An overwhelming majority of Kurds surveyed support the South Korean presence in Kurdistan.

The Kurdish Globe

A Kurdish Globe survey shows that 84% of people in Erbil city want the South Korean Army to extend their tour of duty in Kurdistan.

The Globe conducted a survey of 200 people in Erbil city over 20 years of age, including teachers, students, employees in government establishments and ministries, intellectuals, and laborers. Results showed that 84% want the South Korean Army, also known as Zaytun Division, to stay in Kurdistan longer than their scheduled time of withdrawal, which is at the end of this year. In addition, 12% want the Koreans to withdraw at the end of 2007, and 4% said they did not care because they were unfamiliar with the Korean Army's presence in the region.

Of the 84% who wanted the Koreans to stay longer, 78% of those believe that the Korean Army and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have done good works in Kurdistan. Meanwhile, 28% of those who wanted the Korean Army to remain said that Korean activities and works are weak, but that they should stay longer and widen their activities in Kurdistan.

"I hope the South Korean Army stays here for a longer time; they achieved success in many projects, such as building schools and hospitals as well as equipping them with modern technology," said Dilshad Ibrahim, 39, an engineer who mentioned that many of his relatives received medical treatment in an Erbil hospital built by the Korean Army.

Abdullah Rafiq, 36, who said yes to an extended presence of Korean troops in Kurdistan, stressed that he is not sufficiently satisfied with Korean works here.

"The Korean Army has finished many projects in Kurdistan, but they haven't fulfilled big projects, like building a very big hospital in Kurdistan," said Rafiq. Rafiq said that he wants the presence of Korean troops for a longer time because Kurdistan needs Korean experience, technology, and systems.

A solid 91% of those wanting the Koreans to stay say it is for economical and political interests, and only 9% of them say it is just for economical interests.

Hoshyar Abdullah, 52, a schoolteacher, urged them to stay in Kurdistan for a longer time in order to build economic and political Korean and Kurdish relations.

"Koreans have a history like Kurds, and we hope they help us better, because they understand our suffering better," said Abdullah.

The Zaytun Division has supported Erbil province as well as some towns of other provinces of Kurdistan Region with medical, education, and construction programs since its arrival in 2004. The name Zaytun means olive in Arabic. Most of the Korean troops in Erbil are engineers and medics; they paved roads, constructed schools and health centers, and repaired water supply facilities. The unit also treated up to 25,000 local residents in its hospital, and offered industrial and systematic training to locals as well as government employees.

In the survey, 12% (24 people) wanted South Korea to withdraw its troops in Kurdistan by the end of the current year; 18 of them said the activities of the Korean Army in Kurdistan are weak. Six said that Korean troops have done good works in Kurdistan, but they don't want the existence of any foreign army in Kurdistan.

"Korean troops have done good works here, but I don't like the presence of the Korean Army or any foreign armies here. Any foreign army in Kurdistan is an invader, and it is the duty of our government to work and construct Kurdistan, not foreign armies," said a university lecturer who asked not to be named.

Erbil Governor Nawzad Hadi recently visited South Korea carrying a letter from Kurdistan Prime Minister asking the South Korean Army Chief of Staff to extend the mission of Korean troops in Kurdistan.

"Their point of view about extending their military mission in Kurdistan was positive, and I think the Korean Parliament will decide to extend the mission of the Korean Army in Kurdistan for a longer time," said Governor Hadi to The Globe.

Governor Hadi expressed his satisfaction toward Korean troops and KOICA's works in Kurdistan, adding that their works are of good quality, particularly in building hospitals, schools, and water and electricity projects, as well as helping the government of Kurdistan Region in various fields.

He said that the Korean Army's mission in Kurdistan is not only building, but also in helping to equip the buildings with modern equipment, training government employees, supplying local people with medical treatment, training local people to learn several jobs, and assisting the Ministry of Interior and security forces in Kurdistan.

Governor Hadi pointed out that Korean troops have never made any problems for people in Kurdistan, nor have the Korean troops faced any problems from people in Kurdistan.

"We see people in other parts of Iraq protest against the multinational forces, but in Kurdistan it never happened," said Governor Hadi. He added, "I tell the Korean Parliament they should be proud of what Korean troops have achieved in Kurdistan."