Seoul: South Korean and U.S. troops have conducted drills to standardize new entry procedures at Osan Air Base, the U.S. Air Force said Monday, following its decision to transfer control of access to gates from previous joint management to the U.S. side.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this move comes a month after the U.S. 51st Fighter Wing announced that base access requirements have been updated to ensure security. This mandates South Korean military personnel to use U.S.-approved identification cards for gate access at the air base located in Pyeongtaek, approximately 65 kilometers south of Seoul.

A representative from the U.S. Air Force Operations Command emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in installation security. The representative noted that by training together and operating under a unified set of procedures, vulnerabilities are reduced, and the capability to protect the installation is enhanced.

The fighter wing clarified that these unified procedures were developed through coordination and negotiation between U.S. and Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) leadership. Both sides contributed to procedures that support the overall safety and security of Osan.

The update to the access policy followed a complaint from the U.S. military regarding a special counsel team's search and seizure at the air base in July last year. This was part of an investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid.

The raid conducted by the special counsel team, under South Korean access authority, led U.S. Forces Korea Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. David Iverson to send a protest letter to the foreign ministry. The Osan Air Base hosts key facilities operated by both U.S. military and South Korean Air Force, including the Air Force Operations Command and the Air Force Master Control and Reporting Center.