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“USFK began providing Korean national employees today with a 60-day notice of a potential administrative furlough that could occur on April 1, 2020,” USFK said Wednesday. It noted that the military was bound by US law to deliver the notice two months in advance of the furlough date.
Korea and the US have held six rounds of talks on defense cost-sharing, but they have been unable to narrow differences over Washington’s demand that Seoul contribute dramatically more this year than before. The US asked for $5 billion a year, five times more than what Korea paid last year.
Jeong Eun-bo, Seoul's top negotiator in defense cost-sharing talks with Washington, speaks to reporters on Jan. 17 after the sixth round of talks held in the US. (Yonhap) |
“Without the Republic of Korea’s continued commitment to share the cost of employing our Korean national workforce, USFK will soon exhaust programmed funds available to pay their salaries and wages,” USFK said, adding it will host meeting to provide Korean workers with information regarding their leave.
The secretary general of the Korean workers’ union said the workers will stand ready to work regardless of their leave because a fully functioning USFK is not just public service but key to security in the Korean Peninsula.
By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)