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Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea’s representative to defense cost-sharing negotiations with the US. (Yonhap News)

Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea’s representative to defense cost-sharing negotiations with the US, responded on Feb. 28 to the US Forces Korea (USFK) Command’s notification that South Korean employees could be placed on unpaid administrative furlough as of Apr. 1 if an agreement cannot be reached on the new defense cost-sharing arrangement.

“We have already proposed to the US that we sign a memorandum of exchange for a priority resolution of the personnel cost issue,” Jeong said, adding that he “look[s] forward to the US accepting this proposal.”

Speaking in a press conference that day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Jeong explained that the memorandum of exchange “includes priority support for the personnel costs for South Korean workers from a South Korean defense cost-sharing budget established at the same level as last year, which is to be included in the final agreement.”

“If necessary, we are prepared to proceed with National Assembly ratification procedures for the second time to reach an agreement without unpaid furloughs,” he added.

Jeong also said, “While South Korea and the US may differ on key issues such as the total amount, there is no disagreement between us on the matter of personnel costs, and we look forward to the US accepting this.”

“South Korea and the US share the attitude that unpaid furloughs are not a desirable outcome in terms of strengthening and development the South Korea-US alliance in connection with South Korean USFK employees and ensuring livelihood stability for workers,” he emphasized.

Commenting on the current situation with the 11st Special Measures Agreement, Jeong said, “We’ve had six rounds of discussions, and while our two sides have broadened the scope of our understanding to some extent, there are still some differences in terms of reaching a final agreement.”

“The South Korean government does not really view the US’ revised plan as a proposal at a meaningful level,” he said.

He went to say, “I see it as unfortunate that the next meeting has been postponed despite our repeated proposal to meet for bilateral discussions.”

In a previous press release, the USFK Command said, “Due to the 2019 Special Measures Agreement lapse and the continued absence of a subsequent agreement, United States Forces Korea provided their Korean National employees with a required 30-day notice of its decision to commence an administrative furlough that will begin on April 1, 2020 absent an agreed upon SMA.”

In its announcement, it explained that it was complying with US law requiring a month’s advance (30 days) notice before implementing unpaid furloughs. While the message was a renewed announcement of one released 60 days in advance according to the relevant law, critics are arguing that South Korean USFK workers are being used as pawns in a bid to pressure South Korea into paying a higher share of defense costs.

The announcement that day was made to all of USFK’s roughly 9,000 South Korean employees. While the US Department of Defense previously said it would provide pay for South Korean workers in key positions, this plan was not applied in the announcement.

USFK said it was “continu[ing] to analyze DOD’s decision of who will be subject to the potential furlough.”

By Kim So-youn, staff reporter, and Yoo Kang-moon, senior staff writer

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