오산기지1990-94 이시우 2006/05/10 1138

http://kalaniosullivan.com/OsanAB/OsanSongtand.html

1990
Songtan
Education On 10 Oct 1988, the Taegwang High School had 15 normal classes and 15 commerce classes for their students. However, the class sizes were decreasing. By 18 Sep 1990, the Taegwang High School operated 12 normal classes and 12 commerce classes, with 6 classes for completer information management. This reflected the declining family sizes throughout the ROK that impacted all the schools nationwide.

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Songtan Bar. (1990) (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)

Songtan bar area. (1990) (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)

The Changing Bar Scene of Songtan According to the Pyeongtaek History, 1990 was a turning point for the bars of Songtan. At that time the bars could no longer attract Korean bar girls to the clubs as they could earn more than double (or triple) the amounts in Korean clubs in Seoul. All that was left in the Songtan bars were the aging Korean bar girls. The bar owners found it difficult to attract younger girls to work in their bars. In addition, the bar owners complained that they could not earn a living given the rising costs of paying for bar girls as well as a downturn from the free-spending days of the past. As a result, the bars turned to the importation of Russian and Filipina women to work in the bars. At first the bar owners attempted to treat these foreign bar girls as Korean bar girls, but there were too many cultural problems. The cost of importing these girls required upfront money placing a further financial burden on the bar owners.

Pyeongtaek Police reported problems with these women due to communication difficulties — in that they could not speak Korean and were frequently caught in unlawful acts. The Korean police started getting complaints about these foreign women as they failed to pay their bills and created disturbances due their being drunk and disorderly in public. During Team Spirit, these women also “disappeared” from the bars with their new-found American boyfriends — creating a runaway illegal alien problem involving the Immigration authorities. (Source: Pyeongtaek City History CD, “Pyeongtaek Si Sa.”)

(NOTE: The Russian women appeared in the Korean bars first and then the Songtan bars joined in importing these women. The Russians had already established their presence in Pusan with the taking over of the “Little Texas” area — and also the appearance of the Russian “mafia” in the area as well. The Filipinas came next and were preferred as they spoke English. By Aug 1999, the Pyeongtaek area had 21 towns employing these foreign “entertainers” for a total of 343 persons.)

It was at this point the bar owners increased the going rate for sex services to bring the camptown rates for sex (prostitution fees) more in line with what was paid in the Korean bars. This is where the Korean Bar Owners Association turned from being bar owners into brothel managers. The old use of bar fines to offset the loss of income for a girl who left early became an open “ticket” for prostitution. The scene was being set up for a disastrous confrontation. In a few years, these women would be the center of a human trafficking scandal that rocked the USFK in July 2002 when a FOX affiliate released an expose on the seedier side of life in Songtan and Euijongbu. (See A-town and Prostitution for details on this sordid area.)

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Kwangju Trip

The following are photos of a trip to Kwangju by Ken Shallenbarger posted to the Osan Retired Activities Office. The photos give a good comparison as to the changes in the Cholla provinces to the south. In the 1960s, the road was dirt and a dust bowl in summer and a mud hole in the rainy season. The photos show the improvements from a dirt road in the 1960s to a paved highway — albeit two lane — that made travel feasible. Along the way, the “service station” (rest stops) were necessities as these were the only places with toilets. Along the long stretches of road in the sparsely populated mountain areas it was not uncommon to see cars pulled off to the side of the road for a “pit stop.” Also gone were the “choga chip” the farmer mud wattle homes as the farmers switched to brick structures. The “vinyl houses” were now standard for growing vegetables.

The other point was the establishment of “Special Cities” of which Kwangju was one to focus balanced industrial growth on key cities in Korea. In truth, the Miracle of the Han took about ten years to trickle down to the southern provinces. Kwangju AB remained a contingency base for the USFK and maintained buildings and WRM materials/vehicles to support any outbreak of war. Kwangju acted as a contingency base intended to beddown the F-15s from Elmendorf and had upgraded the combat turn facilities used for Kunsan and Osan exercises.

Highway to Taejon from Osan (1990) (Ken Shallenger) (Notice that the road system now was a two-lane paved highway — a much appreciated improvement over the dirt roads of the 1960s.
Tunnels were unlit (1990) (Ken Shallenger)

Vinyl houses for vegetables during winter (1990) (Ken Shallenger)
War Monument between Kunsan and Iksan along highway (1990) (Ken Shallenger)

Small truck loaded to overflowing — a typical sight anywhere on the roads (NOTE: It would be another ten years before large container trucks (small versions of “semis”) started making the inter-city hauls. This included the moving between cities of household goods in large moving vans.) (1990) (Ken Shallenger)
Highway “Service Station” (Rest Stop) (1990) (Ken Shallenger)

Houses with Solar Panels (NOTE: The use of solar panels was widely discussed in Korea after fuel shortages boosted electricity and fuel costs. Many country homes saw the advantages of solar energy and switched. Especially popular in areas without major snowfall, the roof-mounted supplementary solar water heaters were common sights.) (1990) (Ken Shallenger)
Kwangju houses and school (1990) (Ken Shallenger)

Kwangju Houses (1990) (Ken Shallenger)
Kwangju Hotel (1990) (Ken Shallenger) (Notice the typical construction shows a more contemporary appearance reflected throughout Korea at the time — but still old-fashioned by American standards.)

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Flooding Between 11-12 Aug 1990 there was a large flood in the area.

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19th TASS Moves Back to Osan under 51st Operations Group The 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron was transferred from the 5th Tactical Air Control Group to the 51st Fighter Group (later the 51st Operations Group) on 1 Oct 1990. The unit was ultimately inactivated on 1 October 1993. (Source: AFHRA: 19th WS.)
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460th TRG at Taegu Deactivated The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (TRG) of Taegu AB (K2) with its RF-4Cs was deactivated in 1990. (See Wayne Hoff’s narrative in 1989.) The 460th TRG traced its lineage to the 460th TRW assigned to Ton Son Nhut AB, RSVN on February 1966. The unit was inactivated in August 1971. It was reactivated in 1989 as the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (TRG) at Taegu AB, ROK and assumed control of the 15th TRS (Tail code: GU/tail color: Black & Yellow) which was moved from the 18th TFW at Kadena and relocated to Taegu. (NOTE: The collapse of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact led to accelerated retirement plans for active duty USAF RF-4Cs. The deactivation was also partially based on the Nunn-Warner Initiative that took place in 1990 to reduce the forces in Korea by 25%. In addition, the mission of the RF-4Cs was replaced by the use of the U-2s out of Osan AB that were able to overfly North Korea at high-altitude.)
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36th TFS (USAF Photo)

36th TFS Deployments
Between 16-36 Jan 1990 deployed to Cope Thunder 90-3.
Between 1-2 Feb 1990 deployed to Cope Tora 90-1.
Between 13-22 Mar 1990 Team Spirit ’90 was held.
Between 20 Apr-7 May deployed to Cope Jade 90-2.
Between 4-15 Jun 1990 deployed to Cope Thunder 90-7.
Between 6-16 Aug 1990 HQ PACAF UEI was held.
Between 2-18 Nov 1990 36 TFS deploys six aircraft to Cope West exercise in Thailand. 5 Nov 1990.
Between 21-26 Nov 1990 36 TFS deploys four aircraft to Kunsan AB for higher HQ tasking.

(Source: 36th Fiends History.)

First LANTIRN aircraft arrives (6 June 1990) (36th Fiends Site)
36TFS Developments Received new LANTIRN-equipped F-16C Block 42 aircraft in June 1990. These are equipped with the F100-PW-220 engine. Initial batch of F-16Cs transferred to 8th TFW at Kunsan. (See General Dynamics F-16 Info.)

The next major Fighting Falcon production block was Block 40/42, sometimes also known as the “Night Falcon” because of its enhanced night/all-weather capabilities.

Block 40/42 (also part of MSIP III) introduced the Martin-Marietta LANTIRN (Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red for Night) navigation and targeting system, which makes it possible to carry out both night and bad-weather ground attack operations. This system consists of two pods–a AAQ-13 navigation pod carried on the left-hand chin pylon and an AAQ-14 targeting pod on the right-hand chin pylon. The AAQ-13 has a wide-angle FLIR sensor and a Texas Instruments terrain-following radar. The AAQ-14 pod carries a stabilized and steerable IR imager and a laser rangefinder.

The LANTIRN must interface with the flight controls, since the pod flies the airplane while in terrain-following mode. The LANTIRN system required a lot more automation to make it possible for the pilot to fly hands-off while in a weapons-delivery mission, and the analog flight control system of the F-16 was replaced by an AlliedSignal quadruplex flight control system. The digital flight control system allows data to go straight from the LANTIRN pod right to the flight control system, and allows automatic terrain-following capability.

The Block 40/42 is provided with a fully-integrated GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation receiver, being the first combat aircraft to be so equipped. HARM II, and carries the reliability-enhanced APG-68V radar.

The Block 40/42 is also provided with a diffractive optics and holographic, wide-angle heads-up display built by GEC-Marconi. It offers a wider field of view than the previous reflective HUD, and imagery can be superimposed over the outside view. The HUD can be fed with FLIR imagery from the LANTIRN system.

