USFK Officials: Steer Clear of UFL Protests
U.S. Forces Korea personnel should avoid protests during a major training exercise to begin later this month, according to a military news release.
¿Officials expect both registered and unregistered gatherings¿ during the Aug. 21-Sept. 1 command post exercise dubbed Ulchi Focus Lens, the release stated.
No gatherings were registered formally as of late last week, according to the release.
Military personnel were urged to follow force-protection guidance that directs them to avoid ¿large civil gatherings and interaction with protestors.¿ Civilian employees, contractors and family members were urged to follow the same precautions, according to the release.
There is no reason for anyone to be any where near these protests. Those not familiar with protests in Korea, which will be primarily people who come from the states to participate in the UFL exercise, are the ones that USFK really needs to get a hold of and educate about these protesters, in order to avoid any incidents from happening.
Here is a rundown of scheduled protests:
- Aug. 8: Civil gathering at Camp Walker; 2 p.m. civil gathering in front of Kunsan Air Base.
- Aug. 10: Civil gathering at 3 p.m. to oppose the Foreign Trade Agreement; location unknown, but it could be Suwon Air Base.
- Aug. 11: 1 p.m. anti-U.S. and anti-war march and proclamation for unification of the Koreas; location unknown; 7 p.m. anti-U.S. cultural festival, possibly in Gwanghhamun.
- Aug. 12: 10 a.m. anti-U.S. civil gathering in front of Pyeongtaek Train Station with 2,000 attendees expected; 7 p.m. march from the station toward Daecuh-ri for a candlelight cultural festival.
- Aug. 13: 2 p.m. civil gathering in front of Camp Red Cloud; 6 p.m. unification festival at Yonsei University, 4,000 attendees expected.
- Aug. 14: 2 p.m. civil gathering in front of Yongsan Garrison or U.S. Embassy, 4,000 attendees expected.
- Aug. 15: 10 a.m. anti-Japan civil gathering in front of the Japanese Embassy, 2,000 attendees expected; 3 p.m. unification celebration march from Daehakro to Kyobo Park, 30,000 attendees expected.
