U.S. returns 12 military sites to S. Korea, including some at Yongsan Garrison

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(2nd LD) U.S. returns 12 military sites to S. Korea, including some at Yongsan Garrison
All News 16:36 December 11, 2020

Yonhap News By Oh Seok-min

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Friday returned 12 American military sites to South Korea, including some in central Seoul, amid persistent concerns that an additional delay would further dampen regional development efforts.

During a virtual joint committee session of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Seoul and Washington agreed on the return of the sites, though they failed to bridge differences on who and how to shoulder environmental cleanup costs, Seoul officials said.

But the two sides agreed to continue consultations on procedures for joint contamination surveys, contamination management criteria and other outstanding issues going forward, they said....

...It is the first time that sites at the Yongsan complex -- the erstwhile U.S. military headquarters -- have been handed over to South Korean control. Seoul plans to establish a national park there.

The other returned sites are the Camp Walker heliport in the southeastern city of Daegu; Camp Jackson and Camp Mobile in the northern cities of Uijeongbu and Dongducheon, respectively;

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20201211005452325?input=tw

Other sites slated for return are discussed in the article, along with a discussion of the US environmental polution left behind, and the dispute over who should pay to clean it up.