SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - President Donald Trump startled Seoul Tuesday by suggesting the United States should own the land currently occupied by Camp Humphreys, the massive United States military base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, that serves as the largest overseas American installation.
During his summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House on August 25, Trump said, "Maybe one of the things I'd like to do is ask them to give us ownership of the land while we have the big fort. You know we spent a lot of money building a fort, and there was a contribution made by South Korea. But I would like to see if we could get rid of the lease and get ownership of the land where we have a massive military base."
The remarks were the first time a U.S. president has publicly raised the idea of securing land title to a base site in South Korea. Camp Humphreys, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, is the headquarters for U.S. Forces Korea and the most visible symbol of the alliance.
National Security Director Wi Sung-rak stressed that bases are "granted, not transferred." He underlined that when the land is no longer needed, it must be returned under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek told lawmakers on August 26 that any talk of a handover was "impossible in the real world," calling Trump’s language a mischaracterization of the arrangement. "We are only allowing temporary use, and the land must be returned," Ahn said.
The American presence dates back to September 1945, when U.S. forces landed in Incheon after Japan's surrender. Around 70,000 troops were deployed south of the 38th parallel before most pulled out in 1948. The Korean War in 1950 brought them back, and they have remained ever since under the 1953 Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty.
For decades, the centerpiece was Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul, which housed U.S. Forces Korea headquarters from the 1950s. Its location in the heart of the capital fueled debate over sovereignty and city planning, eventually leading to a 2004 relocation deal.
Camp Humphreys opened as the new headquarters in 2018, sprawling across more than 14 million square meters. It now anchors U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific and is often described as the largest American overseas base.
In total, South Korea provides 62 facilities for U.S. use, including Osan Air Base, Camp Casey, and Kunsan Air Base. Under SOFA, South Korea retains ownership of the land and grants it to the U.S. free of charge. Facilities must be returned when no longer required.
The U.S. bears operating costs, but Seoul contributes through the Special Measures Agreement, which covers local labor, construction, and support services. That contribution is estimated at about 1.5 trillion won a year.
At the end of World War II, U.S. troop numbers in South Korea peaked at about 70,000. Today, roughly 28,500 are stationed across the peninsula, giving South Korea the third-largest American military presence after Germany and Japan.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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