The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'

  • 3

    ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'

  • 5

    Memorial Day 2023

  • 7

    Korea eyes launch of 4th Nuri space rocket in 2025

  • 9

    Japanese destroyer flies controversial flag as it arrives in Korea for joint drill

  • 11

    ANALYSISChina's ban on Micron tests Washington-Seoul alliance

  • 13

    Top 20% of income earners fuel increase in Q1 consumption as pandemic ends

  • 15

    'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes

  • 17

    Police brace for massive union protest

  • 19

    Korea to ease immigration rules to attract more medical tourists

  • 2

    Seoul on alert over Pyongyang's imminent spy satellite launch

  • 4

    Hybe's new boy group Boynextdoor aims to be 'one and only' presence in K-pop

  • 6

    Korea's household debt-to-GDP ratio highest among 34 major economies

  • 8

    Vietnam emerges as major market for Korean chipmakers

  • 10

    Brave Girls to restart activities under new name

  • 12

    Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations

  • 14

    Local governments appeal to young generations through YouTube

  • 16

    Rapper Mino attends sister's wedding in U.S. amid military service

  • 18

    POSCO International enters battery materials business

  • 20

    Actors' off-screen chemistry enthralls fans

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Wed, May 31, 2023 | 08:19
S. Korea selects golf course as 'final' site for THAAD
Posted : 2016-09-30 16:09
Updated : 2016-09-30 16:09
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
South Korea has selected a golf course in the southeastern part of the nation as the "final" site for an advanced American missile defense system to counter threats from North Korea, the defense ministry said Friday.

The decision comes some two and a half months after Seoul and Washington picked the Seongsan anti-aircraft missile base in Seongju, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to host the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system by 2017.

"We have conducted a simulation-based evaluation on three alternative sites in Seongju. The test results showed the Lotte Skyhill Country Club is the most optimal site for THAAD in terms of six principles," Moon Sang-gyun, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, told Yonhap News Agency.

The six principles are operational effectiveness, resident health concerns, infrastructure, overall safety considerations, construction time and cost, and the required preparation time for installation. Three candidate sites in three different townships were Mt. Yeomsok in Geumsoo, Mt. Kkachi in Sooryoon and the golf course operated by Lotte Group in Mt. Dalma, Chojeon.

Early on Friday, Defense Minister Han Min-koo met with ruling and opposition party leaders to explain the decision.

Defense ministers of South Korea and the United States on Thursday approved the results of the monthlong evaluations jointly conducted by the allies that ended on Sept. 27, according to a one-page report submitted by the defense ministry to the parties.

"As it requires a whole new infrastructure to host a THAAD battery in Mt. Kkachi and Mt. Yeomsok, it is hard to meet the scheduled deployment year of 2017. But in case of the golf course in Mt. Dalma, it is possible to deploy the THAAD system there in time as it is already equipped with the necessary infrastructure for the installation," the report said.

In follow-up steps, the ministry plans to acquire the golf club from Lotte Group, to have further consultations with the U.S. to complete the deployment within the targeted timeframe and proceed with planning and construction work, showed the report.

"The government is determined to finish the THAAD installation within next year without fail to better protect the security of the country and life of its people from evolving nuclear and missile threats from North Korea," it said.

Pyongyang has raised the stakes this year by conducting two nuclear tests and launching a series of ballistic missiles as the communist regime marches toward its stated goal of developing a nuclear-tipped intercontinental missile that could reach the U.S. mainland.

Other defense officials went to Seongju and the city of Gimcheon to explain the standards on which the decision was made to local political leaders. Seongju largely accepted the revised offer, but Gimcheon refused to have a meeting with the officials.

When the allies picked the site for THAAD in July, they evaluated publicly-owned properties only due mainly to cost reasons. Back then, the golf course and other privately-held assets there were not even considered as candidates, the defense ministry said.

Local residents in Seongju have strongly protested against the previous decision, demanding a shift in the site to deploy a THAAD battery be changed due to perceived health problems caused by the system's powerful X-band radar.

In response, the military examined the three alternate sites to check if they were suitable for the U.S. anti-missile system.

The golf course, 18 kilometers north of the Seongju County center, sits 680 meters above sea level, about 300 m higher than the previously selected anti-aircraft missile base. It's also more isolated from residential areas than the missile base and could alleviate local residents' concerns that THAAD's radar could cause them health problems.

The golf course location, however, could cause problems for the adjacent city of Gimcheon, since the radar would be pointing in the direction of the nearby city. Gimcheon residents already threatened "a full-scale protest" if the golf course is selected.

Another hurdle for the defense officials will be the purchase of the golf course. Business conglomerate Lotte Group owns the country club, and the price tag could fetch over 100 billion won ($91 million). Securing the budget to make the acquisition will require parliamentary approval. (Yonhap)

 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Korea to ease immigration rules to attract more medical tourists Korea to ease immigration rules to attract more medical tourists
2Big businesses face growing union pressure to extend retirement age Big businesses face growing union pressure to extend retirement age
3Anti-corruption watchdog set to investigate crypto assets of lawmakersAnti-corruption watchdog set to investigate crypto assets of lawmakers
4Running convenience stores becomes popular among people in 20s, 30s Running convenience stores becomes popular among people in 20s, 30s
5Naver suffers shrinking online search market share Naver suffers shrinking online search market share
6Sluggish exports behind weak Korean wonSluggish exports behind weak Korean won
7Pyongyang may have delayed spy satellite launch due to technical issues Pyongyang may have delayed spy satellite launch due to technical issues
8Seoul resident clashes with authorities for raising dogs to nab 'North Korean spies'Seoul resident clashes with authorities for raising dogs to nab 'North Korean spies'
9HanmiGlobal to monitor building of 80,000 houses for Neom construction workers HanmiGlobal to monitor building of 80,000 houses for Neom construction workers
10Doctors, pharmacists to receive 30% bonus for offering telemedicine service Doctors, pharmacists to receive 30% bonus for offering telemedicine service
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema 'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema
2SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal' SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'
3ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood' ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'
4'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes
5[INTERVIEW] Long-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward INTERVIEWLong-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group