Agreement Reached on Making Long-Neglected Military Idle Land and Facilities Available for Local Residents

- ACRC holds on-site mediation meeting on May 14 for the disposition of idle military land and facilities in Seocheon-gun

- Relevant agencies agreed to negotiate methods of disposition by June 30, 2027

(May 14, 2026, ACRC)

A collective grievance petition demanding the return of national land and facilities in Seongnae-ri, Biin-Myeon, Seocheon-gun, South Chungcheong Province—which had been successively occupied by U.S. Forces Korea from 1963 and the Republic of Korea Air Force from 1980 before becoming idle land following the Air Force’s withdrawal in 2021—has been resolved through mediation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Jung Il Yeon).

The ACRC held an on-site mediation meeting on May 14 at the Resident Administrative Welfare Center of Biin-myeon, chaired by Vice Chairperson and Secretary General Han Sam Seok, on the disposition of the land (14,105m²) and facilities in the Seongnae-ri area of Biin-myeon currently owned by the Ministry of National Defense.

In 1963, the U.S. military occupied national land and facilities in Seongnae-ri, Biin-Myeon, Seocheon-gun for the purpose of air base protection, with the 5th Battery, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery stationed there for 18 years before returning the site in 1980. The Republic of Korea Air Force subsequently took over the site and used it as official residential quarters until 2021. However, following the Air Force’s withdrawal, the land and facilities have been left unattended.

During the heavy rains of 2024 and 2025, rainwater flowing down from the idle military land situated on higher ground inundated the commercial district of Biin-myeon, causing flooding of shops and homes and damage to roads, which ultimately led to the designation of the area as a special disaster area.

In response, the residents of Biin-myeon filed a collective grievance petition with the ACRC in July and August of last year, requesting that Seocheon-gun be authorized to develop the idle military land and facilities in order to prevent disaster damage and promote local development.

The ACRC conducted multiple on-site inspections and consultations with relevant agencies and local residents before formulating the final mediation proposal.

According to the mediation proposal, Seocheon-gun and the Air Force agreed to jointly conduct an on-site inspection by May 31, 2026, and to cooperate to take the necessary measures to minimize flooding damage from heavy rainfall. Seocheon-gun, the Air Force, and the ChungCheong Facility Group of the Defense Installations Agency also agreed to form a working task force by June 30, 2026, and to negotiate and decide on methods of disposition in accordance with applicable laws and regulations by June 30, 2027.

Vice Chairperson and Secretary General Han Sam Seok of the ACRC stated, “Through this mediation, it has become possible to return the idle military land to the residents of Biin-myeon for the first time in over 60 years.” He added, “This outcome is particularly significant in that it will prevent recurring flood damage from heavy rainfall, revitalize the region, and contribute to both civilian-military mutual prosperity and balanced regional development.