Prime Minister Han Myung-sook has issued a public statement urging an end to illegal violent protests over the planned U.S. base relocation to Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul.

In the statement on Friday, Han stressed that the people can freely have and express different ideas from the government but that they must resort to legal and peaceful methods to express their mind.

Han also said that the government fully understands the pain of the Pyeongtak residents who suffered the expropriation of their property twice in the past 50 years, vowing best efforts to resolve the current conflict through dialogue.

The prime minister also asked for public understanding on the matter, stressing that the government is providing some 12 square kilometers of land to U.S. forces, who will return to Seoul some one-hundred-70 square kilometers of land around the nation.

She also said that the planned U.S. base relocations are vital to consolidating the South Korean-U.S. alliance as well as ensuring the stability and development of Korean society.

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