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Jung Eun-bo, South Korea’s chief negotiator in its defense cost-sharing talks with the US, and his US counterpart James DeHart pose for a photograph ahead of the seventh round of their negotiations, held in Los Angeles on Mar. 17. (provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

South Korea and the US are making little progress in their defense cost-sharing negotiations. On Mar. 17, the two sides launched their seventh round of negotiations, held in the US, with the goal of concluding the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA). But over the course of three days, they only reaffirmed their disagreements without reaching any conclusions. This situation can be largely attributed to the US’ high-handed approach to the negotiations, and its demand for unilateral concessions from South Korea.

First of all, the cost-sharing contribution that the US is demanding is absurdly high. The US is reportedly asking for US$4 billion: that’s less than its original demand of US$5 billion, but still far higher than the 10% increase from last year’s contribution that South Korea has assumedly proposed. Given the rate of inflation, 10% is hardly a small increase. Unless the US lowers its demand to a reasonable amount, the two sides are unlikely to reach a deal.

Because of such considerations, South Korea proposed during the seventh round of negotiations that the two sides settle wages for South Koreans employed by US Forces Korea (UFSK) before moving on to bigger issues. According to this proposal, South Korea would hand over payroll costs under the terms of last year’s agreement for now and then fulfill the rest of its obligations after the final deal has been struck. But the US rejected this proposal on the grounds that it would make it harder to reach a comprehensive cost-sharing agreement, and it’s still threatening to furlough South Korean workers without pay on Apr. 1.

The union of South Korean employees under US Forces Korea (USFK) holds a press conference in front of the US Embassy in Seoul on Mar. 20. (Yonhap News)

We have to conclude that the US is holding the South Korean workers hostage in a bid to gain the upper hand in the negotiations. On Mar. 20, the labor union representing the USFK employees called for the US to retract its threatened furlough, which it criticized as being “a blot on the history of the ROK-US alliance that undermines the spirit of the alliance.” The union also vowed that its members would continue going to work even if they’re furloughed. If the US truly values its alliance with South Korea, it must not ignore the voice of the South Korean workers.

It’s obvious that the US’ unilateral and unreasonable demands are to blame for the prolongation of the cost-sharing negotiations and the looming possibility of a furlough. But the US has tried to pin the responsibility on South Korea, claiming that its lack of flexibility has put the negotiations in jeopardy. Passing the buck like this isn’t the appropriate attitude to take in the negotiations. Even if an agreement can’t be reached for now on the larger cost-sharing agreement, the US ought to at least show some good will by reaching an agreement on workers’ wages. We hope that the South Korean government will put its negotiating skills to good use while prioritizing the national interest and convince the US to take a reasonable stance in the negotiations.

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