By Yi Whan-woo
Defense Minister Han Min-koo is expected to visit Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, next week, sources familiar with the region said Thursday.
His possible visit is seen as a move to placate Seongju residents, who are angered by the decision to deploy a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in their hometown without consulting them.
However, it is speculated that Han will not help much in breaking the deadlock between the government and the residents over the planned deployment.
Han is likely to reiterate the Ministry of Defense’s view that the THAAD battery will be set up on a hilltop in Seongju in line with the agreement made between Seoul and Washington on July 8.
Fearing health and environmental risks associated with THAAD’s radar, the residents have been beseeching the government to withdraw its plan, saying they will not accept any other options.
“Han and the residents are scheduled to meet on Aug. 16 or 17 although the date has not been fixed yet,” a source said. “The underlying demand of the protesters is to scrap the planned installation of THAAD in Seongju.”
The source also said a change in the candidate location of the THAAD battery is not on the residents’ agenda for the meeting with Han.
On Aug. 4, President Park Geun-hye mentioned that the government may consider setting up the THAAD battery in a new location within Seongju.
Some 815 residents are expected to shave their heads en masse during a rally on Aug. 15 to protest THAAD.
“Under such circumstance, we’re cautious to tell when exactly Han will visit Seongju because we don’t know for sure what’s going to happen between now and then,” a military official said on condition of anonymity.
Han accompanied Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on a visit to Seongju on July 15. Instead of appeasing the residents, Hwang took shelter in a bus for hours after a crowd of 3,000 protesters pelted eggs and water bottles at him in protest of the Park administration’s THAAD decision.