Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering branch prepares for move to Camp Humphreys

Far East District
Published June 7, 2017
The Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Branch’s Geology and Hydrology section will relocate by the end of 2017.

The Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Branch’s Geology and Hydrology section will relocate by the end of 2017.

The Far East District headquarters is scheduled to relocate from Seoul to Camp Humphreys in the spring of 2018, however some parts of the district won’t be waiting until then. The Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Branch’s Geology and Hydrology section will relocate by the end of 2017. The 19 personnel include members of the drilling, water well and soil exploration teams.

The move for these teams is due, in part, to the motor pool relocating to Camp Humphreys early as well.

Song Hyon Pak, Geology and Hydrology section chief, said equipment like the drill rig, is used by his team and requires constant maintenance, as it is more than 20 years old. The motor pool staff provides this service which is vital to the success of his section.

“Timely preventive maintenance and repair services of drill rigs, water well maintenance rigs, equipment, and support vehicles is quite essential to successful completion of geotechnical missions,” said Pak.  

Pak will not immediately relocate with his team as he will remain at the district compound. However, he’ll appoint a team lead to handle operations at the new location when he’s not present.

“I will need to visit Camp Humphreys once or twice a week,” said Pak. “Internally I will make a plan that will ensure proper functioning between the Geotechnical section and Geology and Hydrology section.”

Pak said that this move will pose several challenges for him and his staff. At his current location his team is designated its own location within the headquarters compound. However, the new headquarters building isn’t complete so the team will temporarily work within the vehicle motor facility at Camp Humphreys. 

While the move presents challenges, Sunhwa Lee, chief of the Geotechnical section, said moving such a small portion of the district to Camp Humphreys can be an advantage for the majority of district personnel moving later to the new headquarters building.

“They will be able to communicate things to others before moving to Camp Humphreys such as lessons learned,” said Lee. “Also we are closer to our clients and our projects in Camp Humphreys.”

The relocation of the Far East District is a long term project and part of the Yongsan Relocation and Land Partnership Program.