The United States’ largest military base outside of the US is in South Korea: This is Camp Humphreys

Martial law has been declared in South Korea by the country’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, who is a member of the People Power Party, a right-wing political movement. Though the PPP forms the government, it does not have a governing majority in the National Assembly, and the evoking of martial law weakens the country’s legislative powers significantly.

South Korea is one of the US’ strongest allies in Asia. It has erected one of its largest military bases on the southern side of the Korean peninsula called Camp Humphreys. It was named for Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin K. Humphreys, a pilot with the 6th Transportation Company who perished in a helicopter accident in 1961. A year later, it was renamed in his honor.

The military base is located around forty miles from the coastal city of Pyeongtaek. It is referred to as the “Army’s Home in Korea.” At that base, one finds the “headquarters for the Eighth U.S. Army, the Second Infantry Division, the Army’s most active airfield in the Pacific, and the hub of U.S. Forces Korea,” according to the bases’ website. Around 40,000 military professionals and staff and their families call the base home.

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The history of the base

The Imperial Japanese Army initially identified the area where the base was located, and they constructed the Pyeongtaek Airfield in 1919. The airfield was used as an outpost during the Japanese occupation of the peninsula and was abandoned when the occupation ended. During the Korean War, a new use for the base was identified, and it was renovated and updated to house the US Marine Air Group and the 6147th Tactical Control Group.

Since its founding, the base has been updated over the years to accommodate a larger population. The site has become a contentious issue among various groups in Korean society. Some oppose further militarization in South Korea, viewing it as provocative and counterproductive to efforts aimed at rebuilding relations with North Korea. They believe such efforts are essential for creating lasting peace between two peoples who share a common culture, language, and history.

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