The configured engine bay has options for either the General Electric F110-GE-100 (Block 40) or the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 (Block 42), although the two engines are not routinely interchangeable. The Block 40 F-16 has a larger air intake than that of the Block 42 because of the greater airflow requirements of the F110 engine.

The airframe was provided with greater structural strength, which raised the 9-g capability from 26,900 pounds to 28,500 pounds. The undercarriage legs were made longer in order to provide more adequate clearance for the two underfuselage LANTIRN pods, and the wheels and tires were made larger. The Block 40/42 aircraft also have bulged landing gear doors to accommodate the larger wheels, and the landing lights were moved from the main landing gear well to the nose gear doors.

(Source: Baugher Site: Lockheed F-16 Block 40/32.)

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F-16 Accidents On 21 Jul 1990 an F-16 with a brake malfunction crashed into a parked C-130 on the MAC ramp. On 13 Aug 1990 an F-16 departs runway due to brake failure. (Source: 36th Fiends History.)
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Collapse of the Communist Empire: On the international scene, the total collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe, dissolution of Warsaw pacts, and the eventual break up of the Soviet Union changed the face of the U.S. military in Korea. The Cold War was over and North Korea’s Russian benefactor was broke. China was asking North Korea for oil payments in hard currency only. North Korea did not appear to be a viable threat.
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Planned US Reduction of Forces: America started to make plans to disassemble its forces. At first, the American forces were slated for a 25% reduction, but the South Korean government still feared North Korean intentions. Korea wished the American forces to stay.

Talks between the ROK Minister of National Defense and US Secretary of Defense were conducted. The treaty on creating JUSMAG-K was concluded.

In January 1990, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney announced the closing of three of the five United States air bases in South Korea and schedule the withdrawal of about two thousand air force personnel. One month later, Seoul accepted Washington’s intention to withdraw about five thousand noncombatant troops from the American force of more than forty-three thousand soldiers in South Korea.

In April 1990, the Bush administration sent a troop reduction plan, based on the Nunn-Warner East Asia Strategy Evaluation Report, to the US Congress. At first, the American forces were slated for a 25% reduction, but the South Korean government still feared North Korean intentions and was opposed to the ‘high’ rate of reduction. It preferred instead a more gradual rate of reduction. The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was renegotiated in 1990 with a significant increase in the Korean portion of the defense expenditures.

Seoul accepted Washington’s intention to withdraw about 5,000 noncombatant troops from the American force of more than 43,000 soldiers in South Korea as part of Phase One of its plan. At the end of 1990, 39,317 American military remained in Korea. The original plan called for 2,000 Air Force and 5,000 non-combat ground troops would be withdrawn from Korea starting in 1991 and completed by 1993. At the end of 1990, 39,317 American military remained in Korea. Phase Two of the original plan planned to reduce the troop strength in Korean to about 30,000 between 1994-1995. Unfortunately, the North Korean nuclear crisis that pushed the peninsula to the brink of war stopped the implementation. This crisis shelved any further troop reduction plans and since that time there have been no changes to the manning in Korea.

Since 1993, the troop strength has remained at about 37,000 without further talks of troop withdrawals until 2003 when the US in frustration with its “reluctant ally” unilaterally removed 3,600 men of the 2d Bde 2d ID to Iraq ostensibly as part of its move to relocate its troops south of the Han River.
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Tensions over Tunnel 4: The tensions between the north showed some progress. The first South-North high-level talks were held in Seoul. However, the discovery of Tunnel No. 4 soon cooled discussions. There had been persistent complaints of sounds of digging in the northern provinces but there was nothing discovered.
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Desert Storm: Desert Storm erupted. For the Koreans, the working-level negotiation team and on-the-spot investigation team were dispatched to Saudi Arabia with a mission to prepare for dispatching a medical care support team to Gulf War. The ROK Armed Forces Medical Care Support Group was dispatched to the Gulf. The medical team was sent to the south of Saudi Arabia far away from the combat zones.

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1991

Seojong Elementary School Buildings (1991) (Seojong Elementary 80th Anniversary Book (2003))
Seojong Elementary Students in class (1994) (Seojong Elementary 80th Anniversary Book (2003))

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ROK and DPRK join the UN Together In August 1991, South Korea joined the United Nations along with North Korea. The joint entry into the UN was a direct result of Roh Tae-woo’s “Northern Openess” campaign which sought to open communications channels to start the process of reunification. In a major initiative on July 7, 1988, South Korean President Roh Tae Woo called for new efforts to promote exchanges, family reunification, inter-Korean trade, and contact in international fora. President Roh called on Korea’s friends and allies to pursue contacts with the North, and said that the South intended to seek better relations with the U.S.S.R. and China.

Roh’s initiative provided renewed momentum for dialogue. The two sides met several times at Panmunjom in an unsuccessful attempt to arrange a joint meeting of the two Korean parliaments. Meetings to discuss arrangements for prime ministerial-level talks led to a series of such meetings starting in 1990. In late 1991, the two sides signed the Agreement on Reconciliation, Non-aggression, Exchanges and Cooperation and the Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Joint Declaration called for a bilateral nuclear inspection regime to verify the denuclearization of the peninsula. (Source: .)

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36 TFS Developments
4 Jun 1991 Cope Tora bombing competition held at Osan AB. 36 TFS team wins the coveted golf trophy.
7-16 Jun 1991 Osan’s runway closes and the 36th deploys to Kunsan AB.
17 Jun 1991 Phase I ORI. Wing receives a marginal.
13 Aug-14 Sep Air-to-air deployment to Paya Labar, Singapore for
1991 Commando Sling 91-2.
30 Aug 1991 First targeting pod arrives.
3 Sep 1991 36th becomes the first operational F-16 unit to practice laser targeting.
4-9 Nov 1991 Foal Eagle 91.

(Source: 36th Fiends History.)
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ROK General to Armistice Committee: A major change that happened to the Armistice Committee was that the US senior representative of the United States Forces to the Military Armistice Committee was replaced by a representative from the ROK. This appointment of a Korean General caused a great deal of screaming on the part of North Korea. In many people’s views, the North Koreans were justified. South Korea was never a signatory of the armistice that ended the Korean War. As a result, the U.S. (signing as the United Nations Commander), China and North Korea were the only signatories. Following this logic, a Korean general would have been unsuitable for the Armistice Committee — even if he was Commanding General of the Combined Field Army (CFA). In the end, his name was withdrawn.

Though denied, this incident triggered the ROK to remove the CFA from under the CFC during peacetime operations.

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Assault in Songtan-shi According to the Pyeongtaek History, on 4 Apr 1992, four drunken soldiers assaulted Yan Chong-song (29) in Songtan-shi in the Shinjang area after he confronted the four soldiers by sticking his head out of an open window. The individuals smashed Mr. Yan’s face into the glass. Mr. Yan required 10 days of hospitalization and suffered a heart attack. He moved away from the area to Saektong after the incident. Outcome of the incident is unknown. (Source: Pyeongtaek City History CD, “Pyeongtaek Si Sa.”)
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Air Defense Artillery aligned under ROKAF: A major realignment took effect with the army’s air defense artillery was transferred to the air force. The air force’s Air Defense Artillery Command was established. Under this concept the aging Nike Hercules batteries were transferred to the ROKAF control. This alignment is the same that Taiwan accomplished in 1990 as well.

At this time, the ROKAF at Osan established the Air Defense Command along with the Air Defense Artillery unit.
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ROK responsible for DMZ: In 1991, ROK Armed Forces took full responsibility for guarding the entire 155-mile truce line. In truth, the ROK Armed Forces had already taken responsibility in 1970 for the guarding of the entire frontline of the DMZ — with the exception of the Panmunjon Peace Village. In 1991, the ROK took control of the Panmunjon Peace Village as well. The ROK and the US concluded the Wartime Host Nation Support agreement.

However, this soon proved premature as the whole USFK troop reduction process was stalled by North Korea’s nuclear programs in 1994. The U.S. forces remained as part of the 550-man JSA contingent of which 60 percent was ROK. It would not be until 2003 when the subject of the ROK taking over the JSA again surfaced and was again taken off the table by the U.S.
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Nuclear-Free Korea: President Ro Tae Woo declared that South Korea was a nuclear-free zone. However, it was not until 1992 that the last of the nuclear weapons under U.S. control were removed from Korea. The nuclear weapons are assumed to be in Guam prepositioned for any altercation.

In September 1991, President Bush announced the withdrawal of all naval and land-based forward deployed tactical nuclear systems, including those in South Korea. During the mid-1970s, US nuclear weapons storage sites in South Korea included Osan Air Base, Kunsan Air Base, Kwang Ju Air Base, Camp Ames, Camp Colbern, and Batteries A-F of the 44th Air Defense Artillery’s 2nd Battalion [the nuclear weapons storage site at Osan was deactivated late in 1977 when the Nike missiles were decommissioned.].

