Military to drop indemnity suit against residents over Jeju naval base

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military plans to quit a lawsuit against residents on Jeju Island and activists for having obstructed the construction of a major naval base there, an official said Tuesday.

A related motion has been submitted to the Cabinet meeting for administrative approval, he added.

The Navy filed the suit to exercise its right to indemnity in March 2016.

It cited losses of 3.4 billion won (US$3.1 million) from a delay in the construction work attributable to the fierce protests.

The retraction of the legal step is a campaign pledge of left-leaning President Moon Jae-in.

The construction of the Jeju base off the southern coast of the semi-tropical island started in 2006 and was completed last year.

lcd@yna.co.kr
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