The Defense Ministry said in a briefing that moving the U.S. Yongsan Garrison would cost W4 trillion by 2008, while the Land Partnership Plan (LPP), which calls for the reorganization of U.S. bases and training grounds nationwide, would cost W900 billion. Redeployment of the U.S. Second Infantry Division will cost another W600 billion.

Brig. Gen. Kang Su-myeong, the head of the team dealing with U.S. base relocations, said the ministry for this year set aside W518.5 billion, covering W277.9 billion for the Second Infantry Division relocation, W140.6 for the LPP and W100 billion for the garrison transfer. The budget includes the costs of land purchase, planning, construction, environmental studies and labor.

The Defense Ministry had planned to recoup the costs through sales of land returned to it by the U.S. military but is running into problems with Seoul City and local governments, who hope to get the land for free and turn it into parks and other public facilities.

(Yu Yong-won, bemil@chosun.com )