"Is the Price of 75 Years of Security Sacrifice 'Restricted Access to Our Own Homes'? Dongducheon City Council Protests"

Dongducheon City Council Raises Issue Over Camp Casey Access Denial
Condemnation Statement Against US Forces Korea's "Restriction on Geolsandong Residents' Right of Passage"
Strongly Denounces as "Direct Contradiction to the Spirit of the US-Korea Alliance"

The Dongducheon City Council in Gyeonggi Province (Chairman: Kim Seungho) issued a strong statement of condemnation on the 5th regarding the refusal by the Yongsan-KC U.S. Forces Command to issue base access passes to new residents of Geolsandong. The statement was titled "No US-Korea Alliance Without Guarantee of Residents' Right of Passage."

On the 5th, the Dongducheon City Council in Gyeonggi Province issued a strong statement condemning the refusal to issue base access passes to new residents of Geolsandong, under the Yongsan-K-Casey Garrison Command of the US Forces Korea, titled "No US-ROK Alliance Without Guaranteeing Residents' Right of Passage." Provided by Dongducheon City Council

According to the city council, residents of the area are in a unique situation where they must pass through the U.S. military base (Camp Casey) to reach their homes. However, the recent refusal by the base command to issue access passes to newly relocated residents has made daily passage impossible or forced them to take long detours.

In its statement, the city council said, "The refusal by the Yongsan-KC U.S. Forces Command to issue base access passes is extremely unreasonable and inhumane, and it directly contradicts the spirit and common sense expected of an alliance."

The council further expressed strong anger, stating, "After enduring both major and minor losses and restrictions for 75 years while living alongside the U.S. Forces in Korea, is it truly the fate of an ally to be unable to freely enter one's own home and be forced to take long detours? Is this really what a blood alliance would do?"

The city council pointed out that even when residents are issued base access passes, they undergo identity verification every time they pass through Camp Casey, so as long as thorough background checks are conducted in advance, there would be no impact on military security. Nevertheless, the council condemned the infringement of Dongducheon citizens' legitimate right of passage, stating that it places an obstacle in the 73-year-old blood alliance between Korea and the United States, which has continued since the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty.

This statement is drawing even more attention as it comes at a time when the US-Korea alliance is being further strengthened following the recent visit to Korea by U.S. President Trump for the APEC summit. The city council noted, "Mutual understanding and respect between Korea and the United States are at their closest in recent times," but also criticized, "The Yongsan-KC U.S. Forces Command is pouring cold water on this warm atmosphere of mutual goodwill and trust."

Through its statement, the city council strongly urged: ▲the immediate issuance of base access passes to new residents of Geolsandong by the U.S. Forces in Korea; ▲immediate action by the government to protect the fundamental rights of Dongducheon citizens as guaranteed by the Constitution; and ▲the establishment and prompt implementation of practical protection and compensation measures for citizens' inconveniences and restrictions of rights caused by the U.S. military presence, as well as compensation commensurate with 70 years of security sacrifices.

A representative of the Dongducheon City Council stated, "We do not deny the importance and valuable role of the U.S. Forces in Korea, which is why we have coexisted for 75 years. However, we can never accept a reality in which even the basic right of passage for our citizens is not guaranteed," adding, "We expect the government and the U.S. Forces in Korea to immediately issue access passes."

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