The Alliance is ROK-Solid

[성김 대사]

While I may be based in Seoul as Ambassador to the ROK, I also do a fair amount of traveling around Korea.  In the past month, I have had the pleasure of visiting two USFK bases outside of Seoul.  While the two bases were in different parts of the country, both visits impressed upon me the strength of the U.S.-Korea military alliance and the enduring people-to-people ties between us.

On January 13, Major General Edward Cardon of the 2^nd Infantry Division hosted South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan at Camp Casey, near Uijeongbu.  The Foreign Minister had wanted to make this trip for a long time to thank the 2ID soldiers for their dedication.  General Thurman and I joined the Foreign Minister.

Foreign Minister Kim and I listen to General Thurman. (Photo courtesy USFK)

General Cardon showed us some of the tools 2ID uses to keep the Korean Peninsula secure.  Soldiers, in full battle gear, explained how their different models of tanks worked.  We were all very impressed with the equipment, especially the very cool tank and Humvee simulation room.  Now I am even more confident that the alliance is prepared to deal with any situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Foreign Minister Kim gives a wristwatch to a 2ID enlisted soldier. (Photo courtesy USFK)

Most of the soldiers in 2ID are young, and for many, this is their first time away from their families.  Serving so close to the DMZ can be particularly challenging and stressful.  Our soldiers appreciated the Foreign Minister’s visit and his gifts of a grandfather clock and wristwatches.  The soldiers clearly appreciated the FM’s kind gesture.

On February 9, USFK Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Jan-Marc Jouas and Eight Army Commander Lieutenant General John Johnson invited me to visit Osan Air Base and Camp Humphreys, near Pyeongtaek.  This visit showed how USFK is increasingly working hand-in-hand with the Koreans who live nearby.  First, we visited the brand-new Songtan International Community Center, where the embassy donated digital video conference equipment, 424 books and 261 DVDs.  This beautiful new facility is a great way for Koreans living near Osan Air Base to learn more about American culture and meet American people.  The embassy was delighted to donate these materials to get the community center off to a strong start.

Pyeongtaek Mayor Kim Sun-ki, me, and LTG Jouas with some of the 424 books, 261 DVDs and digital video conference equipment the embassy donated to the Songtan International Community Center

Next, we got a chance to visit Camp Humphreys.  Did you know that Humphreys will soon be the new home of the Yongsan Base?  And when the Yongsan army base relocates to Camp Humphreys, USFK will be able to return valuable land in downtown Seoul to the Korean government.  This is very exciting. 

While there, I was able to meet with enlisted soldiers from my home state of California, who are all dedicated to the U.S. and to our alliance with Korea.  U.S. soldiers are all “ambassadors” of the United States when they interact with Koreans they meet, and these men and women understand that role and constantly strive to be good neighbors.  I was particularly proud to hear one soldier talk about his volunteer work teaching English.  He had recently graduated a class of 60 students and was asked to start teaching a second class.  Another soldier talked about how wonderful it was to live off base and among Koreans.  He said he had learned much more about Korea and Korean people than he would otherwise.  Again, I am so impressed with these young people who are not only dedicated to the alliance but also to being good representatives of their country and friends to the Korean people.

Talking with eight wonderful soldiers from California

These visits reminded me that the alliance between Korea and the U.S. remains rock-solid, and that each of us must work every day in our own ways to make it even stronger.

[KATUSA86]

We always support ROK and US friendly relationship especially in defense of free world from the common enemies. No matter what the polity may go to , we cannot abandon the freedom of this country. Be a rock-solid stand. And if there is a strongly tied friendship between two countries, don't forget there are KATUSA soldiers mostly close with USA soldiers together. KATUSA and USA soldiers stationed in KOREA are both military ambassodors and that should be known as well. And Republic of Korea KATUSA Veterans' Association is backing up them!!!! http://katusa.mil.kr/ .