Layoffs for S Korean staff of US military
AROUND 4,000 South Koreans working for the US military in their country were put on unpaid leave on Wednesday as Seoul and Washington bicker over funding for US forces.
Washington stations 28,500 troops in the country to defend it against the nuclear-armed North, but the security allies’ relationship has been strained by the US demands that the South pay billions of dollars more towards their costs.
The Trump administration initially insisted on $5 billion per year – a more than fivefold increase.
US officials say they have since “compromised” on the figures but seven rounds of negotiations, the most recent in mid-March, have failed to reach a deal.
The prev ious Special Measures Agreement, as t he f unding pact is k nown, ex pired at t he end of December and US Forces Korea (USFK) said last month it would be forced to start putting Korean employe e s on le ave f rom Apr i l 1 when f unds to pay t heir sa lar ies ra n out.
“This is an unfortunate day for us . . . it’s unthinkable . . . it’s heartbreaking,” USFK commander Robert Abrams said in a statement on Wednesday.
“These are our employees, our co-workers, our teammates, and we consider them family,” he added. “They are vital to our mission.”
The furloughs so far apply to almost half of USFK’s near9,000 South Korean staff.
They come as Seoul and the US military battle the ongoing coronavirus outbreak – 13 cases related to USFK have been confirmed – and with North Korea carrying out a series of weapons launches.
“The US has put citizens of its security ally and their livelihood in jeopardy,” USFK Korean Employees Union secretary-general Son Gio said.
“President Trump is also putting lives of US soldiers stationed in South Korea in danger, as the furlough will make things worse for those who have already been affected by the coronavirus outbreak within the bases.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s furlough, South Korean negotiator Jeong Eun-bo said Seoul a nd Washing ton had “subst a nt ia l ly na r rowed” t hei r differences and were “at t he f inal stage of coordination to sett le a deal”.
“We urge the US to take measures to make sure the employees subject to the furlough scheme can swiftly go back to work,” he said, adding the move could undermine militar y readiness on the peninsula.