AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES HIALEAH WITH AN EAGER BUSAN

UNCLAS SEOUL 000576 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR EINV KS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES HIALEAH WITH AN EAGER BUSAN MAYOR ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik called on Ambassador Stephens on April 2 to thank her for progress on the Joint Assessment Environmental Procedure affecting the return of Camp Hialeah. The Ambassador and Mayor agreed that a quick and smooth return is in both countries' interests. For economic and political reasons, Mayor Hur is eager for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) to turn over Camp Hialeah so he can transform it into a major park in Busan. In addition to contacting the Embassy and APP Busan on Hialeah, Mayor Hur is communicating directly with the Ministry of Environment and the Foreign Ministry to try to expedite the camp's return. END SUMMARY USING MEETINGS AND PRESS STATEMENTS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On April 2, Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik called on Ambassador Stephens to express thanks for her work on the recent agreement on the Joint Assessment Environmental Procedure (JEAP). The Ambassador and Mayor Hur agreed that returning Hialeah quickly is a shared goal of all involved parties. The Ambassador also emphasized that, as allies, the U.S. and ROK should be able to overcome any differences that arise during the handover process, allowing the environmental assessment to be completed in a spirit of cooperation. Mayor Hur shared that Busan City has directly contacted the Environment Ministry and Foreign Ministry to ask that they expeditiously implement the JEAP. He also commented that Busan City has completed its plans and secured the budget for a park to be built in Hialeah's stead, and is ready to act as soon as the camp is returned. ¶3. (U) Mayor Hur's call on the Ambassador followed a March 19 press conference at Busan City Hall in which he acknowledged the March 18 JEAP agreement between the USFK and ROKG, thanked the Ambassador for her role in supporting the agreement, and publicly discussed Busan City's preparations to convert Camp Hialeah into a park. Although USFK and the ROKG reached agreement on the JEAP on March 18, it was not finalized until March 20, making Mayor Hur's announcement the first public announcement, prior to an announcement by either the ROKG or USFK. COMMENT: BUSAN, AN ANXIOUS ALLY -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Understandably, Mayor Hur is eager to receive the land on which Hialeah resides and turn it into a park. To expedite its opening to the public, Busan City plans to open certain sections of the camp as a park while it is renovating the rest. Camp Hialeah is the only remaining piece of undeveloped property in the downtown area. The city plans on making it a first-class park and then renovating and developing the surrounding areas into commercial and residential real estate. The project promises to infuse much needed funds into downtown Busan, which has lost much of its industry to cheaper rural areas and to overseas destinations with lower labor costs. ¶5. (SBU) With the 2010 local elections approaching, Mayor Hur sees in Hialeah an opportunity to boost his political capital. Hur will seek political mileage on anything connected with the return of Hialeah, including meetings with the Ambassador and senior ROKG officials working this issue. For the Embassy and USFK, there is little or no downside to Mayor Hur's dedication, because our goal is the same: an early return of Camp Hialeah to the Korea. STEPHENS