By Yi Whan-woo
A controversy is brewing over possible health and safety risks associated with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), advanced missile system, as Seoul and Washington are set to start talks on its deployment.
The Ministry of National Defense fell short of explaining how far people should stay away from the AN/TPY-2 radar, a key component of the system, to avoid exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Experts differ widely with some saying the safe distance is 100 meters, while others claim 3.6 kilometers.
Lawmakers, local government officials and environmental activists from the candidate sites oppose the deployment of a THAAD battery here although they agree with the central government that South Korea needs the system.
Possible sites include Daegu, Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, Wonju in Gangwon Province and Gunsan in North Jeolla Province. Among them, a U.S. Army base is stationed in Dageu, while Pyeongtaek will host the new headquarters of the U.S. Forces Korea.
"We've been receiving a lot of complaints from residents and threatening calls that they will fight against the Park Geun-hye administration if a THAAD battery is set up in their neighborhoods," a military official said on condition of anonymity.
Citing the operational manual of the THAAD radar, Defense Minister Han Min-koo claimed that the AN/TPY-2 radar "will be absolutely harmless" if people stay at least 100 meters away from it.
"It will be the soldiers operating THAAD, not the residents, who should be concerned about exposure to electromagnetic radiation," Han said during a National Assembly hearing, Monday.
Published by the U.S. Army in April 2012, the manual, titled "AN/TPY-2 Forward Base Mode (FBM) Radar Operations," defines the 100-meter radius from the radar as the "personnel keep out zone" when the radar is raised 5 degrees upward from the ground.
"Site personnel must ensure all crew members have vacated the 100-m personnel keep out zone in front of the antenna equipment unit," the manual reads. It added that such a measure is to mitigate risks associated with all hazards such as injury, death or damage.
In a separate explanation on Feb. 11, defense ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun cited a 2015 U.S environmental assessment report on a THAAD battery permanently stationed in Guam to underscore the safety of the missile shield.
"The report shows there will be no problem if people live outside the 100-meter radius of THAAD radar, presuming that it is raised 5 degrees upward from the ground," Moon said.
The report released by the 94th U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Command defines three exclusion zones for the AN/TPY-2 radar _ 100 meters for personnel, 1,500 meters for equipment and 5.5 kilometers for aircraft _ to avoid injury to personnel and damage to equipment from electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radar.
Defense ministry officials, however, said they need to consult with the U.S. Army if they are asked to detail possible health and safety risks associated with the "uncontrolled personnel keep out zone."
Defined by the U.S. Army in its 2012 manual, this zone refers to a 3.6 kilometer radius from the AN/TPY-2 radar.
The officials also said they are uncertain whether the environmental assessment in Guam can be applicable in South Korea. The THAAD battery in Guam is located in an isolated area whereas host sites in South Korea are mostly populated.
"I strongly oppose THAAD deployment in Daegu along with 460,000 Daegu citizens," Mayor Kwon Young-jin said in a Facebook post, Feb. 13.
Ruling Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Won Yoo-chul, who represents Pyeongtaek, hinted that the Gyeonggi provincial city should be excluded from being cited as a THAAD location.
"Pyeongtaek is a major port city for South Korea's trade with China and we should keep our economic benefits in minds," he said.
Environmental activists in Gunsan said in a statement, "The well-being of people here are in extreme danger."
North Jeolla Provincial Governor Song Ha-Jin is likely to consult with lawmakers from the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea and send a message of protest to the defense minister, according to political sources.
Meanwhile, South Korea and the U.S. may consider setting up a THHAD battery on a high hill or on top of a mountain. Some military sources said such a measure is for better operation of the radar on the mountainous peninsula, but speculation is rampant that such a measure will be aimed at avoiding disputes over health and safety risks.
A controversy is brewing over possible health and safety risks associated with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), advanced missile system, as Seoul and Washington are set to start talks on its deployment.
The Ministry of National Defense fell short of explaining how far people should stay away from the AN/TPY-2 radar, a key component of the system, to avoid exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Experts differ widely with some saying the safe distance is 100 meters, while others claim 3.6 kilometers.
Lawmakers, local government officials and environmental activists from the candidate sites oppose the deployment of a THAAD battery here although they agree with the central government that South Korea needs the system.
Possible sites include Daegu, Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, Wonju in Gangwon Province and Gunsan in North Jeolla Province. Among them, a U.S. Army base is stationed in Dageu, while Pyeongtaek will host the new headquarters of the U.S. Forces Korea.
"We've been receiving a lot of complaints from residents and threatening calls that they will fight against the Park Geun-hye administration if a THAAD battery is set up in their neighborhoods," a military official said on condition of anonymity.
Citing the operational manual of the THAAD radar, Defense Minister Han Min-koo claimed that the AN/TPY-2 radar "will be absolutely harmless" if people stay at least 100 meters away from it.
"It will be the soldiers operating THAAD, not the residents, who should be concerned about exposure to electromagnetic radiation," Han said during a National Assembly hearing, Monday.
Published by the U.S. Army in April 2012, the manual, titled "AN/TPY-2 Forward Base Mode (FBM) Radar Operations," defines the 100-meter radius from the radar as the "personnel keep out zone" when the radar is raised 5 degrees upward from the ground.
"Site personnel must ensure all crew members have vacated the 100-m personnel keep out zone in front of the antenna equipment unit," the manual reads. It added that such a measure is to mitigate risks associated with all hazards such as injury, death or damage.
In a separate explanation on Feb. 11, defense ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun cited a 2015 U.S environmental assessment report on a THAAD battery permanently stationed in Guam to underscore the safety of the missile shield.
"The report shows there will be no problem if people live outside the 100-meter radius of THAAD radar, presuming that it is raised 5 degrees upward from the ground," Moon said.
The report released by the 94th U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Command defines three exclusion zones for the AN/TPY-2 radar _ 100 meters for personnel, 1,500 meters for equipment and 5.5 kilometers for aircraft _ to avoid injury to personnel and damage to equipment from electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radar.
Defense ministry officials, however, said they need to consult with the U.S. Army if they are asked to detail possible health and safety risks associated with the "uncontrolled personnel keep out zone."
Defined by the U.S. Army in its 2012 manual, this zone refers to a 3.6 kilometer radius from the AN/TPY-2 radar.
The officials also said they are uncertain whether the environmental assessment in Guam can be applicable in South Korea. The THAAD battery in Guam is located in an isolated area whereas host sites in South Korea are mostly populated.
"I strongly oppose THAAD deployment in Daegu along with 460,000 Daegu citizens," Mayor Kwon Young-jin said in a Facebook post, Feb. 13.
Ruling Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Won Yoo-chul, who represents Pyeongtaek, hinted that the Gyeonggi provincial city should be excluded from being cited as a THAAD location.
"Pyeongtaek is a major port city for South Korea's trade with China and we should keep our economic benefits in minds," he said.
Environmental activists in Gunsan said in a statement, "The well-being of people here are in extreme danger."
North Jeolla Provincial Governor Song Ha-Jin is likely to consult with lawmakers from the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea and send a message of protest to the defense minister, according to political sources.
Meanwhile, South Korea and the U.S. may consider setting up a THHAD battery on a high hill or on top of a mountain. Some military sources said such a measure is for better operation of the radar on the mountainous peninsula, but speculation is rampant that such a measure will be aimed at avoiding disputes over health and safety risks.
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