Mention of 'Jinjeon'... Presumed Narrowing of Differences Between Both Sides
Shortening Negotiation Cycle, Will a Conclusion Be Reached Before the US Presidential Election?
The 7th meeting of the 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) between South Korea and the United States, aimed at determining the South Korean government's defense cost-sharing contribution for the US Forces Korea starting in 2026, has concluded. The US side expressed that there was "good progress."
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 29th, the 7th meeting was held in Seoul over three days from the 27th to today. A ministry official stated, "Following the previous meeting, South Korea and the US conducted in-depth consultations focusing on making substantial progress on key issues of mutual interest," adding, "We plan to continue consultations regularly."
Linda Specht, the US chief negotiator and Senior Advisor at the State Department, said in a statement, "The US and Korean delegations have made good progress toward a fair and equitable agreement."
The US has consistently emphasized a "fair and equitable outcome" regarding the SMA, and mentioning "good progress" suggests that both sides narrowed some differences during this meeting.
This meeting was held just two weeks after the 6th meeting, which took place from the 12th to the 14th. Since the first meeting in late April this year in Hawaii, South Korea and the US have been holding meetings once or twice a month. With the US presidential election coming up in November, the meeting frequency is gradually increasing. Given that a change of administration following the election could significantly affect negotiations, attention is focused on whether an agreement can be reached before the election.
On the morning of the 27th, when the 7th round of negotiations for the 12th Special Measures Agreement on Defense Cost-Sharing between Korea and the U.S. was scheduled, members of People for Peace and Unification (Pyeongtongsa) attempted to hold a press conference near the Seoul campus of the Korea National Defense University in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, demanding a halt to the defense cost-sharing negotiations. The police are preventing this. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The SMA is an agreement that defines the amount South Korea will bear for the costs of stationing US Forces Korea. The Korean contribution covers three categories: ▲ personnel costs (wages for Korean employees of US Forces Korea), ▲ military construction costs (support for facility construction), and ▲ logistics support costs (services and material support).
The 11th SMA, concluded by South Korea and the US in 2021, is valid until the end of 2025. According to the 11th SMA, the defense cost-sharing amount for 2021 was KRW 1.1833 trillion, a 13.9% increase from the previous year. The contribution will continue to increase in line with South Korea's defense budget growth rate until 2025.
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