반환 미군기지의 환경오염 문제에 관한 법적 고찰 - 한ㆍ미 SOFA 환경 규정의 문제점과 개선방안중심 -

A total of 23 U.S. military bases in South Korean cities including Maehyangri, a bomb practicing area, came into the hands of Koreans in 2007 by the American troops with no environmental inspection and purification conducted in 2007. In fact, the amendment of SOFA agreement in 2001 stipulated that American troops should return their bases to Korea after ridding them of environmental pollution, if needed. The US military, however, ignored the Korean provision stipulating the environmental purification and took "return of land" procedure based on SOFA's article 4, " no duty of restoring to the original state" As a result, environmental and citizens' groups demand a retraction of environmentally uninspected and unpurified return of American military bases and that has become Korea's current issue. Therefore, it is urgent to revise and add to the environment-related articles in SOFA in order to solve their controversial interpretation between Korea and the U.S. There is no way to arbitrate and settle if both countries have different views in interpreting and conducting SOFA agreements due to unclear and unspecified articles. In conclusion, diplomatic efforts between the two countries are urgently required both strategically and legally.