[Jeju Update] Is the Jeju Island on the way of high-tech space center?

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* See also Organizing Notes, Breaking the Rocks(Jan. 20, 2011)
* Thanks, M.S. Anatakara, for the translation in Japanese
* Thanks, Martha Duenas, Guam, for spreading info.
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* Image source: Sisa Jeju, Jan. 19, 2011 시사 제주, 2011년 1월 19일
▲ Scene of the field offices, Jeju naval base business/ photo= Jeju naval base business committee
▲ 제주해군기지건설사업 부지 현장사무실 모습/사진=제주해군기지사업단 제공

* Image source: Kim Tae-Hong, Jeju Hwangyung (* Environmemt) Ilbo, Jan. 18, 2011

*제주 환경일보 김태홍, 2011년 1월 18일

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According to the Sisa Jeju article on Jan. 19, 2011, the Jeju naval base business committee has said on Jan. 19 that construction on the field offices, which started with turmoil in which 34 people were arrested in their peaceful press interview against naval base construction on last Dec. 27, was finished.

The below is the translation of the article in part:

It was known that the naval base business committee has been considering the ‘simple’ opening ceremony on the ‘field offices’, in which the navy and personnel related to building companies join.

It was known that the committee has decided its inner policy to complete all the constructions on the Jeju naval base by the end of 2014.

Even though the Gangjeong Village People’s Council have requested the navy and government to stop construction during the period of appeal [against the Jeju local court decision on Dec. 15, 2010 when the lawsuit on the cancellation on the annulment of absolute preservation areas was dismissed by that court that made reason of improper qualifications of the plaintiffs (the Gangjeong villagers)] on Jan. 7, the navy has delivered the village its official letter in which it rejected the villagers’ demand, for the reason of construction delay and cost following it on Jan. 17.

The civic organizations against naval base are also planning more vital activities.

The Pan-Island Committee for the Prevention of the Jeju Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island starts relay one man protest in front of the Island Hall from Jan. 24, separately from the villagers’ own relay one man protest.

It was also known that it was planning pan-Korean appeal movement to denounce the [Dec. 15] court decision of dismissal of the plaintiffs (the villagers) on the lawsuit on the absolute preservation areas, which had been filed by the villagers, by connecting with social organizations in the other areas.

Even though the controversy on the naval base is currently being processed, it is pointed out that the Jeju Island government and Island Council who should mediate are only waiting and seeing.

Otherwise, according to the Jeju Hwankyung (* meaning Environment) Ilbo, Byon Jeong-Il, the President of the Jeju Free International Development City Development Center (JDC, afterward) has announced on Jan. 18 that the center would make the Jeju Aero Space Museum [that would be completed in 2013, according to plan] as one of the famous tourism sites while he announced the center’s initiative for 2011.

The Seogwipo Daily Newspaper has reported on March 23, 2010 that the Daerim inc. consortium was selected as the company to build the ‘Aerospace museum’ in Seokwang-ri, Anduk-myeon [1gich is 40 minutes car distance from the Gangjeong village], City of Seogwipo, Jeju Island. The Daerim inc. consortium is composed of Daerim Industry (42%), Hanwha Construction (20%), Hwasung Industry (18%) and other two companies(each 10%)

Daerim Inc. is one of the companies, with Samsung, who have involved in the Yongsan tragedy, and is to take charge of the 1st construction part of bay & harbor for the planned Jeju naval base. Hanwha is infamous for the production & export of the cluster bombs.

The Korea Times has reported on May 5, 2009 as below:

“Tourist haven Jeju Island, famous for flowers, rocks and wind, could become a technology hub when an aerospace museum is completed by 2013.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs started construction at Shinhwa Park, Seogwipo, and Tuesday with a planned investment of some 130 billion won ($100 million) in the project.

The ministry, the Air Force and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province have teamed up to bring the museum to fruition.

The 330,000-square-meter complex is to be composed of an ``experience center'' where people can try programs related to the space industry and view ``exhibitions'' showing basic information about air and space, which are still considered largely irrelevant to many people here.

Pilot training, simulators, entertainment facilities, training centers and a three-dimensional cinema and planetarium are to be built to attract the younger generation. A history museum focusing on Korean space studies and the Air Force will appeal to other age groups, the ministry said.

The museum surroundings will feature five theme parks where people can sit in aircraft exhibits.

Simulated Air Force combat, operational training and a military transport for soldiers are also to be exhibited.”

The remarkable thing in the current flow of the Jeju media is that there are little mentions on the military relationship to the current development projects by the JDC.

The government and navy seem to have been very cautious not to leak the contents related to the military in the 'eco-friendly' economic development of the Jeju Island. But the recent flow shows that they are also working on the expansion and development of some harbors that could be strategic key points-such as Hawsoon, Moseulpo-under the name of civilian usage, which could be converted into military usage any time.

The sea lanes between Pyeongtaek-Jeju and Kunsan-Jeju are also being developed. The Pyeongtaek and Kunsan are those key locations where the U.S. bases are located and being developed as the parts of the Missile Defense Belt in the West Sea (Yellow Sea).

The Jeju Island, not to mention of naval base currently in controversy seems to be secretly being driven for another center for the space facilities that can be surely imagined of military use.

Still, being ambitious with the prospect to be chosen as one of the seven wonders of nature in the world, the central government, Island government and Island Council seem to be intentionally silent on those important things through media control.
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See also

Sunday, March 28, 2010
Jeju Aerospace Museum in the Seogwipo City, by 2013?

Friday, June 11, 2010
Some points that should be Noticed from the failed Naro Rocket launch

Jeju Weekly
April 30, 2009
Towards Sky and Space, Jeju Aero Space Museum to be Built