By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter


Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung said Thursday that the reduction of South Korean troops in Iraq will start in May next year, and proceed on a gradual basis based on political and security conditions there.

Speaking at a meeting of ruling Uri Party lawmakers at the National Assembly, Yoon said his ministry plans to pull out one Army brigade in charge of civil affairs and a few supporting units under a plan to cut 1,000 troops from the Zaytun Unit.

South Korea maintains the 3,260-strong unit in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil on a humanitarian and rehabilitation mission, representing the third largest foreign contingent after the United States with 155,000 and Britain with 8,500.

With the death toll of U.S. soldiers in Iraq reaching about 2,000, the Pentagon is reportedly considering cutting its troops to about 138,000 after the Dec. 15 Iraqi elections.

Reports also said that Italy, the fourth largest contingent with 3,000, and Japan with 600 plan to pull their troops out of the Arab nation next year.

Yoon, however, stressed that the troop cut plan will not affect the Zaytun Unit’s status as a division-level post under the command of a two-star general.

The ministry submitted a motion calling for the extension of troop deployment to Iraq for another year to the National Assembly last week for approval. The unit’s mission expires on Dec. 31 under a bill approved by the legislature last year. An Assembly vote on the motion is slated for next Wednesday.

In Thursday’s meeting, Rep. Im Jong-in called for the withdrawal of South Korea’s troops from Iraq, arguing that their presence on foreign soil does not serve the national interest.

``A recent U.S. poll shows that about 64 percent of the American people want their troops out of Iraq,’’ Im said. ``In this regard, South Korean troops’ continued presence there will not add to the national interest, on the contrary, it will damage the country’s global reputation.’’

Im and two other lawmakers _ Yoo Seung-hee of the ruling party and Go Jin-hwa of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) _ left for Iraq Thursday to conduct an on-site inspection of the security situation in the Kurdish-controlled Irbil and the properness of troop deployment.

Some legislators of the ruling and opposition parties have called for more support for the troop deployment to help the unit’s efforts to help stabilize the war-damaged country.

``It is too early to bring our soldiers back as Iraq still needs international support on a humanitarian basis, even if the situation there improves,’’ he said. ``We need to give at least one more year so our soldiers can complete projects and ensure their reconstruction efforts pay off.’’

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr