From wharms@soback.kornet.nm.kr
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 04:23:00 -0900
From: Bill Harms 
To: moogoonghwa@UCSD.EDU
Subject: RE: SOFA legal issues

At 12:23 PM 9/18/96 -0700, Korea Information & Resource Center/Korea Report
wrote:
>Dear Bill Harms:
>
>
>I saw this figure in Korean daily (re: US Military member crime rate in
Korea). I'll try to find the date.

Yes, please do. As indicated in another posting, I would like to see a
scholarly study of: 1. the crime rate of US soldiers in Korea versus the
crime rate of the general Korean population by age. 2. crime rate of US
soldiers in Korea versus the crime of the general US population by age.

I realize of course that there are problems with such a study because of the
potential differences crime statistics are tabulated by Korean authorities
and by US authorities. I think it would be an interesting starting place and
would, as another poster alluded to, be more instructive than the rumors,
heresay and innuendoes that sometimes creep into mass media reports.

>There are nationally-based groups working on US bases issues (like 
>Chun-kook-yon-hap (Alliance for Reunificaiton & Democracy), 
>Cham-yuh-yon-dae (Naitonal Alliance for Participatory Democracy), 
>Yeosung-woondong-yonhap (Coalition of Women's Movement?), as well as 
>local citizen groups and ad hoc groups that gets organized citywide or 
>regionally in response to murder/rape/assault cases.  Around ki-ji-chon 
>(US base towns), there are groups like My Sister's Place which shelters 
>victims of violence by US soldiers on Korean women. If you go at the 
>entrance to the 8th Army headquarters in Yongsan in Seoul, you will see 
>occasional demonstration by individuals and groups. 

The only group you mention that I have heard about is My Sister's Place. I
know that some of the people in these groups are guided by their hearts and
have some good things to say. In fact, I am against crime, as I am sure most
reasonable people are, no matter who the perpetrators and victims are,
whether Koreans, Americans, or some other nationality. I often wonder,
however, why they are singling out crimes perpetrated by US scum against
Korean citizens. Why do you think this is so?

>There are individual efforts too. One Korean fisherman sued the US Navy 
>for damages on his fishing livelihood during military exercises and won 
>in the US Court.  

As well he should have.

>You probably know about the capaign of Daejon City's 
>citizens to block the relocation of US Army headquarters. These are 
>just few examples, there are other campaigns and citizen initiatives. 
>If you can read Korean, you can see MAL magazine, which covers these issues.

Where can I get this magazine?

>For some reason, concerns of Korean citizens were not addressed 
>as fully as the US did in Germany or Japan.  Perhaps this will change 
>as Korean citizens get more organized and the ROK government addresses 
>the issues more fully.

I think you answered your own question. Their concerns need to be properly
addressed to those who can take action.

>Concerning: Mr. Suh, I am also interested in what you think the
>relationship between the US and Korea should be. What do you think the
>future holds?

>You should subscribe to Korea Report.

Perhaps I will subscribe to the Korea Report. Please send me a message
offline telling me how. However, I still would like to hear you views on the
elationship past and future between the US and Korea in this forum.

Bill Harms
Seoul, Korea





moogoonghwa@ucsd.edu
Back to: Moogoonghwa