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| Soldiers of the U.S. Eighth Army celebrate the 75th anniversary of its foundation during a ceremony held June 8 at the U.S. Forces Korea (USKF) Camp Humphreys base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where it is stationed. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-min |
By Jung Da-min
The United States Forces Korea (USFK) has temporarily lifted an off-duty curfew on its troops here lasting between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., USFK chief Gen. Robert Abrams announced Monday, saying the suspension will be re-evaluated after 90 days.
The step follows a policy review ordered by the USFK general after he took charge of the USFK last November. After the three-month trial run, Abrams will determine whether to rescind or maintain the off-installation overnight curfew.
That would depend on troop behavior, morale and readiness factors, according to the USFK, stressing the importance of maintaining good relations with South Korea and "to continue enabling a culture of self-policing both on and off duty."
"The suspension of curfew is to guarantee more of soldiers' rights to have their own life as we share the perception that there has been a growing consciousness among soldiers" to follow Korean laws, a spokesman for United States Army Garrison (USAG) Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, told The Korea Times.
"But the suspension of the curfew is still temporary and if any problems occur, it could be withdrawn at any time during the trial period. … The USFK military police will be closely cooperating with local government officials and police to prevent any unsavory incidents."
USFK Provost Marshal Col. Jonathan H. Doyle said in a statement that the lifting of the curfew would provide better opportunities for USFK personnel to learn more about culture in South Korea, visiting different places more freely.
"South Korea is an assignment of choice with countless regional and cultural opportunities for assigned personnel. The intent of the curfew suspension is to provide USFK personnel with greater access to all Korea has to offer," Doyle said in the statement. "Our professional service members will act in accordance with our standards of conduct and Korean laws at all times."
Imposed after the 9/11 attacks, the curfew has long been considered an "unsatisfactory feature" of military life for all USFK personnel stationed here. In 2010, the curfew was rescinded briefly; but it was reinstated a year later amid outrage by the South Korean public over high-profile rape cases involving American soldiers.
At that time, some Koreans called into question the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) which they claimed was unfair. This came after a U.S. soldier allegedly sexually assaulted a female student in the middle of the night, but was initially allowed to be returned to his base without questioning by the Korean police.
While there are concerns over security issues, there are also raised hopes that the suspension of the USFK curfew will further boost the local economy.
"It is true that some are worried about possible crimes by USFK soldiers but there are more economic benefits from the influx of them," Kim Chang-bae, head of the Paengseong Merchant Association in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, said by telephone.
The local commercial area in Pyeongtaek, where the largest USFK base Camp Humphreys is located, has benefited the most thanks to the continued influx of USFK personnel, centering on real estate, restaurants and the leisure industry, according to merchants in the region.
"Col. Doyle also emphasized that each service member maintains the unique responsibility to serve as an ambassador of the United States of America while serving overseas," the statement reads. "They will act in accordance with standards of conduct and Korean Law. These actions will serve as a demonstration to the ROK people that we will safeguard the vital relationships while maintaining the ironclad alliance."
Some 28,500 American soldiers are stationed in South Korea as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice without a peace treaty.
