"Opposition to THAAD Base Normalization"… Seongju and Gimcheon Residents Protest in Front of Yongsan Office

by Kong Byeongseon

Published 23 Jun.2022 12:28(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Residents of Seongju and Gimcheon in Gyeongbuk, who oppose the installation of the THAAD base, staged a protest in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul.

On the 23rd, the 'THAAD Withdrawal Peace Conference' held a 'Press Conference for the Seongju and Gimcheon Residents' Protest Against the Normalization of the THAAD Base' in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. About 60 people, including residents of Seongju and Gimcheon, attended the press conference.

The participants shouted slogans such as "Stop the illegal THAAD construction" and "Remove THAAD and plant peace," opposing the normalization of the THAAD base. The THAAD Withdrawal Peace Conference stated, "Normalizing the THAAD base to firmly establish the deployment of the US Forces Korea's THAAD is an act that destroys peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as well as the daily lives of residents," adding, "Removing THAAD is the way to protect peace."

They criticized the government for not engaging in dialogue with the residents. Lee Seok-ju, head of Soseori village in Seongju, said, "If the Yoon Seok-yeol administration intends to conduct a general environmental impact assessment, it should first come to the village and explain it to the residents before proceeding," adding, "How can we trust the president and live like this?"

They also pointed out human rights violations. The THAAD Withdrawal Peace Conference stated in a press release, "Since May last year, police operations have been ongoing, and now they say they will enforce police operations throughout the week," adding, "For over a year, the daily lives of Soseong-ri residents have been destroyed by police operations, and enforcing police operations five times a week is a human rights violation."

The health issues of local residents were also emphasized. Lee Dong-wook, co-chairman of the Gimcheon Citizens' Committee Against THAAD Deployment, said, "Since THAAD was deployed 10 years ago, nine cancer patients have appeared in a small village that had only about 100 residents," adding, "Daily life has collapsed since the THAAD deployment." He also added, "Residents want reliable electromagnetic wave measurements."

After the press conference, the THAAD Withdrawal Peace Conference delivered a letter of demands to the government.