Incheon City, First Step in U.S. Military Base Return... Camp Market Building Blueprints and Keys Handed Over

Used as Japanese Army Weapon Factory and US Military Base
Promotion of Historical Data Collection and Documentation

Bupyeong Camp Market Building Architectural Plans
Photo by Incheon City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City received the keys and blueprints of buildings as the first step after the decision to return the U.S. military base Camp Market in December last year.

The city announced on the 17th that it had taken over the building documents and management cards of Bupyeong Camp Market, which was a Japanese Army weapons factory during the colonial period and used as a U.S. military base after liberation, from the Ministry of National Defense's U.S. Forces Korea Base Relocation Project Group.

The acquired items include data on 43 buildings within the 223,000㎡ area of the first phase, which covers the Camp Market military surplus recycling center (DRMO) site and the baseball field site, consisting of 27 rolls of building blueprints, 74 history cards, and 3 boxes of building keys.

Data related to 93 buildings within the 217,000㎡ area of the second phase will be received from the Ministry of National Defense as soon as they are returned by the U.S. military in August this year.

The city plans to actively collect and record historical materials to fully pass on the approximately 80 years of history since the Japanese Army ordnance factory was established in 1939 to the next generation.

Considering that some buildings in the first phase area, which was decided for 'priority return,' were demolished for soil contamination cleanup, the city is conducting a commissioned study to preserve records through video materials and other means.

Additionally, regarding the government's 'literature survey project within U.S. military bases' nationwide this year, the city plans to establish a cooperative system with the Cultural Heritage Administration to participate in national-level historical documentation.

Keys to Bupyeong Camp Market Building
Photo by Incheon City

An official from Incheon City stated, "Following the acquisition of building documents and access keys for the first phase area, we will consult with the Ministry of National Defense and the U.S. military regarding soil contamination cleanup, the second phase area, and fence installation to establish safety measures and open the facilities to citizens as soon as possible."

Last December, both South Korea and the U.S. held the 200th Joint Committee of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and agreed on the immediate return of four bases whose return had been delayed for a long time: Bupyeong Camp Market, Wonju Camp Eagle and Camp Long, and Dongducheon Camp Hobby Shea Range.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.