The last nukes left Korea in 1992, but persistent reports by anti-nuclear activists that nukes are still at various USFK bases — including Osan — but mostly aimed at Chinhae which is the docking point for US nuclear submarines carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles. The fact that the US has practiced nuclear strike exercises against the North in Florida has not increased the trust amongst activists.
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ROK Developments After the fall of the Berlin Wall, pressures as well as hopes of an early reunification grew primarily in the South. North and South Korea began to negotiate at the prime minister level. From 1988 to 1992, a series of meetings took place and two important documents were signed: Agreement on reconciliation, non-aggression, and exchanges and cooperation between the South and the North in 1991, and the joint declaration of the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in 1992. Both Koreas joined the UN as full members in 1991. Yet unlike the two Germanys in 1972, the two Koreas failed to recognize each other because of domestic political reasons. As between 1992 and 1994 the nuclear issue of North Korea triggered an international crisis, attempts to accommodate each other failed and instead the danger of a renewed military confrontation increased.

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1992
Population (1992) — Pyongtaek-Songtan: 289,966 (Source: Population: Korea)
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(L) Songbuk Elementary School Main Gate (Jul 1992) (NOTE: This is looking from the street into the school grounds.) (R) Sports Day (1992) (Songbuk Elementary School)

Teacher lecturing with students at wooden desks (1992) (Songbuk Elementary School)

Education On Osan AB, Building 252 was constructed during the summer of 1992 for seventh and eight grade students. These students were previously bussed to Seoul American High School along with students in grades 9 to 12. These two grade levels were moved to the Osan American High School when it opened in 1995. Sixth grade classrooms are located in Building 252. (Source: Osan American Elementary School)
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Osan Standard for Off-base Establishments (1992)

This guide set the guidelines for off-limits violations. It included the requirement to have any FEMALE employee submit their photo to the base. Activists took offense with this in 2005, but it actually was nothing more than a VD check requirement for the hospital to identify bar girls for monthly checks. In 2005, the ROK media and NGO activist groups attempted to make this book an issue, but it bombed. (See Korea Times, Controversy Rises Over US Military Jurisdiction on Local Bar District, 17 Mar 2005) (SeeA-town Pages)

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Prostitution in Songtan In the spring of 1992, a Korean Protestant minister who serves the prostitute community in Songt’an commented that prostitution and related businesses support 60% of Songt’an’s economy. (Conversations with Rev. Han, Songtan City, May 1992 by Katharine H.S. Moon.)

On the surface, simple market economics–”where the boys are”– has dictated the number of prostitutes and high density areas of military prostitution. When troops are withdrawn or redeployed, as in the early 1970s, the women and other kijich’on residents pick up their wares and move to where the soldiers resettle (chapter 3). Since 1990, Songt’an’s R&R business life has been growing because the Eighth Army headquarters, which had been in Seoul since the permanent stationing of U.S. troops in Korea, was scheduled to move in. I felt the heartbeat of this kijich’on throbbing with vigor when I visited Songt’an several times throughout the spring of 1992. It is the only kijich’on that is booming with loud music and thriving with business transactions even in the daytime. Its nightclub alleys, marketplace, and souvenir shops are filled with the hustle and bustle of Koreans and Americans, whereas most of the camptowns in the Paju area, that had housed the highest concentration of U.S. troops from 1953 to 1971–it was called the”GI’s Kingdom” (Source: Yangk’i ko hom, pp. 74-75) –now resemble sleepy shantytowns in the day and come to life slowly only at night. Besides Osan and American Town in Kunsan, Tongduch’on and Uijongbu are the two major R&R areas left; the latter two cater mostly to the 2d ID, the only U.S. army division remaining in Korea since 1971. Camptown residents and former prostitutes themselves acknowledge the significance of the U.S. troop count in their lives. They noted in conversations with me that the number of kijich’on prostitutes declined substantially in the late 1970s as a reaction to the Carter administration’s crusade to withdraw U.S. troops completely from South Korea. But Koreans have also noted that with the Reagan administration’s increase in the number of troops, beginning in 1984, the number of prostitutes also increased. (Source: Editorial Board, Tos? Publishers, Sarang ? P’umasi,(Love for Sale), p. 94). (SOURCE: Sex Among Allies: Military Prostitution in U.S./Korea Relations, by Katharine H.S. Moon.)
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ROK offers Incentives for Songtan Industrial Complex (Mokgok-dong) Government policies were molded to attract companies — especially foreign industries — to resettle in designated industrial zones. Tax breaks and reduced land prices were incentives offered by the ROK government.
Business investing on a large-scale will be given special incentives including designation of the investment areas as a Foreign Investment Zone, foundation facilities, financial support to help cover development costs and tax reductions – Criteria : a) Companies investing at least USD 50 million. b) Companies that hold at least 50% of the shares in the invested company and have at least 1,000 full-time employees c) Companies investing aat least USD30 million and having at least 300 full-time employees in all or part of a national or local industrial complex. Criteria of renting or purchasing state property
- Rent : 50~100% deduction for companies that invest USD 5~20 million and companies that create 100~300 new jobs (1% land price)
- Purchase : Foreign companies moving into a Foreign Investment Zone, companies investing over USD 500 million and companies that have between 500~1000 full-time employees will receive a 25~100% reduction in land price
- Purchasing in installments : When purchasing local government property, the purchase price can be paid over a 20 year period at an annual interest rate of 4% Industrial complexes :
- When moving into a national or regional industrial complex, companies will receive 100% exemption from land acquisition tax and registration tax- Property taxes and aggregate land taxes will be reduced by 50% one year.
Foreign Investment incentives:
Reduction of national and local taxes: – National taxes: 10 years (100% for the first 7 years, and 50% for an additional 3 years)
Reduction of Local Taxes: 100% for 15 years
Rental of state land including national industrial parks at 1% of the total cost of the land In Foreign Investment Zone, up to 100% rental may be exempted depending on the investment amount
Designation of the investment area as a Foreign Investment Zone for large scale FDI Projects
Tax reduction incentives on foreign capital goods for investment and industrial facilities
Corporate and income tax incentives for importing or supplying technology.
(Source: Kyeonggi Province.)
Development of the land was under way under the Korea Land Development Corporation for the Songtan Industrial Complex in Mokgok-dong. Also involved were the government agencies for rural development as an alternative to farming due to the projected opening of the rice markets in 2004. Mostly small-middle sized Seoul factories relocated to the area because of the rising cost-of-living was driving its profits down. (NOTE: At this time, the move to China as an option for cheap labor was not feasible as the ROK still maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It would sever ties with Taiwan in 1992 because of the growing business pressure to expand into China.)

One of the first to move was Shiheung Timber Co. which relocated its plant from Osan to its new Songtan plant in 1991. Another was the Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical Co. specializing in Oriental medicines which completed construction of its first factory facility in 1990 and its factory in 1992.

During this time period, Kyonggi Province started to work in expanding its industrial complexes concentrating on small- and medium-sized businesses in high-tech and technology-intensive industries.

Industrial zones
Asan National Indudstrial Complex (Wonjeong-district) (Pyeongtaek area) 6,564,000 sq meters Completed Unknown. (Source: Industryland.)

Asan National Industrial Complex (Poseung District) (Poseung-myeon, Pyeongtaek) 6,325,887 sq meters In work – Unknown (Source: Industryland.)

Poseung National Industrial Zone (Pyeongtaek and Asan) 6,685,000 sq meters 1992-2001 65 tenants // Applied meals, petro- chemilcals, wood, automobiles, iron, food and beverage(F&B)

Poseung Logistics Zone 957,000 sq meters 1992-2001

Chupal Local Industrial complex (Chupal-ri, Pyeongtaek) 609,999 sq meters 1993-1998 52 tenants // Automobile, primary Metals, F&B (Source: Industryland)

Anjung 1 Regional Industrial Zone 1,069,000 sq meters 1993-2000 87 tenants // Applied metals, auto- Mobiles, machinery, petrochemical

Anjung 2 Regional Industrial Zone 1,567,000 sq meters 1993-2000 45 tenants // Machinery, electronics, Electrical, F&B
Hyeongok Regional Industrial Zone 729,000 sq meters 1993-2000 45 tenants // Electronics, semi- conductors, electrical, computers, F&B (Source: Invest Korea)

Eoyeon-Hansan Local Industrial Complex (Eoyeon-ri/Hansan-ri, Cheongbuk-myeon, Pyeontaek) 689,700 sq meters 1993-1998 55 tenants // Electronics, semi- conductors, electrical, (Source: KISC.)

Eoyeon-Hansan Industrial Zone (2001). (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)

Chilgoe Local Industrial Complex (Chilkoi Local Industrial Complex) (Chilwon-dong/Chilgoe-dong, Pyeongtaek) 679,800 sq meters 1994-1997 25 tenants Automobile, machinery, Electronics (Source: KICOX.)

Jangdang Local Industrial Complex (Jangdang-dong, Pyeongtaek — Adjacent to Pyeongtaek-Songtan Local Industrial Complex) 148,500 sq meters 1994-1997 5 tenants // Automobile, electronic Machinery, F&B (Source: Industryland.)
Pyeongtaek-Songtan Local Industrial Complex (Mokgok-dong, Pyeongtaek — Adjacent to Jangdang Local Industrial Complex) 1,086,289 sq meters Completed – Unknown. (Source: Industryland.)

Songtan Industrial Zone (2001). (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)

Pyeongtaek Local Industrial Complex (Segyo-dong, Pyeongtaek) 534,798 sq meters Completed – Unknown. (Source: Industryland.)

