Defense Infrastructure: Basing Uncertainties Necessitate Reevaluation of U.S. Construction Plans in South Korea
Highlights
The U.S.-South Korean Land Partnership Plan (LPP), signed in March 2002, was designed to consolidate U.S. installations, improve combat readiness, enhance public safety, and strengthen the U.S.-South Korean alliance by addressing some of the causes of periodic tension associated with the U.S. presence in South Korea. The Senate report on military construction appropriations for fiscal year 2003 directed GAO to review the LPP. GAO adjusted its review to also address the effect of ongoing reassessments of U.S. overseas presence upon the LPP and other infrastructure needs. In this report, GAO assessed (1) the scope of the LPP, (2) the implications on the LPP and other construction projects of proposals to change basing in South Korea, and (3) implementation challenges associated with the LPP that could affect future U.S. military construction projects in South Korea.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the Commander, U.S. Forces Korea, to reassess planned construction projects in South Korea as the results of ongoing studies associated with overseas presence and basing are finalized. |
DOD concurred with GAO's recommendation and, based on its reassessment of construction projects, $1.3 billion of ongoing and planned construction in South Korea was put on hold, cancelled, or redirected.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the Commander, U.S. Forces Korea, to prepare a detailed South Korea-wide infrastructure master plan for the changing infrastructure for U.S. military facilities in South Korea, updating it periodically as needed, and identifying funding requirements and division of funding responsibilities between the United States and South Korea. |
To respond to the requirements contained in the fiscal year 2004 Senate military construction appropriation bill report, OSD has annually issued master plans for changing its infrastructure overseas over the last two years. As part of the Pacific Command's annual master plans, the Commander, U.S. Forces Korea, has developed and included a detailed master plan for changing U.S. military facilities and bases in South Korea. The command has updated the plan periodically, as needed; identified funding requirements for constructing new facilities in South Korea; and provided estimated funding levels and responsibilities between the U.S. and South Korea governments for these new facilities.
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