Korean Job Discussion Forums

Jeweltone · Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Location: Seoul, S. Korea

A totally random question, but how far is Byeongjeom Station from MaeHyang-ri/Koon-ri Bombing Range (a closed US base on the west coast)?

My Google Earth isn't functional right now...

I was reading about the lead, arsenic, and cadmium poisoning of the residents of MaeHyang-ri from what the US military left behind (apparently an even more major environmental hazard than previously thought), and I became very curious about how far it is from the county seat (which I believe is in Byeongjeom).

andrewchon · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:22 am Post subject:

The city hall is in Whaseung about 10 miles west of ByeungJum station.
MaeHyangRi is about 20 miles south of Hwaseung city. Not easy to get there without in-car navigation or a good map.

Jeweltone · Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Location: Seoul, S. Korea

Has heavy metal poisoning affected anyone else in Hwaseong City?

I know it's a large district, but it seems to me that if the problem is in the soil and the waters in the bay (the US Air Force managed to blow up an entire island, as well as a large bomb near the village center)...eating locally grown produce, fertilized by the fish from the local coast line....probably isn't the greatest idea for ANYONE in the district.

I lived at the end (literally) of the Korean Air Force Runway in Byeongjeom (near Seryu), so I sympathize with the residents who were near the bombing range (in my case, let's just say I could see the pilots' heads as they flew over and I could watch them maneuver on the runway).

I have had critical health issues since living in Byeongjeom by the station, including serious (and incurable) gastrointestinal issues, hair loss, memory loss, etc. I am just wondering if I should also be tested for heavy metal poisoning...Lord knows, they have tested me for everything else!

I would also like to find out what happened to those poor villagers in Maehyang-ri. 80% of mentally challenged students at the special school are from that one village of 3000. 20% of women miscarry. Suicide and mental illness are extremely high.

Did the government clean up the base? Did the villagers get their government "compensation?"

andrewchon · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:40 am Post subject:

There is a 'peace park' being built over the site. Expected to be completed by 2015. Victims won compensation in the court. Don't know how much.