Marine Corps resumes shooting training at Pohang Suseong Shooting Range... after 4 years of suspension

by Mun Jewon

Published 30 Jan.2024 15:47(KST)

At the on-site mediation meeting of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission held on the 30th at the Government Seoul Office Annex to resolve the collective complaints regarding the Pohang Suseong Shooting Range, Ju Il-seok, Commander of the 1st Marine Division, and Kim Seung-hak, Deputy Commander of the Marine Corps Command, are greeting the attending residents.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Marine Corps shooting at Suseong Shooting Range in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, will resume after 4 years.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 30th that Marine Corps shooting at Suseong Shooting Range in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, will resume starting March 1.

This comes 4 years after shooting was suspended in October 2020 due to complaints from local residents.

The Ministry of National Defense explained that the resumption of shooting training is meaningful as it was carried out with the consent of the residents.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has been working for about 3 years since February 2021 to communicate with complainants, respondents, and others to devise a win-win plan.

At the mediation meeting held under the commission's supervision on the same day, local residents (complainants), the Ministry of National Defense, Marine Corps Command, 1st Marine Division (respondents), Pohang City, and Poongsan (related organizations) all reached a final agreement on the mediation document.

According to the mediation document, the Ministry of National Defense will promptly proceed with the "Pohang City Janggi-myeon Resident Support Project for Civil-Military Co-prosperity," including the relocation of Suseong-ri residents and installation of soundproof walls.

With the resumption of shooting training at Suseong Shooting Range, the 1st Marine Division will be able to focus more on performing missions such as securing joint operation capabilities and defending the Pohang area.

A Ministry of National Defense official said, "We will continue to seek win-win measures with the communities around the training grounds and make multifaceted efforts to ensure realistic training conditions for the military."