Pro U.S. rally held at Kunsan
by Senior Airman Andrew Svoboda
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Jan. 21, 2003
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- About 350 South Koreans gathered outside the Kunsan Air Base main gate Tuesday to show their support for United States Forces Korea troops.
Although a first for Kunsan, pro-U.S rallies have taken place outside U.S. military installations in Seoul and Osan throughout the past two weeks.
Among those gathered to express opposition to removing United States Forces Korea troops from the peninsula were members of the Kunsan chapter of the Foreign Organization Employee Union, the America Town Bar Owners Association and Korean contractors working with Kunsan Air Base.
The rallies may come as a surprise to some, after the recent outpouring of anti-U.S. military protests and sentiment that followed the acquittals of two 8th Army soldiers in Seoul.
Many of the recent protests against the U.S. military have called for a revision of the Status of Forces Agreement in addition to the removal of USFK troops from the peninsula.
Han, Ki Hong, president of the Kunsan labor union, spoke to gatherers during the assembly. His words reflected those gathered for the rally and were in disagreement with the protest for many reasons, none the least being North Korea's decision to activate it's nuclear power program.
"We do not want North Korea's light water plant reactivated. We are also against the protesters call to remove the U.S. military from Korea," he said. "This is a matter of our own lives. We are dependent on the base for our jobs."
Han went on to say he hopes this rally and others like it will help strengthen ties between U.S. military installations and those surrounding communities.
"Hopefully, these rallies will influence both the Korean-wide media and anti-American protesters," he said. "We want to send the message to North Korea that we don't want the light water plant reactivation plans to continue." (PACAFNS)
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