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The Korean government comes under fresh pressure to juggle figures whenever high-ranking U.S. military officials come up with a different estimate of the cost to Seoul of relocating the U.S. Forces in Korea.
On Tuesday, Adm. William Fallon, head of U.S. Pacific Command, reported to the House Appropriation Committee that South Korea promised to shoulder some US$6.8 billion (W6.664 trillion) of the total cost required to relocate the USFK. But Seoul has said it will cost $5-5.5 billion including moving the Yongsan base and the Second Infantry Division, $1.3-1.8 billion less than Fallon¡¯s estimate.
The Defense Ministry on Thursday said Fallon¡¯s numbers came about by adding Korea¡¯s share for USFK upkeep to the W5-5.5 billion for relocation of the Yongsan garrison and a Land Partnership Plan, which is ¡°simply an estimate made by the U.S. on its own.¡±
The figure suggested by Adm. Fallon is already $1.2 billion less than the $8 billion cited by former USFK commander Gen. Leon LaPorte before the committee last March. At the time, LaPorte said the $8 billion included $1.6 billion for investment in build-transfer-lease projects, $1.68 billion for South Korea¡¯s share in troop upkeep and $480 million for USFK facilities.
Adding the $1.6 billion for BTL projects, as LaPorte suggested, to the $6.8 billion quoted by Fallon comes to $8.4 billion, suggesting Fallon subtracted the BTL projects.
The Defense Ministry says different estimates are likely depending what items are included in the total USFK relocation budget. It promises the exact estimate will be available when the master plan for moving the Yongsan base is complete within the first half of this year.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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