2009: Naval base needed on Jeju Island

"Friede ist nicht umsonst zu haben. ..."

in: Joong Ang Daily
[Joong Ang Ilbo: Viewpoint]
June 24, 2009

Naval base needed on Jeju Island

Peace does not come free. Peace is the reason why the naval base in Jeju must be built as soon as possible.

A controversy over building a naval base on Jeju Island has continued for years. After weighing opinions of island residents, it has been decided to build the base in Gangjeong port.

But some civic organizations in the southern resort island are campaigning to recall Jeju Provincial Governor Kim Tae-hwan, causing concern that building the base could open a can of worms. This shouldnt be. A base in Jeju is too important.

Even though North Koreas nuclear issue has forced us to concentrate much of our energy on resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula, the 21st century is certainly an era of the sea. The sea has bountiful reserves of oil, natural gas and various types of iron ore, resources that are running out on land. Many countries perceive the sea as the same as land and are trying hard to secure claims to sea territories. Other than its value as the last reserve of resources, the sea is critical because it offers the cheapest and safest transport for humans and cargo. Korea has purchased raw materials and resources through sea routes, produced end products and shipped them out on the sea again.

In fact, it wouldnt be an exaggeration to say Koreas fate depends on the sea. More than 99 percent of materials and resources that fuel large factories in Korea come through the sea, and more than 10 percent of cargo around the world comes from Korea. Simply put, sea routes are our lifeline.

Since the 1960s when our country developed a strategy to become a trading country as a way to develop its economy, our cargo vessels and merchant vessels have been able to navigate the seas of the world safely without our Navys protection. That was possible because the U.S. Navy has secured the safety of the seas.

But it will be hard to expect such safety in the future. Korea is a leading country in terms of shipbuilding, and the countrys economy heavily depends on cargo over the sea, which is 13 times larger than the average of countries around the world. Thus, having a stronger Navy than we have now is not a matter of choice. Its a must.

Our neighbor Chinas battleships weigh 1,075,000 tons combined. Japans Self-Defense Forces, armed with the latest warship, weigh 428,000 tons. Our countrys Navy has developed enormously over the past 10 or so years, but its warships amount to merely 147,000 tons combined. We have a relatively weak Navy and one lacking a quality dry dock facility where ships can be serviced. The naval port in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, was good enough for the last century. It is not good enough for the 21st century.

The Navy is desperately in need of a new naval base and has judged that it would be most appropriate to construct one on Jeju, taking into consideration its geopolitical location and value for military strategy.

Jeju is the most proper spot to protect cargo vessels and merchant ships that come to and from Korea, and the island is a wonderful strategic point for our country to spread into the Pacific Ocean. In short, Jeju is the best place to secure our countrys lifeline.

Some oppose the project, however, saying that it is outrageous to build a naval base on Jeju, the island of peace. Some maintain that a naval base would damage the tourism industry on the resort island.

But Hawaii, the mecca of tourism around the world, has the worlds largest naval base. Victoria, the beautiful city in the western part of Canada, also has the command of the ever expanding Canadian Pacific Fleet. Just as Gangwon Province and Gyeonggi Province were at the forefront during the Cold War era, Jeju is at the forefront for the future of Korea that will spread into the ocean.

Peace does not come for free. We need to protect it. Strong military capacity is a basic requirement for conducting superb diplomacy and protecting peace. Peace is the reason why the naval base in Jeju must be built as soon as possible.

*The writer is a Ph.D. of political science and senior researcher at the Korea Maritime Institute. Translation by the JoongAng Daily staff.

by Lee Chun-keun

Aktuelle Petitionen


Aufruf: Freilassung der politischen Gefangenen in Südkorea - Dez 2017


Chejudo/Jejudo: alle Beiträge