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ROK establishes Diplomatic Relations with China (Aug 92) Republic of China and the ROK established diplomatic relations on 24 August 1992. The immediate impact was the departure of Chinese who were leaving the country making Inchon’s “China Town” a deserted ghost town. The ROK was one of the last of the supporters of the Taiwan government but ROK businesses clamored for the opening of the Chinese markets — and most wanted to set up plants in China to take advantage of the cheap labor — as well as get in on the ground floor of what appeared to be a blossoming consumer market. It was an essential move that served the interests of both nations.

The first companies to move to China were the larger Chaebols, but they immediately experienced problems with Chinese labor in technological sophistication. Some areas proved to be very difficult to move the processes over without educating the workers. Low-tech industries transitioned very easily to the Chinese markets. Within a short period of time, there were great concerns that the job market in Korea would suffer as more and more businesses moved to China.

As the costs in Korea continued to rise, more and more small and medium sized businesses moved their operations to China. The effect was that the faltering of the decentralization drive to move the industries out of the high-cost Seoul and other metropolitan areas to places such as the Kyonggi-do areas. Instead of relocating to the country-side, the businesses were moving to China. The government worked to improve the infrastructure in the 1990s (roads, rail and shipping) to make the moves more attractive, but progress was slow.

For the Pyeongtaek area, the growth was minimal. There was an initial spurt as areas were reclaimed and new apartments were built in Osan, Pyeongtaek, and Songtan as well as new schools for this expanded population — but soon the construction contracts moved to other areas and the growth in Pyeongtaek faltered. The major problem was that there still was no infrastructure to support more growth.

Most of the factories moving into the area were relying on foreign workers to assume the burden for reducing labor costs. Many of the agricultural based industries (chicken and dairy farms) turned to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia and Thailand for their labor force. The net result was that though small and mid-sized businesses were moving into the area, they were reliant on foreign labor work force.

Because of this there was an initial spurt in population in the mid-1990s to 300,000 people, but then it stagnated. No major apartment complexes built until the early 2000s. By the mid-2000s, major apartment complexes were again being built in the Songtan and Anjung areas based on projected growth within the industrial areas because of the opening of the Pyeongtaek Harbor facilities as one of the three national harbors.

Later as Kim Il-sung pushed the nuclear threat to the point of a shooting war in 1994, China became a very important political ally in controlling North Korea’s threat to destabilize the entire region.

After establishing ties with China in Aug 1992, it took the final step and severed ties with Taiwan in Nov 1992. The ROK had been one of the last to sever its ties with its long-time ally — allowing the ROC U2 to fly its missions from ROK bases dating back to the mid-1950s. The Taiwan embassy property was transferred to the Chinese but other private properties that the Taiwan government owned were allowed to remain in the Taiwan possession. The Taiwan embassy was reduced to a trade mission — that continued to lure ROK joint business ventures and especially in manufacturing of military items. However, because of the growing influence of China politically in the dealings with North Korea, the Taiwan influence diminished greatly.
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51st TFW becomes 51st Wing In Feb 1992, the 51st Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 51st Wing and transitioned from the old “tri-deputate” system into the resurrected “group” structure. On October 1, 1993 it was redesignated the 51st Fighter Wing. (Source: Global Security.org.)

Added note is that the 51st FW won the Colombian Award in 1992 for the U.S. Air Force fighter wing which has made the most outstanding contributions to flight safety.
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Taegu Reopens as a “Follow-on” Site under 51st FW Taegu stopped being an active base in 1989.

In 1992 the US government changed the status of three US air bases in Korea. Kwang Ju Air Base, Suwon Air Base and Taegu Air Base — previously announced as ending operations — would instead operate at reduced levels. There is a small BX/Shoppette, snack bar, gym and other typical amenities available. The commissary is at Camp Walker (8 miles and 30 minutes drive across town). There is no dining facility and all personnel receive BAS. Along with the Korean Air Force (ROKAF), there are 110-120 army personnel stationed here.

The units occupy the base’s fenced-off U.S. compound, also known as K-2, a South Korean Air Force installation that shares space with commercial Taegu Airport. In wartime, K-2 would “balloon” into a full-scale combat air base that would house a U.S. Air Force fighter wing. Besides combat aircraft, planeload after planeload would touch down at K-2 and disgorge the Air Force troops and equipment needed to set up and staff that wing. Pilots, medics and mechanics, the full spectrum of air wing personnel slots, would arrive.

The 51st Fighter Wing, headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, maintains and administers US operations at Osan and five collocated operating bases — Taegu, Suwon, Kwang Ju, Kimhae and Cheong Ju ?for reception and beddown of follow-on forces. The Wing’s 51st Logistics Support Squadron plans, programs and initiates actions for the rapid reception and beddown of US forces deploying to the Republic of Korea during contingencies or wartime by maintaining five collocated operating bases and seven munitions storage sites.

The 607th Support Squadron was set up in the summer of 2001 to provide airfield-support services to the Army뭩 elite Company E, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) helicopter unit, which ferries special-operations troops into combat on covert, long-distance missions, even at night and in bad weather. (Source: GlobalSecurity.org
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607th ASOG Acquires Peninsula-wide Weather Mission After reactivation in 1980, the 607th Air Support Operations Group’s [607th ASOG] primary focus has been supporting the Korean Theater Air Control System. The 607th ASOG’s mission is to provide the Seventh Air Force and Air Component Commander with an unbeatable theater air control system, execute unmatched command and control, weather, and radar support over technologically advanced communications connectivity, and apply air power to meet the CINC’s objectives through control of air assets in support of theater forces.

The 607 ASOG is primarily responsible for supporting the Korean Theater Air Control System (KTACS) by maintaining ground radar sites, with air and tactical air support provided by a tactical air control center, air support operations center, forward air controllers, tactical air control parties, as well as providing weather support, all tied together with communications personnel and equipment. Additionally, the 607 ASOG is responsible for reception, staging, operations, and integration of all joint command and control augmenting forces in the Korean theater.

In February 1992, the group acquired the Korean peninsula weather mission (607th Weather Squadron, Yongsan), which it still holds today, and the Korea-wide intelligence mission, which it held until 15 December 1994. (NOTE: Intel transferred to 303rd Intelligence Squadron, Osan AB.) Today, the 607th Air Support Operations Group has units throughout Korea, at Osan Air Base, Yongsan Army Garrison, Camps Humphreys, Red Cloud, Stanley, Casey, Walker, Page and Stanton Army Installations, including the Third Republic of Korea Air Liason Office (TROKA-ALO) . (Source: GlobalSecurity.org: 607th ASOG.)
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U-2 Lost in Sea of Japan 68-10332 art.#054 Lost on 15 January 1992 in Sea of Japan. U-2R went down in Sea of Japan off coast of Korea. USAF Pilot: Capt. Marty McGregor was killed, his body was found by Korean Fisherman. No other details. (Source: Blackbirds: U-2 Tail Number) This incident is recounted in the 5th RS History. (Source: Blackbirds: Blackcats)
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51st FW
51st Fighter Wing Designated In February 1992, the wing was redesignated the 51st Wing and on October 1, 1993 it was redesignated the 51st Fighter Wing. The 7th Air Force and 51st Fighter Wing Headquarters buildings are located at the base of the now famous Hill 180. Today, Osan Air Base covers 1,565 acres. One of its most prominent features is it’s 9,000-feet runway.

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55 ALF Joins 51st FW In Aug 1992, the 55th Airlift Flight (55 ALF) flying C-12Js were assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing for transport of VIPs and priority light cargo.
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31st SOS
31st Special Operations Squadron Arrives at Osan AB The 353rd Special Operations Group at Kadena AB is the squadron’s parent unit. The squadron will use its MH-53J Pave Low III helicopters for humanitarian flights and classified night missions. The Pave Low is a long-range, all-weather helicopter capable of flying at very low altitudes through zero-visibility weather. (NOTE: The 31st SOS was assigned to Osan in 1992, but officially it arrived at Osan AB on 13 Mar 1993.)

The 31st Special Operations Squadron, as its name implies, flies missions in South Korea that can be spoken of only in whispers between people who that need to know. Pave Lows took part in combat operations in Vietnam evacuating Phnom Penh and Saigon in 1975 then rescuing the 19-man crew of the merchant ship Mayaguez, which was captured by Cambodian forces in the Gulf of Siam.

But it also has a legacy of rescue operations that is hard to surpass. Rescue has always been part of the 31st’s job. It traces its roots to the 31st Air Rescue Squadron activated at Clark Air Base in the Philippines in November 1952. Since then, it has evolved through several unit designations including Detachment 1, 33rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron and 31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.

It became the 31st Special Operations Squadron at Clark in 1989. As such, it was part of the 353rd Special Operations Wing headquartered at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa and the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Air Force Base, Fla.

In 1990, the unit was called on to perform its biggest humanitarian mission. Three hours after a massive earthquake devastated the city of Baguio in the northern Philippines on July 16, four 31st helicopters and crews made night flights to the city to deliver medical supplies and personnel.

Over the next several weeks, the unit evacuated more than 8,000 people from the area and delivered some 54 tons of food and supplies.

