Pyeongtaek Police Station in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, is pictured on July 19, 2025. (Yoojin Lee/Stars and Stripes)
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — In a move aimed at streamlining coordination with American military authorities, police in a city that hosts two major bases have established a dedicated department to handle incidents involving troops and other U.S. personnel.
The status of forces agreement, or SOFA, liaison unit began operating on June 27 in Pyeongtaek, about 35 miles south of Seoul and home to Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base.
The team was created to respond more effectively to crimes and security issues involving members of U.S. Forces Korea, Julie Song, an officer at the Pyeongtaek Police Station said by phone July 22. She’s one of two officers assigned to the unit.
They will oversee coordination on a range of incidents, including traffic accidents, allegations of assault and driving under the influence, she said.
The unit will also investigate unauthorized drone flights and trespassing cases at U.S. military facilities, Song said, adding that there are no immediate plans to expand the unit.
U.S. military police officers stand guard during an exercise at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, April 25, 2023. (Richard Kim/U.S. Army)
Cases involving USFK personnel were previously handled by various departments, based on the allegations involved, Song said.
“Through this SOFA liaison officer system, we can cooperate closely with USFK bases,” she said. “When SOFA cases occur, we can exchange information and communicate quickly and therefore prevent conflicts and strengthen our cooperative system.”
The SOFA, which establishes the rights and responsibilities of U.S. troops, Defense Department civilians and their family members in South Korea, allows the United States to retain custody of its members in most criminal cases, except for serious offenses such as homicide.
The unit’s creation comes as South Korea grapples with an uptick in incidents involving the U.S. military. Last year, 479 service members and 190 U.S. civilians were accused of crimes in South Korea, according to the Ministry of Justice — up from 450 service members and 176 civilians in 2023.
Pyeongtaek became a focal point of the U.S. military presence in the country following a massive consolidation effort that relocated the headquarters of USFK, U.N. Command, Combined Forces Command, Eighth Army and the 2nd Infantry Division from Seoul to Humphreys between 2017 and 2022.
The city, a mix of rural farmland and urban expansion, now accommodates more than 55,000 U.S. personnel and local staff — roughly 8.5% of its population.
“Pyeongtaek city has the biggest U.S. base outside of America, which means we have more responsibility and chances of cooperation,” Song said. “So, because of that, close cooperation between the police and USFK is urgent.”
American military officials have also voiced support for the initiative. Eighth Army’s provost marshal, Col. Christopher Rivers, said the new unit is expected to “respond faster and more effectively” when working with military police at Humphreys and Osan.
“With growing security concerns around the bases, both sides agreed to hold regular meetings and improve communication at the working level,” he said by email Wednesday. “Subjects like trespassing, unauthorized drone flights, unauthorized filming and SOFA-related incidents facilitated the need for even closer cooperation in Pyeongtaek.”
