– Advertisement –
Two large-scale oil spills were recently reported at United States (U.S.) military bases in South Korea, Yonhap news agency said on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
According to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), about 11,000 gallons (around 41,600 liters) of fighter jet fuel leaked from a storage tank at a major U.S. Air Force base in Gunsan.
The leakage was approximately 180 kilometers south of the capital, Seoul.
The 8th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force said it had taken steps to contain and remediate the pollutants.
It added that there was no immediate risk to the health and safety of residents in nearby communities.
An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing, Yonhap reported.
Separately, on Feb. 5, an unspecified volume of fuel was reported to have leaked at another U.S. Air Force base in Osan, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul.
Under the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, the South Korean government retains ownership of land and facilities used by U.S. forces, while granting the U.S. military the right to use designated bases.
