History lesson: Struggle against navy base on Jeju Island

Wonderful, heart breaking, inspiring and much more is this documentary film about the long struggle against the navy base in Gangjeong village on Jeju Island in South Korea. 

Director Sung-Bong, Jo writes, "I will never forget that the Korean government occupied Gangjeong village".

The 500-year old fishing and farming village of just over 1,000 people has now been swamped by the South Korean and US Navy. 

Aegis destroyers made in nearby Bath Iron Works in Maine regularly port in the village due to its close proximity to China. All part of the US 'pivot' into the region to encircle China, North Korea and even Russia.

Signs of resistance before the Gureombi rocky coast was blasted and concrete poured over it for the navy base.

I've been to Gangjeong numerous times over the years and was actually arrested there in 2012 along with other members of the Global Network (and South Korean folks). We concluded our GN annual meeting in the village with a civil resistance action of kayaking onto the sacred rocky coastline (Gureombi) and crawling under the razor wire where villagers have long worshipped their relatives who have passed on. 

You can see the video I made from that 2012 visit here.

Even now Korean activists daily protest at the navy base and then sing and dance outside the gates before gathering in their community kitchen for lunch. These are the most determined and resilient activists I've ever seen. 

The daily peace vigils have been held for 6,781 consecutive days as of December 9, 2025. (That comes out to 18.6 years.) I could never imagine any peace group in the US doing that over that same period of time. It really makes a difference when you are defending your sacred home and the nature you love.

Love and peace to them always.

Fighting!

Bruce