Groups want Gunsan air show canceled

[unhappycamper]

Groups want Gunsan air show canceled
By Jimmy Norris and Hwang Hae-rym, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Tuesday, December 16, 2008

SEOUL — Civic groups are at odds with the city of Gunsan over an air show in which airmen at Kunsan Air Base have participated.

According to Yun Chul-soo, spokesman for the Gunsan Civil Movement to Retake U.S. Forces Korea Bases and Facilities, the city plans to spend about 4 billion South Korean won ($2,956,923) on the 2012 show — money his and 24 other civic groups say would be better spent on helping the city through rough economic times.

"You can better use it with helping the poor at this difficult time of the economy rather than throwing it away on playing and eating," Yun said.

Yun described the air show as "merely a display event" that is "eating up our tax money," and he thinks most Gunsan citizens feel the same way.

The group has been sending official letters, holding press briefings and holding monthly gatherings to generate support for canceling the show. City spokeswoman Choi Mi-young, however, argued the show is critical to the development of tourism programs.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59423