The Ministry of National Defense plans to complete the decontamination of 18 of 23 U.S. military installations returned to South Korea last year by 2010, ministry officials said Thursday.

The ministry estimates the cleanup cost will be up to $127 million, they said.

The ministry will commission the decontamination work to the Korea Rural Community and Agricultural Corporation and the Environmental Management Corporation, the officials said.

The decontamination process will be open to local bodies involving residents and environmentalists for transparency, they said.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr