SEOUL, Republic of Korea - Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) removed the official CNFK logo from building 2554, officially decommissioning its Seoul-based headquarters after 61 years of operation at U.S Army Garrison Yongsan, Nov. 9, 2018.

The event, attended by Rear Adm. Michael E. Boyle, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, was the final step in marking the completion of CNFK’s relocation to U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys (USAGH) in Pyeongtaek.

“CNFK has been here in Seoul working side by side with USFK and our ROK partners since 1957,” said Boyle. “Closing the doors to a building rich with decades of history allows us to focus on the future and continuing to strengthen the ironclad alliance we have the ROK.”

The relocation of U.S forces from U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul to USAGH in Pyeongtaek stems from an agreement between the U.S. and Republic of Korea governments in 2004 to move U.S. forces south of the Han River.

CNFK’s forward headquarters now operates out of the U.S. Forces Korea headquarters in Pyeongtaek, who officially moved their headquarters to USAGH back in July 2018.

“By moving down to Camp Humphreys we not only honor the agreement between the U.S. and ROK government, but also maintain our interoperability with USFK,” said Boyle. “Operating out of the new USFK headquarters building enhances our alignment with USFK.”

CNFK moved its’ primary headquarters down to Busan back in 2016 where it would be co-located with the Commander, Republic of Korea Fleet (COMROKFLT) headquarters to increase interoperability, cooperation and coordination between the two naval forces.

“Maintaining a headquarters out of three locations allows us to keep integrated relationships with the UNC, CFC, and USFK command structures,” said Boyle. “We coordinate and cooperate on naval matters around the peninsula more effectively and as a result we further strengthen the alliance.”

Yongsan Army Garrison will continue to reduce the number of service members stationed there until about December 2019, when most of the base will be turned back over to the ROK.

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea and with locations in Busan, Chinhae, and Pyeongtaek provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the Commander for the United Nations Command, the Combined Forces Command, and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea.