Seoul to step up support in Afghanistan

South Korea yesterday decided to increase financial and reconstruction support to the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said.

Seoul will be committing some $74 million by 2011, up from the $30 million originally pledged, the ministry said.

The increased costs - including an additional $19 million the government approved yesterday - will mostly be used to send more equipment and civilians to help rebuild the war-ravaged country, officials said.



There is currently a 25-member team of civilians, mostly in medical services, in Afghanistan. The government plans to increase the number to 85, and also diversify their duties to include job training and Taekwondo classes.

"We also plan to open more hospitals and job training facilities to accomodate the increased number of civilian workers, who will embark on their duties starting in January next year," a ministry official said.

Broken down, the new support team will consist of 30 who provide medical support, plus 10 who will train the populace in subjects such as computers, auto repairing and construction. A dozen more will devote themselves to teaching Taekwondo. Koreans have commited themselves to teaching Taekwondo whereever they set up camp overseas as part of peacekeeping efforts.

The dozen or so who will be newly dispatched are likely to consist mainly of former or incumbent police officers who would teach the martial art to their counterparts.

The equipment support will consist of some 300 patrol motorcycles and 100 ambulances. Costing about $5 million, the equipment is to reach Afghanistan by the end of July, the Foreign Ministry said.

The government is reportedly considering further support for Afghanistan, sparking speculation that Seoul is taking the necessary steps to eventually phase in full combat support there. Some expect a deal in June when President Lee Myung-bak is scheduled for a summit with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on the 16th.

The Foreign Ministry has so far said it would review future situations, including international efforts and trends regarding Afghanistan, before reconsidering support plans.

But Seoul strongly denied it has plans to commit combat troops yet.

There have been repeated reports that the United States - via closed-door talks - have requested stronger aid from South Korea, one of its oldest allies.

Experts also have stated the need for Seoul to more actively join in on the international peacekeeping efforts, citing the successful missions undertaken by the Dongeui and Dasan divisions in Afghanistan earlier on.

Lee has stressed the need for South Korea to step up cooperation in such activities to prove itself a responsible global player. Seoul, even when adding the additional fund support, will have contributed to less than 1 percent of the $50 billion that the rest of the international community including Japan has committed to Afghanistan.

Critics, however, voice protest citing security concerns. The former Roh Moo-hyun administration, had faced vehement parliamentary and public opposition when it pushed ahead with the four extensions for dispatching troops to Iraq.

By Kim Ji-hyun



(jemmie@heraldm.com)