Residents of Pyeongtaek were urged to evacuate 9 days ago, on July 28, after the city government issued text messages warning of a suspected white phosphorus leak at Osan Air Base, a U.S. military installation just south of Seoul. The alert advised residents to move to safe places and avoid skin exposure, citing the dangerous chemical substance. This immediate threat to the local populace highlights the inherent risks posed by the ongoing presence of foreign military operations on sovereign land.
White phosphorus, a controversial chemical, is used in incendiary munitions and smoke shells. When ignited, it burns at extremely high temperatures, capable of setting buildings ablaze and burning human flesh to the bone. Its potential release into the environment represents a severe hazard to the working people and communities surrounding the base.
The Imperial Presence
The U.S. military later stated its investigations confirmed no white phosphorus leak occurred. It claimed the crystallization and residue identified during a routine munitions inspection was not white phosphorus and contained no traces of the substance. Follow-up analysis, according to the military, concluded the residue was non-hazardous surface corrosion resulting from environmental exposure. No injuries were reported, the military added.
The United States deploys approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea. This substantial military presence is framed as deterrence against potential aggressions from North Korea. However, this imperial garrison has long been a source of deep anti-American sentiment among many in South Korea, fueled by crimes involving U.S. service members and the U.S. role in the nation’s tumultuous modern history.
State Complicity and Suppression
The Pyeongtaek city government, after initially issuing the urgent evacuation alert, later lifted it. City officials stated this decision came after they were informed the U.S. military had finished decontamination work. They also noted the initial text messages were issued after consultations with the U.S. military, South Korean police, and emergency offices. This sequence of events reveals the South Korean state's deference to foreign military authority, prioritizing the narrative control of the occupying power over the immediate and transparent protection of its own citizens.
Col. Ryan Ley, commander of the 51st Fighter Wing, offered a statement. "We appreciate the city’s close partnership in keeping our community safe, and we thank everyone for their patience as our team worked to resolve this situation," Ley said. Such statements from military command often serve to normalize and sanitize the power dynamics at play, presenting a relationship of cooperation where one party holds ultimate authority.
Resistance Emerges
Earlier this week, the underlying tensions erupted into direct action. Eight South Korean students were detained for allegedly breaking into the Osan base. They were reportedly shouting anti-U.S. slogans during their protest. Their actions underscore the persistent, organized resistance against the foreign military presence and the perceived complicity of the local state apparatus.