Exactly. OEW is a common term, and just like Spaz's demand for citations on numbers that he quoted himself a few months ago, it's simply a way of acting like a dumb
to derail the discussion, like another Australian around these parts did until the Mods threw him in the loony bin.
We - "Capable of growth" is squishy marketing-speak, and ten per cent of VLBB is at best around 800 lbst, which is 2 per cent of thrust and unexciting. And thrust loss with life is a common factor in engines, so no brownie points for providing margin there. It's essential to ensure that the aircraft will meet KPPs by the time its engine is reaching its overhaul point.
Korea doesn't know anything that they did not know when their (new formula with Reduced Politics!) procurement process picked the F-15SE, but they do know that they can't afford to annoy the USA, and this program has to be kept looking good through November 2016.
For some reason the current administration may not wish to be linked to a giant technical/management flop.