Residents and officials from Gimcheon held a meeting Thursday with Defense Minister Han Min-koo over the possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system adjacent to the southern city. They, however, failed to make progress.

Mayor Park Bo-saeng and seven others from the city held an hour-long session with Han, during which he opposed the ministry’s option of deploying the THAAD at a Lotte-owned golf course in the adjacent Hojeon-myeon, North Gyeongsang Province.

The site belongs to Seongju-gun, but is geographically closer to Gimcheon, which is located to its north. As the THAAD’s radar will be directed northward -- to defend against North Korean ballistic missiles -- residents of Gimcheon have raised concern over potential health hazards.
“We told them (the ministry) that if the ministry truly seeks to protect the security of the people, they should select a spot where it (THAAD) will inflict the smallest damage upon the people. As the Seongju CC (golf course) is the closest among the candidate spots to Gimcheon citizens, we cannot accept this,” said Kim Se-won, the leader of a committee against the THAAD deployment in Gimcheon.

The last-minute meeting was announced this morning, after the committee had requested an audience with Han on Wednesday, according to the Defense Ministry.

After Seoul and Washington decided to deploy the THAAD here, the Defense Ministry had planned to station it in Seongsan-ri, Seongju-gun. But vehement opposition from the inhabitants there forced the ministry to contemplate an alternate spot within Seongju.

It is currently evaluating three spots, including the golf course.

Kim also said that the residents demanded that the ministry should include people of Gimcheon in the decision-making process that currently only includes Seongju citizens, citing how Gimcheon is potentially the one being most penalized by the deployment.

According to ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun, residents demanded that the ministry either: select a spot that would have the smallest effect on human health among the three candidates; stick with the original plan to deploy it in Seongsan-ri; or reconsider the deployment itself.

Moon said the mayor specifically said that while defending against the North is important, the ministry should retain its original plan for Seongsan-ri.

“The minister stressed that the military has decided to deploy the THAAD to better protect the people and the country against the North Korean threats. He urged understanding and support of residents in the cited areas, vowing to keep listening to what they have to say,” Moon said.

The residents’ group denied accusations of a not-in-my-back-yard attitude, saying it was the ministry who broke their own rules first.

“If Seongju says no (to THAAD), what justification does the ministry have on stationing it at Gimcheon? ...Whether it be Seongju, Gimcheon or Seoul, we all have the same rights as Koreans,” said committee leader Kim.

Gimcheon delegates expressed discontent about their meeting, during which Han had remained silent on any specific plans and said he will “consider their positions.”

After stepping out, the residents and Gimcheon city council members en masse shaved their heads in protest.

Prior to the meeting, hundreds of citizens from Gimcheon had gathered in front of a war memorial across the street from the ministry to protest the deployment of THAAD near their city.

From the chanting and placards hoisted by the protesters, it was apparent that the residents have yet to reach a consensus on what they are demanding.

While the delegates group focused more on hosting THAAD elsewhere, many of the participants at the rally were calling for the plan to be scrapped entirely.

“They say there is no such thing as an ‘ultimate ally’ or a ‘perennial foe,’ yet (the government) is forcing a choice between the US and China,” said one participant to angry cheers of “That’s right!” and “No THAAD!”

By Yoon Min-sik(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)