When Mount Pinatubo erupted a year later, burying much of Clark Air Base in volcanic ash, the squadron moved to Futenma Marine Corps Air Station on Okinawa, from where it operated until moving to Osan in 1992.

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36 TFS Development

1 Apr 1992 DACT with F-15′s from Kadena.
3 Aug 1992 16 Vipers deployed to Cope Thunder in Alaska.
1 Sep 1992 ORE Beverly Midnight
17 Sep 1992 Deployed to Kunsan for runway repairs.
2 Nov 1992 Foal Eagle combined Forces exercise.
13 Nov 1992 Six aircraft deployed to Singapore (Commando Sling) and then to Butterworth AB, Malayasia for Cope Bengal 92-3.
19 Nov-9 Dec Cope West 92-1 at Butterworth AB, Malaysia.

(Source: 36th Fiends History.)
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Team Spirit Shelved: The Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced that it would not carry out the Team Spirit Exercise in 1992. This was the an attempt to appease the North Koreans and hopefully defuse the nuclear inspection situation with North Korea. The main reason was the sabre rattling done by the North Koreans that were threatening to derail any of the negotiations going on to open dialogues between the two countries. The Team Spirit Exercises first started in 1976 have not been held since.

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Nuclear issue with North The North’s agreement to accept International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards in 1992 initiated a series of IAEA inspections of North Korea’s nuclear facilities. This promising development was halted by the North’s refusal to allow special inspections of two areas suspected of holding nuclear waste, and the North’s threat to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which also brought North-South progress to an abrupt halt.

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1993

Songbuk Elementary School (1993) (Songbuk Elementary School)
(NOTE: Notice right-hand building four-stories and left is three-stories.)

Jisan Elementary School Opens (Jun 1993) Jisan Elementary School opened on 1 Jun 1993 in a five story building built in the area that was carved out of the Jisan Hill to obtain fill to construct the apartments and Route 1. Just below the school was where Boduchang (Paradise Lake) used to be — but had been drained to make way for the new construction.

The design is the standard Korean model that has a long hallway with classrooms along one side of the hall. In the front there is a large playground that is surrounded by concrete tiers. The playground became an immediate favorite adult soccer players for their Sunday games. In the evenings, the residents of the surrounding apartments use it for an exercise area.

2005 (L) Defunct Amusement Park (Aug 2005) (Kalani O’Sullivan) (R) Rear of Jisan Elementary School (Aug 2005) (Kalani O’Sullivan) (NOTE: The weeping willows are seen to the far right on the boundary.)

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Railroad Track area of Shinjang-dong The following photos are from Baraboda.net: Lee Hak-Jun. Lee Hak-Jun took these photos of the back alley track area in the Shinjang area in May 1993. (Nikon FM2, 35~105mm f3.5~4.5, vivitar 75~300 f4.5~5.6) Mr. Lee wrote in May 2005, “One of my intention to take and collect photos is to record history with my own eyes. I’m quite pleased to receive your letter, that my photo collection can be of a little help to your work.”

2005:(L) Alleyway with Railspur (R) Alleyway along railspur (with same Laundry Shop as in 1993 photo)

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Companies Start Moving into Songtan Industrial Complex (Mokgok-dong) More companies established factories in the Songtan Industrial Area drawn by government policies to attract companies — especially foreign industries — to resettle in designated industrial zones. Tax breaks and reduced land prices were incentives by the ROK government. The advantage of the Pyongtaek/Songtan area was its close proximity to Seoul. Many companies were attracted to move out of Seoul to the “suburbs” to take advantage of reduced cost-of-living which in turn meant lower labor costs. An example of one such company relocating to the area was the F.G.F. company manufacturing pants and shirts.

F.G.F’S SONGTAN FACTORY Since SBW D’urban Co., Ltd. Established a factory in the Kyungkido, Puchun area on March 1986, it has produced pants, shirts, blousons, etc., The company quickly grew and in October 1993, we bought land in the Kyungkido area and built the Songtan factory complex. The Songtan factory is greatly automated and has the latest apparel manufacturing facilities and Korea’s best warehouse. The latest equipment has resulted in highly skilled technicians who have accumulated know-how and are dedicated to be the best in the world. It’s location only 50minutes from Seoul ensures ready access to Korea’s best capital market and aforesaid unlimited expansion possibilities. FACILITIES 6,082 square meters (factories-2,072 square meters, dormitory and cafeteria) PRODUCTION CAPABILITY pants 450/day shirts 450/day
Another example is the ACE NET Inc. which also moved to the Songtan Industrial Area in 1993. It acquired the plant site in Aug 1990 and moved to the Songtan plant in Dec 1992. As part of the “special incentives” from the government, it was designated to offer special exemption from Military Service in Suwon City in Dec 1993. Another example was the Saelim Co. Ltd. that completed the construction of its plant in Sep 1992.
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51st Wing becomes 51st Fighter Wing In Feb 1992, the 51st Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 51st Wing and transitioned from the old “tri-deputate” system into the resurrected “group” structure. On October 1, 1993 it was redesignated the 51st Fighter Wing.

The overall responsibility for directing the mission falls upon the wing commander. The job of achieving mission goals is divided among the wing뭩 four groups.

The 51st Operations Group leads and manages the 51st FW뭩 flying operations, tasked with air strike control, interdiction, counterair, close air support, air rescue and operational airlift missions. The group provides supervision for two fighter squadrons, a rescue flight, an airlift flight, two range squadrons and the operations support squadron. The 36th Fighter Squadron performs air interdiction, close air support, and counter-air missions with LANTIRN (low altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) equipped F-16C/D model fighters. The 25th Fighter Squadron uses A/OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs to conduct day and night flying operations on air strike control, close air support, interdiction and combat search and rescue missions. The Operations Support Squadron is responsible for training, weapons and tactics, intelligence, plans, airfield management, weather observation and air traffic control for the entire 51st Operations Group.

The 51st Support Group provides wartime readiness, survivability and ground base defense for Osan AB through civil engineering, security police, air base operability, explosive ordnance disposal, communications, recreation and services, and personnel assets. The 51st SPTG develops and enforces policies providing mission support to more than 10,000 people at 122 units.

The 51st Medical Group provides medical and dental care to the wing community and its geographically separated units. Its unique hospital, the first of its kind in the world, contains more than 92,000 square feet and is capable of sustained operation in a chemical environment. Its 30-bed peacetime capacity accommodates 245 patients in its wartime configuration.

The 51st Logistics Group is responsible for a myriad of logistics concerns. As of 1999 the 51st Maintenance Squadron provided intermediate maintenance for 28 LANTIRN F-16s, 21 A/OA-10s, an HH-60 and five MH-53 helicopters, as well as tenant U-2S aircraft [as of 1996, there were 30 LANTIRN F-16s, 21 A/OA-10s, 2 HH-60 and 5 MH-53 helicopters]. The squadron also maintains 636 pieces of Aerospace Ground Equipment and repair/calibrate 6,537 items of precision measurement equipment. The 51st Transportation Squadron controls and maintains a 2,400 vehicle daily use and war reserve material fleet. The squadron also provides traffic management support for all air and surface movements of materiel and personnel. The 51st supply Squadron provides supplies, equipment and fuel to a “fight in place” combat wing and manages $700 million worth of accountable assets. The 51st Logistics Support Squadron plans, programs and initiates actions for the rapid reception and beddown of U.S. forces deploying to the Republic of Korea during contingencies or wartime by maintaining five collocated operating bases and seven munitions storage sites.

About 215 aircraft armament systems specialists assigned throughout the 51st Operations Group, 25th Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Squadron and 51st Maintenance Squadron make sure the aircraft at Osan are not just flying around the skies, but are fully capable weapons systems. Since different aircraft carry different munitions, weapons loaders must get certified on the aircraft and munitions at each of their duty stations. That뭩 where 51st OG Weapons Standardization Section comes in. Weapons loaders spend a week training with the section after arriving at Osan. Members qualify or re-qualify and train following Osan-specific weapons guidelines. (Source: Global Security.org.)

As an added note, the 51st FW again won the Colombian Award in 1993 for the U.S. Air Force fighter wing which has made the most outstanding contributions to flight safety. The 51st FW had previously won the award in 1992.
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36 TFS Development 21 Jan 1993 Deployed 6 aircraft to Kadena for DACT with the F-15s. (Source: 36th Fiends History.)
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19 TASS Inactivated The 19th Tactical Air Control Squadron flying OV-10A Broncos 51st Fighter Group (later the 51st Operations Group) since 1 Oct 1990 was inactivated on 1 October 1993.

The history of the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light) (19 TASS) dates back to WWII The Squadron, redesignated the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light), was reactivated on 17 June 1963, and was organized on 8 July 1963 at Bien Hoa AB, RVN. Briefly inactive between August and October of 1964, the Squadron O-1s, O-2s and OV-10As as Forward FACs remained at Bien Hoa until 1 August 1971 when its resources were relocated to Phan Rang AB, RVN, and were incorporated into a unit located there.

The 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron flying the OV-10A Broncos was assigned to the 314th Air Division on 15 Jan 1972 at Osan AB. On 30 Sept 1974, it was assigned to the 51st Composite Wing at Osan AB when the Wing assumed control of the base.

