USFK commander extends curfew through January 6

  • Published
  • By UNC/CFC/USFK Public Affairs Office
SEOUL, Republic of Korea --  U.S. Forces Korea announced today that Gen. James D. Thurman, U.S. Forces Korea commander, is extending the curfew for military personnel on the peninsula until Jan. 6, 2012.

Thurman reinstated the curfew for 30 days on Oct. 7, and is now extending it for an additional 60 days as a temporary force protection measure to ensure the continued mission readiness of the command and to assess the current operational environment.

"I firmly believe that military discipline is the foundation of mission-ready, well-trained and effective organizations," he said. "We must maintain mission readiness and the strength of the Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance."

The off-installation curfew is in effect from midnight to 5 a.m. on Monday through Friday and 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and U.S.-observed holidays including U.S. national holidays, USFK training holidays, and U.S.-observed ROK holidays.

The curfew applies to all U.S. Armed Forces service members while in Korea, except for military personnel attached to the U.S. Embassy or Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group - Korea. Military family members, DoD civilians, and DoD-invited contractors/technical representatives, and their respective family members and visiting guests, are encouraged to abide by this policy.

U.S. law enforcement personnel throughout Korea will continue to work closely with their local Korean National Police counterparts for assistance with curfew monitoring and enforcement.

"We've got to ensure all of our service members remain focused on our well-defined mission," said Thurman. "Both of our nations are counting on us to deter aggression, and if that should fail, to fight tonight."

Thurman made the decision to temporarily extend the curfew to Jan. 6, 2012, after consulting with service component commanders and Republic of Korea leaders. During this period, he will continue to assess the USFK force protection posture as well other issues, including operational and mission readiness within USFK.

The command rescinded the previous curfew July 2, 2010, which had been in place for nine years. The command's curfew policy provides the flexibility for commanders to re-impose a curfew or other restrictions as deemed appropriate due to operational or other considerations and in accordance with appropriate directives and regulations.