U.S. military installation causes tug-of-war

Stars and Stripes

SEOUL — At first glance, the aging collection of no-frills, sand-colored buildings doesn’t look like much. But a South Korean government ministry and one of the country’s top universities are fighting over who gets this tiny U.S. military installation in downtown Seoul when the American military leaves it a few years from now.

The Far East District Compound, located a block from the Dongdaemun area’s trendy department stores, has been home to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since the Korean War. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense seized control of the property from Seoul National University in 1951, at the beginning of war, so the Corps could work there.

With all U.S. troops in and north of Seoul scheduled to move south to Pyeongtaek by 2012, the university wants the title to the property back. “We don’t think it’s fair that our land was taken for military purposes and would be sold off again to finance other military purposes,” a university spokesman said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He said Seoul National is reviewing its legal options for regaining ownership of the compound.

A Defense Ministry spokesperson, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the agency has never paid Seoul National for the property.

He said the ministry plans to sell the 142,000-square-foot compound to the Korean National Housing Corporation and use the proceeds to help pay for its share of the U.S. military relocation costs to Pyeongtaek. He said the ministry knows Seoul National claims ownership of the property but still plans to sell it.

Each 3.3 square meters, or 10.8 square feet, in the compound is valued at about $85,000, according to South Korean media reports. About 180 U.S. employees work at the compound.