On 8 Jan 1980 it was assigned to the 5th Tactical Air Control Group flying the OV-10A Broncos at Osan AB. The unit for a short time between 1983-1985 flew the unit also flew the OA-37s as the ROKAF at Wonju was obtaining the OA-37s being phased out of the USAF inventory. Still under the 5th TACG, the unit moved to Suwon AB on 1 Aug 1989.

Ultimately, the unit relocated back to Osan Air Base under the 51st Fighter Group (later the 51st Operations Group) on 1 Oct 1990, where it was inactivated on 1 October 1993.

The 19th TASS was reactivated at Nellis AFB, NV as part of the USAF Weapons School on 3 Feb 2003 as the 19th Weapons Squadron. (Source: FAC Association: 19 TASS; AFHRA: 314th AD; and AFHRA: 19th WS.)

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25th FS
25th FS Returns The 25th Fighter Squadron flying A-10A Thunderbolts reactivated and reassigned to Osan AB on 1 Oct 1993. The unit was inactivated in the wake of the Nunn-Warner initiative and closure of Suwon AB. However, it was reactivated because of the increasing tension in Korea over the nuclear weapons in North Korea and the need for a weapons platform capable of countering the tank invasion anticipated from the North. The A-10 proved itself in the 1990 Desert Storm as one of the most lethal anti-tank weapons in the US inventory.

The 25th FS at Osan flew the A-10A from 1982-1990 until it converted to the OA-10A in 1993. (Source: AFHRA: 51st FW)

With its armor-plated “bathtub” it is almost impervious to small arms fire…a major difficulty when a FAC like an O-2 Birddog had to verify the destruction of targets. However, the ROK has its own FAC versions in the form of the A-37 of Wonju — a potent weapon system as well with its mini-gun.

25th FS and 36th FS
The 25th Tactical Fighter Squadon, “Assam Dragons,” flying Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolts assigned to the 51st TFW and stationed at Suwon AB, ROK until 1989 when it was moved back to Osan AB.

The history of the 25th Fighter Squadron dates back to WWII as the 25th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) activated on 15 Jan 1941 where it fought in India and China. After WWII, it converted to F-80s under the 51st Fighter Group. When the Korean War broke out the 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was still flying the F-80s at Itazuke AB, Japan and moved to Suwon AB, South Korea in 20 Jul 1951 where it converted to the F-86 under the 51st Fighter Wing.

It was redesignated the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33d TFW in June 1965 under TAC. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1990. In May 1968 it jouned the 8th TFW at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand and then to the 432d TFW at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand until the end of the Vietnam War. It moved to Clark AB, Philippines with the 3rd TFW in 1975 and almost immediately was reassigned to the 18th TFW in Dec 1975.

The unit was not operational between Aug 1980뻁an 1982.

It was assigned to the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) — later the 51st TFW — between 1 Feb 1981-31 Jul 1990. The unit was stationed at Suwon AB on 1 Feb 1981.

The unit moved to Osan AB, South Korea after the closure of Suwon as an active USAF base. The unit was not operational from Nov 1989뻁ul 1990. The 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 31 Jul 1990.

25th FS A-10 taxi during exercise
It was then redesignated the 25th Fighter Squadron, and activated, on 1 Oct 1993 and assigned to the 51st Operations Group at Osan AB. (Source: AFHRA: 25th FS.)

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31st SOS Moves to Osan The 31st Special Operations Squadron moved to Osan AB from Futenma MCAS, Okinawa with its MH-53 Pavelow helicopters. When Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, burying much of Clark Air Base in volcanic ash, the squadron moved to Futenma Marine Corps Air Station on Okinawa, from where it operated until moving to Osan in 1992. (SEE 2001 for departure of unit.)
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Murder on Osan AB According to the Pyeongtaek History, in July 1993, an American Davis (?) was accused of murdering 2 American sons. No other details were available. Outcome of the incident is unknown. As the incident occurred on-base amongst SOFA individuals, the US retained jurisdiction in this case. (Source: Pyeongtaek City History CD, “Pyeongtaek Si Sa.”)
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North Korea Nuclear Tension: Tension levels remained high at the 8th TFW over nuclear issues. In 1993 North Korea was believed to possess weapons-grade plutonium, though it had not yet succeeded in producing a nuclear bomb. North Korean leaders refused international arms inspectors access to some facilities and withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Typical of North Korea’s methods of “brinkmanship”, it pushed the world to the brink of war. The rhetoric of the North turned away from reconciliation and reunification towards a more confrontational and aggressive stance. Squeezing money and aid for promises of nuclear inspection, the North continued to play its nuclear trump card. Finally in late 1994, an agreement was reached calling for North Korea to dismantle its nuclear facilities in exchange for nuclear reactors, possibly supplied by South Korea. Though the Clinton administration backed the North down in this confrontation, it came at a dear monetary cost (promises of nuclear generation plants). The problem of who is to pay for what in this four-party agreement (North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and U.S.) is still a ticklish issue today.
Surprisingly, in a May 2000 interview with the independent Hankyoreh Daily, former President Kim Yong-Sam insisted that President Clinton was ready to strike the North and had moved a carrier into position for a first strike action. Kim warned the US ambassador another war on the Korean peninsula would turn all of Korea into a bloodbath, killing between 10 and 20 million people and destroying South Korea’s prosperous economy. “I told him that I would not move even a single soldier of our 650,000 troops (in case a war broke out because of the bombing of Yongbyon),” he said to the paper. He called Clinton and argued with him for “32 minutes.” “I told him there would be no inter-Korean war while I was the president.” He went on, Clinton tried to persuade me to change my mind, but I criticized the United States for planning to stage a war with the North on our land,” he said. He credits former President Jimmy Carter with conveying to Kim Il-Sung the actual severity of the issue and bringing about a peaceful resolution.

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Team Spirit Shelved: The “Team Spirit” exercises were not held in 1993 and finally cancelled altogether. In Korea, the USAF authorities explained that such exercises as “Ulchi Focus” or “Foal Eagle” would achieve the same goals without the expense. After twenty years, “Team Spirit” was like the old warrior…it simply faded away.

The first “Team Spirit” was held in 1978 and over the years caused numerous excuses for the North Koreans to engage in saber-rattling. Though it was necessary to show the U.S. resolve in Korea, by the mid-1990s economic considerations entered the picture. It was a very, very expensive exercise. In addition, the similar exercises could be accomplished elsewhere without international provocation.

However, there was a curious news release on March 16, 1993 indicating the Team Spirit ’93 DID take place. Several F-117s from the 416th Fighter Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M., along with about 90 members of the 49th Fighter Wing, deployed to Korea for a chance to define their capabilities in a different area. Or perhaps it was more an “operational exercise” as North Korea was upping the ante on the nuclear issue and President Clinton was ready to go to war over it. Who knows?

SUWON AB, Korea (AFNS) — In its first Pacific deployment, the F-117 stealth fighter teamed up with the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB for Team Spirit ’93. Several F-117s from the 416th Fighter Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M., along with about 90 members of the 49th Fighter Wing, deployed to Korea for a chance to define their capabilities in a different area. U.S. and Republic of Korea forces stationed in Korea as well as other American forces deployed to the area participated in Team Spirit ’93, which ends March 19. “Our pilots, maintenance crews and support personnel are receiving valuable experience working with the Kunsan team,” said Lt. Col. Robert Marple, 49th FW deployment commander. With air refueling capability, the F-117 supports worldwide commitments and adds to the deterrent strength of the U.S. military forces. Team Spirit is a joint and combined training exercise designed to test the defensive capabilities of American and South Korean troops. This is the 17th Team Spirit exercise. The 1992 exercise was suspended in hopes of improving North and South Korean ties and reducing tensions on the peninsula. The first Team Spirit was conducted in 1976.

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Kim Young-sam. (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)
Kim Yong-Sam’s Disastrous Presidency: On the national scene, President Kim Yong-Sam was elected in 1993 to serve a disastrous presidency filled with scandals, collapses of buildings and bridges with great loss of life, plane crashes, train wrecks, and every catastrophe imaginable. All that could be said of this presidency was that he threw the former Presidents Chun Doo-Hwan and Roh Tae-Woo to the dogs to save his political party. They were convicted of accepting bribes and sent to jail. Right after they were sentenced, his son was sent to prison for extorting money from businesses.

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Foreign Land Ownership: Prior to 1993, land ownership by veterans of the Korean War was possible, if they changed their name to Koreans and accepted Korean citizenship. In 1993, the law about government approval for ownership of land by foreigners was abolished in an attempt to attract foreign companies to the special trade zones. However, the restrictions and unattractive prices caused most foreign companies to post “not interested signs.” They preferred to lease the land/buildings instead which to many was a wise move when they decided to pull out of Korean company mergers. At the individual level, many other restrictions for foreigners remained and only the wealthiest people in the upper 10 percent income of America could qualify for ownership. Essentially, nothing changed with Koreans still fearful that foreigners could somehow control Korea if they were allowed land ownership. Based upon Korea’s history with foreign power domination, they may be justified.

