INCHEON — Corroded water pipes and aging barracks housing Marines on South Korea's five northwestern frontline islands came under scrutiny again at a National Assembly Defense Committee audit, with lawmakers criticizing years of slow progress in improving living conditions on the remote islands.
Rep. Song Young-gil of the Defense Committee raised the issue on the 20th, focusing on housing conditions for the roughly 4,500 Marines stationed across the five islands. Song said the troops face poor living conditions because of inadequate water supplies and poorly maintained plumbing, and called on military authorities to move quickly on remedies.
Marine Corps Commandant Joo Il-seok said sea winds and salt in the island environment cause severe pipe corrosion and rapid deterioration of barracks facilities. The Marine Corps has included about 130 billion won ($91 million) in its mid-term plan through 2028 to build new barracks and overhaul water supply systems, Joo said.
Deterioration of facilities on the five islands has been raised repeatedly in past audits. According to Defense Committee audit materials, inspection reports submitted between 2018 and 2023 repeatedly flagged that steel pipes corrode faster than on the mainland because of sea winds and salt, and that supplies of water for daily use are limited when groundwater runs dry. Many of the forward guard posts responsible for coastal surveillance were found to be aging prefabricated panel structures that have exceeded their service life.
Officials also cited delays in project work, pointing to material transport costs more than 1.5 times those on the mainland and construction schedules pushed back by bad weather.
Song said improving living conditions for frontline troops is the starting point for raising military morale, and urged swift spending of the budget that has been allocated.
