National Assembly Inspection on the navy headquarter on Oct. 18,  Kim Jae-Yoon (Democratic United Party, Seogwipo City), member of the Defense Committee of the National Assembly raised primarily on two issues. While the 1st issue has been constantly raised by many observers, the 2nd is something new and important. Anyway, here is the summary based on the Jeju Domin Ilbo, Oct. 18.

     

    1.   Regarding the harbor and bay layout of the Jeju naval base:

    ‘If simulation verification on the control of 150,000 ton cruise is not correctly carried out, all the budgets related to the Jeju naval base project for next year should be cut.’

     

    Kim pointed out that:

    (1)  Because of the reduced size of turning basin, cruise navigation is dangerous.

    (2)  Because of sea route change, dredging at the bottom of sea is inevitable, which raises concern on the intrusion on the ecology system protection area.

    (3)  Because of arbitrary standard on wave height, there is the risk of accidents during ships’ mooring or unloading.

    (4) Because of no design on emergency exit that should be prepared, according to the layout standard on the defense/ military facilities, for the cases when vessel is being attacked or running aground so the port entry is blockaded, it is difficult for vessels to move out if emergency occurs.

     

    He claimed that:

    Even though the flaws on the harbor and bay layout of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty (* In fact, a pure military base) are very serious, the navy has attempted to hide those with false explanations. It should be verified through objective and fair simulation whether turning basin and sea route have been designed according to the legal standard and the base plan is appropriate. The Government should accept the simulation cases demanded by the Jeju Island government (* which, itself, does not trust simulations by the central government but constantly makes false propaganda on the dual complex port). And the whole budget on the naval base project should be cut for the next year, unless simulation verification, the core of 5 items recommended to the Government by the National assembly is properly carried out.

     

    2.   Regarding the government assertion on sea security

     

    ‘The base would take little role in the protection on the southern sea area and maritime traffic route. The navy cause of  [so-called ‘security’] for building the naval base is only appearance.’

     

    Kim pointed out that:

    While the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone( KADIZ) is set close to the Jeju island, the Japanese Air Defense Identification Zone (JADIZ) is set below the south sea of the Jeju and the Ieodo (* a submerged rock, not the Island) in the south of the Marado(the southernmost Island in Korea) also belongs to the JADIZ.

    Therefore in case the ROK navy mooring in the Jeju naval base and patrolling in the southern sea area of the Jeju, carries out operations with helicopters or aircraft embarked on vessels within the ADIZ, it should make a prior consultation with Japan and its activities could be limited by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force(JMSDF).

     

    Therefore Kim emphasized that:

    ‘Even though the navy asserts on the expansion of its influential power in the southern sea area through the building of the Jeju naval base, in reality, it is questionable to which points it can assert on its operation scope in the southern sea area. Then the role of the naval base as an outpost that guards the southern sea area is very limited. The cause to enforce the base project with tremendous budget and social costs then goes down.’

    ……………………………………….

     Reference

     

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35945

    “크루즈선 안전성 검증 안되면 예산 전액삭감”

    김재윤 의원, 국감서 해군기지 설계 오류 집중 추궁

    2012.10.18

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121434

    “제주해군기지, 남방해역 보호? 매우 제한적”

    2012.10.18

  • Navy report: Jeju Naval Base to Accommodate US Nuclear Submarine

    A US nuclear-powered SSN-776 submarine, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

    Hankyoreh, Oct. 18, 2012

    Navy report: Jeju naval base to accommodate US nuclear submarine

    Recently acquired documents raise questions about Gangjeong Village as a joint civil-military harbor

    By Ha Eo-young, staff reporter

    A Navy report from 2009 states that the water depth for a naval base currently under construction on Jeju Island was designed to accommodate a US nuclear submarine.

    This latest revelation comes on the heels of allegations that the base was designed to allow a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to make port.

    Document 06-520, titled “Basic Plan and Examination Request Basic Plan Report” was acquired from naval headquarters by Democratic United Party lawmaker Kim Kwang-jin. It states in its harbor facility requirement standards section that the “overall depth of the submarine dock was set at 12 meters at the request of the orderer.”

    This design depth suggests the base was planned to accommodate the US nuclear-powered SSN-776 submarine, since a depth of 9.3 meters would be adequate for South Korean submarines. This means that the base was designed around a vessel that the South Korean Navy does not current possess, and has no plans to possess.

    “The Ministry of National Defense said there were no demands from CNFK [the Commander of US Naval Forces Korea], but from this design it appears that the South Korean government took it upon itself to make [the harbor] big enough for a US warship that might never dock there, without even being asked to,” said Kim.

    “If it is built this way, we can’t even guarantee that it will be a South Korean military base, let alone a civil harbor,” he added. The South Korean government previously said the base was being designed as a joint civil-military harbor.

    “Suppose the US military comes to Jeju with a nuclear-power aircraft carrier,” Kim continued. “How can we reasonably guarantee that civilians can freely use it for ‘tourism’?”

    This is not the first accusation that the Jeju base is being built to US military standards. Previously, observers pointed to phrasing about “water depth meeting the 15.2 m standards of CFNK” in facility construction specifications published by naval headquarters in 2010 as evidence that the base was being tailored to CFNK demands.

    “The report was a pamphlet based on documents submitted by the company that performed the study,” said a Navy official. “The client in it is obviously the Navy.”

    “The design is a preemptive step to allow all submarines above a certain size to make port, not just a US nuclear-powered submarine,” the official added.

    Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

     

    ……………………………………………………………………………….

    # Save Jeju Now adds….

    Mr. Go Gwon-Il, chairman of the villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base has done in-depth research about the issue on the submarines that may moor in the Jeju naval base. According to him, it is possible to station total 80 trident nuclear missiles in the coast, which is enough number to annihilate China.

    According to his research, it is possible that total 4 submarines, including maximum two nuclear-propelled submarines that loads 24 numbers of 8,000km range nuclear missiles each and two nuclear submarines each that loads 16 nuclear missiles, and more than two multipurpose attack type submarines can be moored and equipped.

    In detail,

    The length of the submarine dock, 365m is enough for the simultaneous mooring of the US nuclear submarines of the Ohio(the biggest) and George Washington class loaded with ballistic missiles.

    The dock for the mid-size ship/ submarine is for a combination of diverse US nuclear submarines. Submarines of attack type or ballistic missile submarines can be moored.

    Among the US nuclear submarines, the submarine with the deepest draft is the Sea Wolf class, which is multipurpose attack ship and draft is 10.66m. That is why the water depth of 12m has been demanded for the submarine dock, by the Commander, US Navy Forces of Korea (CNFK).

    For the photos and tables, see http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/49kU/2039

  • Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | October Issue

    In this month’s issue:

    Gangjeong and the Naval Base Issue stir up the IUCN’s WCC 2012, New U.S. Links to the Naval Base found, ROK Government ignores the UN on Gangjeong, Interviews with Prisoner Kim Bok-Chul and a WCC participant, Articles from several Veterans for Peace visitors to Gangjeong, and more!

    Download PDF