Opinions on new Jeju Island naval base?

[alwaysgood]

The SK Navy is constructing a new base in Jeju that will support US ships.  There are protests by islanders, which are receiving media attention.  Basically, the arguments against the base are that it will have an environmental impact and that the base is targeted more at containing China than NK.  The arguments for the base are that it will protect shipping lanes and provide missile defense against NK for southern parts of SK.


Here are a couple of articles summarizing the situation:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/world/asia/19base.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/08/117_92354.html


Op-eds against the base:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/opinion/06iht-edahn06.html?_r=2
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/opinion/sunday/Steinem-the-arms-race-intrudes-on-a-south-korean-paradise.html?_r=1


Op-ed for the base:
http://the-diplomat.com/2011/08/21/why-us-needs-south-korea-base/

[MTBman]

Gloria Steinhem is trying to be a know-it-all.  She's been to Jeju (and Korea) twice in nine years.  She's hardly an expert opinion-just an opinion.

[madison79]

People here on Jeju don't want the base so why have it.  Having GI's from America in Korea is generally bad since problems will occur.  I love Ron Paul's idea to remove all bases from other countries. 

[adamwatch]

I think every "peace island" should have a few warships on it.

Adam

[DeMayonnaise]

I think every "peace island" should have a few warships on it.

Adam

War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength

[kiwikimchi]

Just America setting up a logistical base to close in on China.

[adamwatch]

Jeju would also make a good aircraft carrier for the Americans .

Adam

[Paul]

I just don't get this decision at all!

Forget for a minute the domestic concerns regarding US bases, or the geopolitical concerns of yet another potential blockade on Chinese shipping lanes, and look at this from an environmental perspective:

Jeju as a whole is now a registered UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. That alone should be a veto from the UN should it not? Is there something I'm missing here?! The place the proposed base is to be built at is on the southern coastline which is basically a giant stretch of columnar basalt akin to the Giant's Causeway. They want to build on that. Oh, and the site is literally in the middle of the main tourist resort area on the island (no, seriously, look it up, dead centre between Seogwipo and that premium resort complex, look for all the waterfall icons on your tourist's map and scan around a bit).

From a pure economic standpoint even, I honestly don't know how they can justify crippling the island's hospitality industry for a single base.

[LemonWater]

Jeju is known to Koreans as a place for honeymoons and golf getaways. I wouldn't want warships passing by me as I lay on the beach or test fire shots going off in the middle of my backswing. Not to mention what the presence of enlisted men will do to the night life there.

While there is a need for protection, I'm sure there are other suitable locations along the Southern coast.

[justanotherwaygook]

I just don't get this decision at all!

Forget for a minute the domestic concerns regarding US bases, or the geopolitical concerns of yet another potential blockade on Chinese shipping lanes, and look at this from an environmental perspective:

Jeju as a whole is now a registered UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. That alone should be a veto from the UN should it not?

UNESCO World Heritage sites are nominated by the country in which they are located.  That country maintains full sovereignty over the site.  The UN cannot encroach on a country's sovereignty in this regard.

[Spongeblob]

Apparently the recruiting has already begun.  :)

[MTBman]

Korea is a sovereign country.  Korea can do what it wants, and sees fit to do within its borders. 

The Jeju protests are a political issue.  The Jeju Islanders do not always agree with Seoul and vice a versa.  In a way, it might be another form of political factionalism, which has not ended in Korea.  Politics here can also be pretty violent, too, a la Taiwan.