South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday that the revised Special Act on Support for Pyeongtaek-si and Other Areas Following the Relocation of U.S. Military Bases was promulgated following Cabinet approval. The extension bill was introduced in April and passed the National Assembly on May 7.
The law, which had been set to expire Dec. 31, will now remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2030 — its fourth extension, according to officials.
The USFK Base Relocation Office said the support law, originally enacted in 2004, provided the legal basis for relocating several U.S. military facilities to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, including the Combined Forces Command, which moved in October 2022.
An official from the relocation office said some development projects in Pyeongtaek have not yet been completed. The official said an extension was also needed to complete remaining Yongsan facility projects, environmental cleanup of returned U.S. military sites, and revenue measures through land sales.
Chung Chul-jae, head of the USFK Base Relocation Office, said the extension will serve as an important bridge to complete the relocation project.
“We will do our best to return former U.S. military sites to the people based on cleanup work that meets public expectations,” Chung said.
The office said it plans to use the amendment to complete the relocation project while responding to public interest in returned U.S. military sites and promoting shared growth with local communities.