Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Frustration in South Korea as Cost-Sharing Talks With US Drag on

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Nearly a month after the expiration of the
   agreement on how to split the cost of the U.S. military presence in
   South Korea, there is growing frustration among South Korean civilians
   who will soon be temporarily suspended from their jobs on U.S. bases if
   a deal isn't reached.

   The U.S. military this week sent furlough notices to its Korean
   national employees, around 9,000 of whom may be forced to take unpaid
   time off starting April 1, without an agreement. Some have begun
   looking for other work.

   "Of course, everyone feels unstable and distressed," said Son Gi-o, the
   national secretary general for the USFK Korean Employees Union, "It is
   our livelihood, after all."

   Like other Korean base employees who spoke to VOA, Son hoped an
   agreement will be reached but said he feels insulted and that the
   contribution of his Korean colleagues is being undervalued.

   A South Korean national who works at Camp Humphreys, the sprawling U.S.
   base about an hour south of Seoul, said he was optimistic a deal would
   be reached but said, nevertheless, "we can't focus at work." He was not
   authorized to speak to the media and would not provide a name.

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