Jeju Naval Base controversy

There were many controversy during construction of Jeju Naval Base (Hangul: 제주 해군기지; Hanja:濟州海軍基地), which is a joint civil and Republic of Korea Navy base constructed by the South Korean government in Gangjeong village on the southern coast of Jeju Island (coterminous with Jeju Province, or Jeju-do), South Korea. By 2011, construction had been halted seven times by protesters concerned about the base's environmental impact and who saw it as a US-driven project aimed at China, rather than enhancing South Korean defense. In July 2012, the South Korean Supreme Court upheld the base's construction. It is expected to host up to 20 military vessels and occasional civilian cruise ships.

The plan was first announced in 1993 during the Kim Young Sam presidency. During the Roh Moo-hyun presidency, the southwestern villages of Hwasun and Wimi were considered potential sites of construction. In 2007, Gangjeong village, located on the southern coast of Jeju Island, was designated as the official site. Two days after former village chief Yoon Tae-Jun announced his approval for the naval base construction on April 24, 2007, a vote was held on April 26, 2007 during which only 87 of the over 1,000 eligible voters were present. Ignoring local voting protocol, the motion was passed based on clapping.

The base was chosen for its strategic forward location that could provide rapid response to any type of activity in the neighboring seas shared with China and Japan, along with protecting the vital Korean shipping lanes through which 99% of Korean exports and all oil imports flow. A 2012 editorial in The Dong-a Ilbo, made the case for the base in the context of maritime disputes with China over claims to the Socotra Rock, which South Korea claims lies within its exclusive economic zone: "... the planned naval base on Jeju Island is a must ... If disputes arise over Ieo [i.e. the Socotra Rock], the South Korean Navy should respond to them." The editorial noted that naval response time to the Socotra Rock from the base in Busan is 23 hours versus eight hours from Jeju and went on to observe: "The naval base is also essential to protecting the Jeju sea route, where more than 90 percent of inbound and outbound maritime freight passes." Jeju provincial council representative, Park Weon-cheol (박원철), discussed how the naval base can be potentially used as an aircraft carrier base.

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Wikipedia