Seven bases scheduled to close in Korea in 2005

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Seven U.S. military bases will permanently close in South Korea this year as part of a long-range plan to downsize and consolidate American forces here, according to a U.S. Forces Korea news release.

Eight U.S. bases have already closed, according to the release, and the land from two of those bases has been returned to the South Korean government.

Overall, USFK plans to trim troops levels here by 12,500, leaving a final U.S. presence of about 25,000 servicemembers on the peninsula, officials have said.

Changes also include closing many smaller camps, especially north of Seoul near the border with North Korea, and consolidating those forces in the central part of the country.

Here is the list of base closures announced by USFK on Friday:

Closed and returned to South Korea in 2004:

• Camp Bonifas (Demilitarized Zone)
• Camp Liberty Bell (Demilitarized Zone)

Closed in 2004, returning to South Korea in 2005:

• Camp Edwards (Paju)
• Camp Gary Owen (Paju)
• Camp Greaves (Paju)
• Camp Giant (Paju)
• Camp Howze (Paju)
• Camp Stanton (Paju)

Closing and returning to South Korea in 2005:

• Camp Page (Chuncheon)

Closing in 2005 and returning to South Korea in 2006:

• Camp Falling Water (Uijeongbu)
• Camp LaGuardia (Uijeongbu)
• Camp Sears (Uijeongbu)
• Camp Nimble (Dongducheon)
• Camp McNab (Chejudo)
• UNC Compound Seoul