Villagers accuse US military of vandalizing protest banners

Surveillance camera footage shows an individual believed to be U.S. Forces Korea personnel removing anti-THAAD banners in Soseong-ri, Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, April 28. Courtesy of Soseong-ri residents’ group

Residents of Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, are accusing U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) personnel of damaging and removing banners protesting the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in the area.

According to local civic groups, the banners — displayed in late April in the village of Soseong-ri — were taken down just days later by individuals believed to be U.S. military personnel. They condemned the alleged action as a violation of South Korea’s sovereignty and freedom of expression.

"The residents are very angry. USFK has no right to infringe upon our sovereign rights and freedom of speech just because we oppose their base," Kang Hyun-wook, a spokesperson for a Soseong-ri residents’ group opposing THAAD, said Friday.

According to Kang, the banners, which featured slogans such as "No THAAD, Yes Peace!" were installed between April 25 and 26 in preparation for the group's regular rallies, held twice a week.

"But when we went to the site on April 29 to hold our first rally, we noticed that several banners were missing, so we immediately reported it to the police," Kang said.

Footage from nearby surveillance cameras showed that around 10:50 a.m. on April 28, four individuals, whom Kang described as foreigners in military uniforms, exited a vehicle and removed the banners. A second incident occurred around 1 a.m. on May 1, when two similarly dressed individuals were seen taking down additional banners and placing them in a vehicle.

"Approximately 30 banners were damaged or removed in total," Kang said, calling on USFK to issue an official apology and denouncing the alleged act as a "serious infringement by U.S. military against the Korean people’s sovereign rights."

The residents also argue that even if some banners had been installed without formal authorization, only local government authorities are legally permitted to remove them. Unilateral removal by individuals could amount to property damage under South Korean law, they said.

The villagers' opposition to the THAAD base dates back nearly a decade, when the area was designated in 2016 as the site for the U.S. missile defense system as part of a joint effort between Seoul and Washington to counter North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities.

While the system was installed in 2017, it remains in temporary deployment status due to unresolved administrative procedures.

Many residents have continued to express concerns about what they claim are health and environmental risks posed by the system's radar, and fear that their community could become a target in the event of military conflict with North Korea. Political activists have also joined the protests, arguing that THAAD reflects excessive U.S. influence over South Korea’s defense policy.

The remains of an anti-THAAD banner that was removed by unidentified people, accused of being part of U.S. Forces Korea, on April 28. Courtesy of Soseong-ri residents’ group

Local police said they have launched an investigation after receiving the report on the damaged banners, and have requested cooperation from USFK for the probe.

The U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Daegu said it is aware of the issue and offered full cooperation to the police investigation.

"We are aware of the complaints raised by civil society groups regarding the removal and damage to banners in the vicinity of the U.S. military installation in Soseong-ri allegedly committed by USFK personnel. We take such allegations seriously," USAG Daegu spokesperson Philip Molter told The Korea Times.

But he declined to provide further details as the investigation is ongoing.

"As a guest on the Korean Peninsula, we remain committed to respecting the laws of the Republic of Korea and the rights of its citizens to peaceful expression," Molter added.