Speed of THAAD Base Normalization... Formation of Evaluation Council

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Ministry of National Defense has requested recommendations for committee members from environmental organizations and relevant local governments to form the 'Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee' for the U.S. Forces Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in Seongju, Gyeongbuk.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 16th, the Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee will be composed of officials from the relevant local governments and regional environmental offices, environmental experts from the private sector, resident representatives, and officials from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of National Defense, in accordance with related laws. In particular, local resident representatives and private experts recommended by civic groups will be appointed as evaluation committee members.

The Ministry of National Defense plans to proceed with the process in the order of reviewing the scope and methods of the assessment, drafting the preliminary evaluation report, public inspection of materials, and holding resident briefings to collect opinions after forming the committee.

The general environmental impact assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment Act is an essential procedure for the normalization of the THAAD base, but until now, the Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee to carry out this has not been formed.

The previous Moon Jae-in administration attempted to start the general environmental impact assessment work in 2019, but due to resident opposition and other reasons, only preliminary preparations for the assessment were conducted, and the formation of the committee was postponed. With the Ministry of National Defense's request for member recommendations on this day, once the review committee is formed soon, the assessment plan can be finalized, and investigation and evaluation can begin. Subsequently, through briefings and public hearings to gather residents' opinions, the committee will draft the main report and consult with the Ministry of Environment, concluding the environmental impact assessment.

Earlier, President Yoon Suk-yeol pledged during his presidential campaign to complete the environmental impact assessment of the Seongju base and normalize the base to ensure the operational conditions of the U.S. Forces Korea.

Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop also stated last month, "The normalization of the THAAD base was something that naturally had to be done, and we will do it as soon as possible," adding, "We are preparing the schedule and other details."

Currently, the THAAD base is in a temporary operational deployment status, and the United States has been continuously urging the Korean government for prompt normalization. Mark Esper, former U.S. Secretary of Defense under the previous Donald Trump administration, wrote in his recently published memoir that the living conditions of U.S. troops deployed at the THAAD battery were very poor, and although he repeatedly raised the issue with the Korean government, the Korean side always demanded patience.

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