GYEONGGI PROVINCE GOVERNOR'S AMBITIOUS AGENDA

UNCLAS SEOUL 003366

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KS
SUBJECT: GYEONGGI PROVINCE GOVERNOR'S AMBITIOUS AGENDA

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) The Ambassador met with Kim Moon-soo, the newly
elected Governor of Gyeonggi Province, on September 28. His
province is of particular interest at this time because the
majority of U.S. troops currently stationed at Yongsan in
Seoul will be relocated to a base in the city of Pyeongtaek
in Gyeonggi province. Kim outlined a number of initiatives
that he is undertaking in an attempt to forge better
relations between U.S. troops stationed in his province and
the local Korean population. (NOTE: 87 percent of U.S.
troops in Korea are stationed within the Gyeonggi province
boundaries. END NOTE). His plans range from multi-cultural
festivals to U.S. soldiers and family members volunteering as
English teachers in the local schools. Kim reassured the
Ambassador that progress will move forward on the relocation
of U.S. troops to Pyeongtaek and affirmed his commitment to a
smooth transition for USFK, while also looking for economic
opportunities that would bring long-term benefits to his
province. END SUMMARY.

TROOPS FOR TEACHERS
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2. (SBU) The recurring theme of Kim's message was to better
involve the English-speaking community in the education of
his province's children. In particular, Kim has proposed a
plan to General Bell and Lieutenant General Trexler to have
USFK provide a corps of volunteer native-English language
instructors for local schools. Noting that it costs
approximately $50,000 dollars to bring in a language
instructor to Korea for a year, Kim called this a
cost-effective method to deal with the drastic shortage of
native English speakers in the schools. (NOTE: Kim estimates
that they can only fill 20 percent of the English teaching
positions in Gyeonggi province at present. END NOTE).
Economics aside, Kim said that using soldiers as teachers was
another method for local students to gain respect for U.S.
troops, citing the Korean saying that a King, Teacher and
Father are all one. Kim further emphasized his point by
noting that he may not always listen to his own brother, whom
he greatly admires, but he will always respect his former
teachers, even from 40 years ago.


3. (SBU) When asked if the Ambassador and other Embassy
officers might also participate in the teaching program, the
Ambassador explained the current methods of outreach with the
public in the form of 85 Fulbright exchanges each year that
bring Americans to smaller villages in Korea as well as the
American Corners in Busan, Daegu and Kwangju. The Ambassador
agreed that this type of exchange will certainly help to
bridge gaps between the two cultures and he would look for
ways to involve the Embassy staff when possible. In addition
to the soldiers volunteering, spouses of soldiers should also
have the opportunity to work in the schools as paid
instructors to provide employment opportunities to attract
more USFK families to come to Pyeongtaek.

PROTESTS IN PYEONGTAEK
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4. (SBU) Voicing concern over the intensity and frequency of
anti-U.S. protests in Pyeongtaek, the Ambassador inquired as
to the makeup of the protestors and the local sentiment in
the area around the new base. Kim explained that a Catholic
priest, who happens to be a close friend of the Governor, was
one of the leaders of the protests against the relocation of
troops to Pyeongtaek. In discussions with the priest, Kim
bluntly asked where the troops should go if they must leave
Seoul. The priest said the troops should remain in Korea but
that he felt bad for the farmers who were being displaced by
the U.S. base expansion necessary for the relocation effort.
Speaking as a former anti-U.S. protestor himself, Kim said
that the protestors could not be persuaded to change their
opinion since the last two Presidential administrations
brought out anti-U.S. sentiment among the Korean people.


5. (SBU) The Ambassador further noted that delays in the
base expansion in Pyeongtaek also affected the timetable for
building a new Embassy at Camp Coiner. Although the current
living situation and location of Embassy officers and U.S.
troops on Yongsan is comfortable and convenient, he reminded
Kim that the relocation out of Seoul was necessary for the
long-term welfare of the alliance, and Gyeonggi Province
would benefit economically from the move.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
--------------


6. (SBU) Kim said that, contrary to protesting the move of
U.S. forces to Pyeongtaek, many locals see the move as an
opportunity to invigorate the economy by opening stores,
restaurants, and educational centers targeting the dramatic
influx of people that will accompany the move. In
particular, Kim stated he was hopeful that an American
university would consider opening a field campus near Camp
Humphreys. When approached with the idea, Kim said General
Trexler, Commander of the 7th Air Force stationed in
Pyeongtaek, welcomed the notion and suggested that maybe his
alma mater, the University of Missouri, should be approached
for this type of relationship. Kim envisions that a U.S.
university would provide services to both U.S. troops as well
as local students eager to receive a U.S. education who may
be unable to afford the cost. Taking the thought further,
Kim said he planned to seek other forms of U.S. investment in
the form of hospitals, factories, and businesses.


7. (SBU) Kim said he planned to develop more suitable
housing options for U.S. troops to better attract families as
opposed to unaccompanied soldiers. By providing adequate
housing, job opportunities at local schools, and a more
vibrant shopping and entertainment venue, Kim said he planned
to make Pyeongtaek a sought-after post for soldiers and their
families. Foreign Relations Advisor, Ambassador Kim
Young-mok, delivered the same message on behalf of Vice
Governor Won Yoo-chul. Ambassador Kim added his own request
that Ambassador Vershbow lobby the ROKG to create a rail link
between Pyeongtaek city and port to provide travel
alternatives to U.S. troops in addition to the other local
opportunities. Ambassador Vershbow said this was an
interesting idea, but fell outside his role as a foreign
Ambassador.

NORTH KOREAN INITIATIVES
--------------


8. (SBU) Asked to explain further his initiatives to support
economic development and human rights in North Korea, the
Governor affirmed his continued support for agricultural
programs to provide food to North Koreans as well as the
technology to do farming more efficiently. As an example,
Kim noted that a team of 40 Gyeonggi Province workers was
currently in Pyongyang to assist with the rice harvest under
the care and sponsorship of Gyeonggi Province. Although the
North invited 150 people (including the Governor) from the
province to come for the event, in light of his own party's
political sensitivities, the U.S. position, and the recent
UNSCR resolution 1695, Kim decided not to travel to Pyongyang
at this time.


9. (SBU) Despite Kim's reluctance to travel to North Korea,
he remains undeterred in his aspirations to help the people
there. He expressed his desire and duty to help all North
Koreans experience the joys of liberty and democracy
available in South Korea and the United States. Ambassador
Vershbow agreed with the grass-roots approach to promoting
change in the North, rather than aiding the North Korean
regime. At the same time, he found it ironic that many of
Kim's former protestor colleagues who railed against the U.S.
in the 1980's for not calling for a more democratic society
in South Korea were the same people who today were critical
of the U.S. for speaking out against the lack of democratic
freedoms in North Korea.

POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR FTA
--------------


10. (SBU) Governor Kim agreed with the Ambassador that given
more time, the FTA would emerge in a positive light in Korea.
The missing element at this time was an actual agreement
that can be analyzed and reviewed objectively. Too many
college students were protesting against the agreement that
they perceived would result from a smaller economy (South
Korea) negotiating with a much larger economy (the U.S.) and
losing out. The Ambassador reminded Kim that any viable
trade agreement would need to reflect mutual concessions and
a balance of interests if we hoped to see it passed in the
respective legislatures of each country. Contrary to popular
belief, the U.S. did not possess "magical powers" to elicit
unilateral concessions from its negotiating counterparts.
VERSHBOW