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1994
Education The student population that was increasing in the middle school age group throughout the Songtan area. For example, in 1994, the Taegwang Middle School was expanding. On 20 Feb 1994, 3 classrooms were added. This was reflected as the student population in the area was rapidly increasing because of families moving into the area due to apartment construction along Route 1. (NOTE: Finally in Jan 1998, the Taegwang Middle School project added 19 classrooms. But this expansion was not because of increases in family sizes — which were actually declining — but because of the closures of country schools in the area due to the FALLING rural populations.)
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Flooding in Songtan and Pyongtaek Extreme flooding occurred in Songtan (DFO #1994-085). Flooding encompasses Pyongtaek City, Kyonggi Province; Taean, South Chungchong Province; Yong-in, Kyonggi Province; Songtan City, Kyonggi Province. Flooding due to heavy rainfal from 26 Aug – 30 Aug 1994 for a duration of 5 days. 5 people died and 2,000 people displaced. Class 1 Severity with 200 hectares flooded. (Source: 1995 Flood Archive)
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Aomori City as Sister City Mar 1994: Songtan City approaches Aomori City via CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) with a view to friendship between the 2 cities; Nov 1994: Mayor of Aomori and a group of 20 delegates visit Songtan, and conclude an agreement to carry out educational and cultural exchanges.; May 1995: Songtan city and adjoining Pyongtaek City and county agree to amalgamate as Pyongtaek City.; Aug 1995: The Mayor of Aomori leads a party on visit to Pyongtaek. The friendship agreement is continued with Pyongtaek.
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Main Gate of Osan AB (1994) (Thomas M. Mathewson)

Happy House Burned Down (1994) (Thomas M. Mathewson)

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Western Style Restaurants Gaining in Popularity According to related industries, Coco’s, the beginner for western style family restaurants in Korea, expects increased revenues of 25 billion won this year, up 61% from last year. This is only one example for the boom in western style restaurants in Korea, including TGI Friday, KFC, Lotteria, Hadis, etc. Among them, TGI Friday enjoyed the fastest growth rate and expects about 20 billion won in sales this year, compared to last year’s 8 billion won. Lotteria is about to finish the year with record turnover exceeding 100 billion won a year, the first western style restaurant in Korea to achieve that much. Industries expect the trend to continue, as the economy is recovering and more people prefer to dine out.

The beginnings of horrible tasting frozen pizzas was soon followed by “real pizzas” under various franchise names throughout Korea. In addition, the younger children started to develop a taste for spaghetti, hamburgers and hotdogs. What had been the exclusive domain of the base for Burger King and other American style foods soon spread throughout the country. (SITE NOTE: Kalani O’Sullivan remember in Kunsan City at the Lemon Date, a popular college-age coffee house restaurant, in 1990 when he first started teaching English in Korea. His students treated him to a “pizza” that turned out to be crust with catsup, melted swiss cheese and hot dogs sliced up. The Koreans were cooking from a picture — and the Korean students did not know any better as no pizza was available for them to compare — even on base. It was horrible!!!)
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Ssangyong To Build Passenger Car Plant In SongtanAccording to the Hankyoreh Shinmun on 14 Dec 94, Ssangyong Motor Co. planned to set up a passenger car plant with an annual manufacturing capacity of 50,000 units in Songtan, with a 240 billion won investment from next year. The company already developed a new passenger car model with a 120 billion won investment and technology of Benz of Germany. Ssangyong was to start building the plant from 1995, to produce passenger cars of 1,800cc, 2,000cc, 2,300cc and 3,200cc. The annual manufacturing capacity of Ssangyong’s Songtan plant will be 160,000 cars by the first quarter of 1995 and 210,000 units by 1997. Ssangyong Motor Co. has proceeded with construction of the passenger car plant in the area since 1992, but the business approval has been delayed by the environment examination of the Ministry of Environment.
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Korea Will Surpass U.S. In Labor Cost From 2000 According to the Lucky Goldstar Economic Research Institute on 14 Dec 1994, a manufacturing company worker in Korea was expected to be paid $13.36 per hour in 2001, compared to $14.53 of a worker in the U.S. The institute used the last three years’ average increase ratios for Korea and the U.S. respectively. Workers’ growing demands, labor shortage and rising living costs will accelerate wage increases.

This projection of the Korean labor force pricing themselves out of the market was the impetus for the manufacturing factories to move to China to avail themselves of lower wages — much to the distress of the local workers who were going to be left out in the cold. Immediately after the treaty with China was signed, teams from all the chaebols sent teams to investigate the possibility of relocating their processes to China. The conclusion was that the textile and low-tech industries would be moved due to the lack of technical expertise in the Chinese labor force. However, by 2000 joint ventures in auto manufacturing and other high-tech industries were also relocating lured by potential the consumer markets as China seemed to be moving towards a market economy.
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Mike’s Tour of Songtan The following was excerpted from a story by “Mike” who was TDY to Osan AB at the time to teach a class to the ROK military on some equipment: “We spent our first weekend visiting the shops, bars, and restaurants in Song-tan. Now saying that Song-tan is representative of Korea is like saying Tijuana is representative of Mexico or that Jersey City is representative of all of the United States. Unfortunately, many Americans never get much more exposure to Korea than this small village, as many who are stationed over there do not venture far from the base.

The first thing you notice about Song-tan is that aside from the Hangul characters on all the signs, it really is not different from Mexico. I mean, if I took Nuevo Laredo and Song-tan and covered up the signs, you would practically see no difference between the marketplaces.

In Song-tan, there are a lot of shops where you can buy custom made suits, Starter jackets, Coach purses – you name it. There are also many open-air fish markets in the alley. When we took these pictures, the outside temperature was near 100 degrees. The fish vendors smelled a lot. I was wondering how these old women could sit all day selling this stinky fish, and so I asked one. Turns out that they wear this small necklace in which incense burns, masking the smell of the fish.

Open Market (1994) (Mike Stories)

There are also a lot of fruit and vegetables for sale in town there, although we warned to stay away from eating any of them, as they are not quite up to our agricultural standards. However, there was a slight problem – often you couldn’t get what you wanted at the base commissary because of the black market. There were limits on certain items at the commissary (for you civilians, it’s like a big supermarket) – bananas, apples, milk, ox tails to name a few. And yes, you heard me, ox-tails; not a popular food among American servicemen, but apparently in high demand at the Osan Commissary. Because we didn’t have ration cards, we couldn’t buy any of the limited items at the commissary. Damn, I guess I can’t make that ox-tail soup…

Okay, I will be honest with you, I did sample some of the fruit. It was awful. I was in a club with some Koreans, and they offered me some of the fruit from this giant plate that they were eating. In wanting to maintain good relations, I ate some. They have these really bland and sour melons that were awful, but I smiled and nodded my head. Then, they offered me some grapes. Dying for anything to help kill the taste of the awful melons, I gobbled some down, and they were the very worst, most sour grapes I have ever had. No more fruit for me, thanks.

Shoes are a very big deal in Korea. In fact, everyone was telling me to get Nikes when I was over there, but the shoe market isn’t what it used to be. But, I did see these big platform shoes everywhere, before they became popular over here in recent years.

Which will lead me into my story about the real stars of Song-tan: the juicy girls. The juicy girls are these girls who are not quite strippers and not quite prostitutes who hang out in the bars in Song-tan frequented by GIs. They work in the bars and clubs there in town, where they come sit by you and ask you to buy them a juicy. A juicy costs $5 and is basically a shot glass worth of orange juice. They will sit there and drink this juicy next to you and then whine for you to buy them another. They usually wear bikinis and try to dance (they have NO rhythm). They are usually there in a sort of slavery by their families, who send them there to work to make money to feed the family at home.

Main Gate with ROKTraffic Cops (1994) (Mike Stories)

Juicy girls might sound really cool, but they are actually really annoying. I know you are thinking Hooters girls, but actually, think of those whiny girls you see in anime. It’s kind of cool for like five minutes, when you walk into a club and think “wow – look at all these chicks” and then find out that they are all there because they have to be. And they don’t really want to be there, which is why they are most definitely unsexy. …” (Source: Mike Stories)
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U-2 Det 2 9th RW becomes 5th RS During October 1994, Detachment 2 of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing became the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron. (See TaiwanAirPower.org: U2)
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U-2 Runs Off Runway In Oct 1994, supposedly a U2 on a night landing in terrible weather landed hard and then went off the runway. The pilot was pulled from the wreckage and was in good enough condition to return to flight status after recuperation. U2 watchers were not surprised by the event termed as “an accident waiting to happen.”

