 An excavator removes rubble on Gureombi Rock on the seashore of Jeju Island during groundwork for a naval base there, Saturday. Yonhap |
By Kim Rahn
The confrontation between the central government and civic groups over a naval base on Jeju Island is showing signs of escalating as police step up their crackdown on protesters.
The Navy started construction last week despite fierce protests by environmentalists, local residents and the municipal government of Jeju.
There are differing views on what the naval base means to the island. Disputes are growing after the Jeju government called for the central government to halt the project, alleging that the latter’s evaluation of the construction was based on wrong data and biased.
The points in dispute include the base’s capacity for commercial use, its environmental impact and why the naval base should be built on the island.
Two cruise ships at a time?
The government also plans to use the 480,000-square-meter military base as a commercial port for cruise ships and establish a shopping district, a marine sports park and entertainment facilities near the base.
But the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province said a simulation analysis the central government conducted in 2009 was based on false data, and it was impossible for two 150,000-ton cruise ships to dock at the same time as claimed.
With suspicions growing over the docking capacity, the Navy conducted a second simulation between last December and February and concluded there were no flaws in its first analysis. But it changed the design for a pier, saying the minor changes will allow ships to come alongside the quay more easily in strong winds.
The Jeju government however, questioned the results.
“The Navy’s simulation lacked objectivity and fairness. A new simulation should be conducted along with experts recommended by the Jeju government,” Jeju Governor Woo Keun-min said.
The Navy ignored these calls and began blasting a rock bed on the planned construction site Wednesday. Woo said he would issue an administrative order to stop the work until a further inspection is carried out.
“Under the existing law, the local government head can order the suspension of any construction. We just want to examine whether the government’s simulation results were fair,” a Jeju official said.
Jeju says it will take about two months to re-conduct the simulation. But the Navy says it will take at least seven months to conduct a new survey, saying it can no longer delay construction.
Damage to environment
Civic groups and residents opposed to the construction claim the naval base will destroy the environment there, especially the Gureombi shore which is comprised of a single rock bed that stretches for 1.2 kilometers.
 Environmental activists and residents of Gangjeong Village on Jeju Island protest against the government’s plan to build a naval base in front of the planned construction site, which is blocked off by a barbed-wire fence, Saturday. Yonhap |
However, the Navy denies this citing different experts’ opinions. “Such a rock bed is commonly seen in Jeju. The construction site is also more than 600 meters away from the Biosphere Reserve and there will be no damage,” a Navy official said.
Does Jeju need naval base?
The government says the nation needs the base on Jeju to protect the seas south of the island, which have economic and military significance. Almost all overseas traders use the marine routes there, and the South would be able to deal with any North Korean maritime provocation swiftly from the base, the Navy says.
But opponents claim the base may be used by the United States “that plans to encircle China with its anti-ballistic system,” saying if tension escalates between the two countries, Jeju could be a target because of the base.
They also say Jeju was designated an “Island of Peace” in 2005 and it is absurd to build military facilities on it.
