S. Korea names army commander to head unit supporting U.S. base relocation By Sam Kim

SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean army corps deputy commander was appointed Monday to head a key unit supporting the relocation of U.S. forces here, officials said, following a scandal that forced his predecessor to resign.

About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against
North Korea -- a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. As part of its global
realignment plan, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is working to move most of its
frontline bases to south of Seoul.
Since 2006, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has operated a unit
that supports the move. Officials said Monday the ministry has named Lt. Gen. Kim
Young-hoo to lead the unit.
"Kim has been appointed as of Monday," an official who declined to be identified
said. "The appointment marks the second time a lieutenant general is taking up
the position."
The appointment of Kim, 58, came after a key advisor to the MURO unit resigned
last week over a lobbying scandal.
The top post of MURO, short for MND USFK Relocation Office, has been vacant since
November when Maj. Gen. Park Byung-hee retired and instead took office as an
advisor. Park is alleged to have accepted bribes from a construction company
before he took office as chief of the unit, which oversees an approximately
10-trillion-won (US$7.4 billion) budget related to the relocation.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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