80-1098 art.#098 (Built as U-2R, 1989) Lost towards end of August 1994 at Osan AB, Korea. USAF Pilot: Cholene Espinoza survived, while trying to land in fog aircraft lf the runway and crashed, aircraft burnt. (Source: Blackbirds: U-2 Tail Number)
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Assault in Paengsong, Anjung-ni According to the Pyeongtaek History, on 7 March 1994, an American Preacher L. Jones (?) and Lee N. Smith (?) intentionally ran their car into a Soju tent house. They then assaulted Kim Jong-hwan (39) and Ju Won-shim with a beer bottle and beating with their fists. No other details were available. Outcome of the incident is unknown. (Source: Pyeongtaek City History CD, “Pyeongtaek Si Sa.”)
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Assault in Songtan According to the Pyeongtaek History, on 12 March 1994, individuals from Yongsan Garrison enterned the Papa Bag shop and started to complain of a bag’s quality and demanded their money back. An argument ensued and John S. Harmon (?) assaulted Pak Yan Shik (44). Mr. Pak’s mouth was ripped open by the American using his hands to rip the mouth.No other details were available. Outcome of the incident is unknown. (Source: Pyeongtaek City History CD, “Pyeongtaek Si Sa.”)
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Hit and Run in Songtan According to the Pyeongtaek History, on 12 Nov 1994, Sgt Vincent Rober was driving his car near the Shinjang overpass bridge. Supposedly he hit and dragged Kumsong Taxi driver, Hyong Bong-hong (34) for 200 meters before stopping. No other details were available. Outcome of the incident is unknown. (Source: Pyeongtaek City History CD, “Pyeongtaek Si Sa.”)
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Base Downsizes its Korean Workforce According to the Pyeongtaek History, on 24 Jan 1994, an incident report was filed with the Pyeongtaek police over individuals being “short-changed” pay due. 57 individuals were supposedly terminated. Those with short-term service were relocated to other positions, but 33 long time employees were released. The dispute was over the back-wages for these employees. No other details were available. Outcome of the incident is unknown. (Source: Pyeongtaek City History CD, “Pyeongtaek Si Sa.”)

This incident coincides with the USFK-wide move to terminate long-time employees over retirement age to reduce the work force. At the base level, the bases started to downsize its Korean staff through attrition. As they were retired, they were no fills. In addition, Korean civilian workers were being offered early retirement. The base manning was shrinking in size. The hidden issue was the retirement pay and severance compensation. The “retirement system” for the local national workers is one whereby a pay differential is contributed to the paycheck of the employee every month. Therefore, when the worker retires, no further payments are given. More and more jobs were being converted from U.S. nationals to local nationals as “temporary” Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) positions to preclude retirement payments. However, in the area of severance pay, there was a large dispute over the amounts owed. The amounts demanded were higher than the USFK felt that they were required to pay. In the end, the retirees left and a negotiated settlement was arrived at.

However, this downsizing did not come without some angry protests from those being “retired.” Protests were staged outside the Osan Main Gate as it was at USFK bases Korea-wide. At times, these demonstrations became aggressive. On August 7, 1993 at Kunsan, twenty five Korean nationals demonstrated at the Kunsan Main Gate. According to the 8th Wing Historian, “The demonstrators penetrated onto the base before being escorted off the base.”
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ROK Developments Meetings to discuss arrangements for prime ministerial-level talks led to a series of such meetings starting in 1990. In late 1991 the two sides signed the Agreement on Reconciliation, Non-aggression, Exchanges and Cooperation and the Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Nevertheless, there was little progress toward the establishment of a bilateral nuclear inspection regime, and dialogue between the South and North stalled in the fall of 1992. (Source: Focus on Korea.)

The crisis escalated further and a military conflict on the peninsula seemed unavoidable. (NOTE: Secretary of Defense William Perry revealed in Congress details of a plan to fight a war with North Korea after bombing the nuclear complex in Yonbyon in summer 1994. UPI, January 24, 1995; A B Carter and W J Perry, Preventive Diplomacy: A New Security Strategy for America, Washington, D.C. 1999, Brookings Institution Press, pp. 127-128.)

Former US president Jimmy Carter made a surprise visit to North Korea and defused the crisis. North Korea offered to “freeze” the nuclear program, and the US agreed to begin the third round of comprehensive negotiations with North Korea on July 8, 1994, in Geneva.(NOTE: The “freeze” includes commitments by North Korea not to reload the reactor with new fuel, not to reprocess the spent fuel, and to allow inspectors continuous access to the spent fuel storage pond.)

Surprisingly, a historical first-ever summit meeting between the presidents of the two Koreas was even scheduled. Shortly before the summit meeting, as the delegates of the US and North Korea began to negotiate in Geneva, North Korean president Kim Il-sung suddenly died. The planned summit meeting was cancelled and negotiations in Geneva were postponed.

In August, high-level delegations resumed negotiations in Geneva. Finally, on October 21, 1994, the US and North Korea signed the Geneva Framework Agreement in their efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem, laying the groundwork for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.(See R Nelson and K Weisbrode, “Interim Arrangements for North Korea: Are They Secure?”, Bulletin of the Atlantic Council, vol. V, no. 12, December 30, 1994, pp. 1-4.)

Interim arrangements were negotiated to defuse the immediate nuclear crisis and to initiate a long-term process to integrate North Korea into the international community, as well as to deter repetition of a potentially catastrophic confrontation. In order to induce North Korea to drop its nuclear weapons program, the US has not only committed itself to deliver two light-water nuclear reactors worth US$5 billion and an interim energy supply, but also to expand diplomatic and economic ties with North Korea.

Although the nuclear crisis was defused peacefully, relations between the two Koreas remained strained and even worsened. President Kim Young-sam refused to allow South Koreans to attend the funeral of Kim Il-sung and adopted a hard-line anti-communist policy again. He responded strongly against the protests of students who wanted to march to the North to discuss unification with North Korean students. Relations between the two Koreas remained tense until Kim Young-sam left office in February 1998. (Source: Asia Times)
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Kim Il-Sung (1912-1994): Kim Il-Sung, North Korea’s leader, died suddenly on 8 July 1994. In the midst of a nuclear crisis, that took former President Jimmy Carter’s intervention to defuse, the charismatic leader’s death left the whole area on pins-and-needles as to what would happen next. His death halted plans for a first ever South-North presidential summit and led to another period of inter-Korean animosity. Rumors were running rampant. Kim Il-Sung’s heir apparent did not take over the reins of government immediately and there were reports that there were cabinet reshuffles in the positions of power. North Korean army maneuvers increasing on the DMZ — including incursions into the DMZ itself — caused the South Korean Army to go on increased alert.
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HH-60G Pavehawk lost near Osan AB Serial number 91-26401/26407 Sikorsky HH-60G Pavehawk 26404 (33rd RQS) crashed and written off. Crashed on Oct 6, 1994 near Osan AB during night exercise when flew into power lines. Four aircrewmen killed.

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36 TFS Development 2 Dec 1994 Actor Tom Cruise receives incentive flight. Afterward rewards the squadron with an industrial strength popcorn machine. (Source: 36th Fiends History.)
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1-43 ADA
Patriot PAC-2 Arrives To offset concerns over possible missile attacks from North Korea, Patriot missiles were deployed to Korea. Army Patriot Missile units of the 1st Battalion, 43rd ADA (Air Defense Artillery), 6th Calvary were deployed to Kunsan and became responsible for the base’s air defense against potential missile attacks from North Korea. Nicknamed “Blackhorse,” the unit prides itself on its calvary heritage and sports black calvary headgear for formal formations. (See 1-43ADA Homepage for information.)

1-43 ADA

The 1st Battalion (PATRIOT), 43rd Air Defense Artillery. 1-43 ADA is a six firing battery, Echelon Above Corps PATRIOT Missile Battalion with a Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and a direct support maintenance company. 1-43 ADA assumed its mission in the Republic of Korea in October 1994. Currently, HHB, two firing batteries (Alpha and Bravo), and the 3rd Combat Support Company reside at Suwon Air Base. Charlie and Delta Batteries are at Osan Air Base, and Echo and Foxtrot Batteries are at Kunsan Air Base.

Patriot (1998) (PeiMic)

The 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery has Patriot batteries at Osan and Kunsan Air Base on South Korea’s western coast and Suwon Air Base, a South Korean air force installation. Since 1994, 48 fire units of Patriot missiles have been deployed at Suwon, Osan and Kunsan airbases in South Korea. Suwon Air Base is a Republic of Korea Air Base, on which is housed the 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery. The unit’s mission is to defend against air attack. The 1st Battalion (PATRIOT), 43rd Air Defense Artillery is a six firing battery, Echelon Above Corps PATRIOT Missile Battalion with a Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and a direct support maintenance company. A battery is composed of eight launchers of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, each having 4 and 16 interceptors, respectively. 1-43 ADA assumed it’s mission in the Republic of Korea in October 1994.

Currently, HHB, two firing batteries (Alpha and Bravo), and the 3rd Combat Support Company reside at Suwon Air Base. Suwon Air Base is one of five co-located operating sites that could house deployed forces if war erupts on the divided peninsula. It appears that the six American Patriot batteries could be re-deployed at most [if not all] of the five co-located operating bases, as well as at Osan AB. Charlie and Delta Batteries are normally deployed at Osan Air Base, the home of the 7th Air Force and 51st Fighter Wing. Echo and Foxtrot Batteries are at Kunsan Air Base, home of the 8th Fighter Wing, which is not one of the five co-located operating bases.

The 1st Battalion (PATRIOT) 43rd Air Defense Artillery, the largest and most forward deployed Patriot Battalion in the world. The 1st Battalion (Patriot), 43d Air Defense Artillery is assigned to the 6th Cavalry Brigade. The inclusion of the 1st Battalion (Patriot), 43d Air Defense Artillery into the 6th Cavalry brigade arsenal has provided a potent, deadly combat team. (Source: Global Security.org: 43rd ADA.) (See Sep 2003 for upgrade to PAC-3 and 2004 for addition of 35th ADA at Osan.)