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ROK Navy Opens New Naval Base for KDX-III Aegis Destroyers on Jeju Island

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Naval Forces News - South Korea
 
 
 
ROK Navy Opens New Naval Base for KDX-III Aegis Destroyers on Jeju Island
 
The Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea) Navy unveiled a new naval base on the southern resort island of Jeju. Jeju island is strategically located in a sea passage connecting the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The 7,600-ton KDX-III Aegis Destroyer Yulgok Yi arrived on December 22 to the "Jeju civil-military sea port base" (the official designation of the base) ahead of its official launch scheduled for January.
     
The Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea) Navy unveiled a new naval base on the southern resort island of Jeju. Jeju island is strategically located in a sea passage connecting the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The 7,600-ton KDX-III Aegis Destroyer Yulgok Yi arrived on December 22 to the "Jeju civil-military sea port base" (the official designation of the base) which marked the opening of the complex.
Republic Of Korea Ship Sejong the Great (DDG 991), head of KDX-III Aegis destroyer class
(U.S. Navy photo)

     
A KDX-III Destroyer is set to be permanently homeported to the new base whihc spans nearly 500,000 square meters with docks running some 5 kilometers. The dual-use base is capable of simultaneously docking up to 20 combat ships and two of the biggest cruise ships, larger than 150,000 tons. With the relocations, Jeju will host more than 3,000 Navy troops as well as the Submarine Force Command. The base could see more destroyers in the future as South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff( JCS) decided in 2013 to increase the number of its Aegis destroyers from the current three to six by 2027 to strengthen its maritime combat capabilities

The ROK Navy stressed the new base will dramatically enhance the Navy's ability to counter North Korea's potential provocations at the sea borders both in the west and the east. The new naval compound also has in mind the mission to defend Ieo Island, known as Socotra Rock, a strategically important South Korean submerged rock located nearly 300 km southwest of Jeju. China has previously laid claims to the resource-rich rock, which South Korea controls with the presence of its maritime research center there.

Partially designed by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, the Sejong the Great class Destroyers are the largest surface combatants in the Republic of Korea Navy. The 3 vessels of the class were built as part of the KDX-III project to strengthen ROK Navy defense against North Korea and other emerging threats as well as provide the ROK Navy with true blue water, ocean going capabilities.

Link to KDX-III Aegis Destroyer technical datasheet
     
Location of the new ROK Navy naval base