Living in constant fear near U.S. military base

POCHEON, Gyeonggi Province ― At sunset on Oct. 28, a group of South Koreans gathered outside the gates of Rodriguez Live Fire Complex at Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, some 24 kilometers from the heavily guarded demilitarized zone.

The numbers swelled into the hundreds, with the mostly middle-aged crowd from adjacent villages starting bonfires, singing songs and watching live dance performances. However, despite the seemingly festive atmosphere, hostility could be felt as villagers were there to hold a rally, calling for an end to what they alleged was excessive noise and danger from the U.S. military complex.

“I came here because I’m a resident here. The kids are so scared (because of the noise from gunshots), they keep waking up at night. I wish the noise could just go away,” said Lim Ga-young, a Vietnamese-Korean mother who accompanied her three children and mother-in-law to the rally.

Just like Lim and hundreds of people who gathered to seek compensation for decades of “living in fear,” villagers from near the U.S. shooting range in Pocheon, including in Yeongpyeong-ri and Yamae-ri, have complained about the noise and flying bullets from military shooting drills for over half a century.

The Rodriquez range, just a stone’s throw from North Korea, carries out live-fire exercises, including the annual Foal Eagle war games jointly conducted by the South Korean and U.S. military.

But flexing the allies’ muscles against the communist neighbor ― which remains technically at war with the South since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an cease-fire and not a treaty ― appears to have had unintentional negative repercussions on the well-being of the villagers.

“Living in this area, we are paying a hefty price because of the environment. Some even had to undergo surgeries for health problems. But there has hardly been any real probe or measures taken for us. They just don’t care, that’s why we decided to take the matter into our own hands,” said 62-year-old Lee Eung-soo.

“Decades have passed, but nothing has changed,” said Lee, who has lived in Pocheon for 60 years and works as a barber in his village. “It is hard for me to move because my entire livelihood is based in the city.”

The noise level is technically measured in decibels: Street traffic is around 80 decibels, a heavy truck driving at a distance of 15 meters is a little above 80, the sound of a jet taking off 100 meters away is around 120 and 140 is the threshold for pain.

Constant exposure to noise can result in hearing impairment at a much lower range. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that all workers’ exposure to noise be below 85 decibels for periods of up to eight hours.

In August, the U.S. military ― after an agreement with Pocheon City and a civilian committee ― measured the noise levels around the complex for the first time. The results will be released in early December, says Kim Kwang-deok, secretary general of the civil committee working to improve conditions in the neighborhood near the military facility.

The villagers’ concern escalated last month when a metal object was found inside a stable, marking the fourth time this year military-related debris has strayed into local farms or homes. The metal piece ― initially thought to be a bullet ― was later identified by the Korean military as a metal component, but the news brought little comfort to the people of Pocheon.

Kim Tae-bong, 76, thought a “war had broken out” when an errant shell found its way onto the roof of his home in March.

“My legs gave way, and I can’t remember anything from that point on. The next thing I know, I was on a hospital bed,” he told local media about the wayward shot that ricocheted off the roof and was found in an adjacent field.

Kim Kwang-deok said the people are demanding a solution to “fundamental problems” that ail them: nighttime firing, low-altitude flying of military helicopters and the risk of errant shells.

Authorities have been seeking to contain the growing complaints.

Theodore Martin, the commanding general of the U.S. army 2nd infantry division, stationed in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, said that it is “very important” (for the U.S. military) to maintain good relations with the people of Pocheon.

“In a way, to minimize the effects we work very closely with different committees in Pocheon, with the 8th Army and 2nd Infantry Division together in meetings to discuss possible issues related to noise, and that is what has driven us to change the patterns of moving helicopters, for example, or which firing positions we use, and also measures that we take on the range in order to make it as safe as possible,” he said.

Martin added that his division studied the March incident where the stray shell fell into a civilian house and restricted the use of the weapons system involved in the incident while reimbursing the individual ― Kim Tae-bong ― whose house was damaged.

As part of its effort, the 2nd infantry division and Gyeonggi Province agreed to change the air route in early November so that the military helicopters would not fly over Yeongpeyong Elementary School.

While partially welcoming the news, villagers said the change in the helicopter route is not a fundamental solution to either the noise or safety issues, pointing out that there are civilian homes along the changed route as well.

“I think the agreement missed the point. We (the civilian committee) are planning to hold fresh negotiations with them. A date should be set around next month,” said Park Geyong-woo, the head of the civilian committee.

Besides due compensation (for which related bills remain pending at the National Assembly), the villages are also seeking measures that include increasing the altitude of flying military helicopters, halting overnight drills and conducting an environmental survey for concerns about the spread of chemicals from the base.

Yoon Choong-sik, a member of the Pocheon City Council and chairman of the parliamentary committee to resolve the issue, urged the South Korean government, too, to take responsibility and compensate for the fear and pain citizens have endured.

“Pocheon citizens are being ignored by the country, though we have lived in constant fear and anxiety because of the stray shells,” he said. “Just imagine if someone was actually hit by a stray shell, it’s horrible.”

“We understand the (existence of Rodriguez) is for national security and it is important, but why should our people be the only ones suffering from it?” Yoon posed. “The Defense Ministry should be more proactively seeking measures.”

The government, for its part, said that it would try harder to tackle the issue. “The government will collect opinions from Pocheon citizens to solve the problem through various channels in consultation with the U.S. troops,” an official from the Defense Ministry said.

“We know they can’t relocate the firing range. All we are asking for is compensation and safety measures,” the city councilor Yoon said. “This place is a war zone, not the foundation of our lives.”

By Yoon Min-sik, Ock Hyun-ju (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com) (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)