Korean Job Discussion Forums

tatu · Joined: 23 Jun 2006

sorry ..it was 600,000 for a year.

dc'79 · Joined: 01 Jun 2008

Back in the 90's, it was common knowledge that Koreans were paying large sums for ID passes. I should say common knowledge among the Koreans. I ran into plently of Koreans who told me that they paid to have access (including ration cards). Some even proudly showing me their ID card. 9/11 brought alot more scrutiny into base access which is why that is no longer the case.

Chokse · Joined: 22 May 2009

I am an ESL (university) teacher here and I had a base pass for about 7 years. It used to be available to anyone who was a member of AMCHAM and who purchased a membership to AUSA through AMCHAM. The annual cost for both was about $500, or about 600,000 won as another person mentioned. This pass got me on base and allowed me to bring two guests (from 8:00 AM until 10:00 PM). It allowed me to eat at any restaurants on base but I could not shop at the PX or supermarket. The small convenience store in the Dragon Hill Lodge used to not check ID, but about 3 years ago, they started checking everyone, so I could no longer pick up goodies there. There were a few smaller convenience stores around the base that didn't check ID, but the selection there was very limited.

I assume that the guy at the bookstore was a member of AMCHAM and AUSA and that this is how he got his pass

But, in the Spring of 2008, the US military decided to stop the program with AMCHAM, as well as the programs with Korean organizations that allowed Koreans to buy passes as well. Instead, the military introduced the "Good Neighbor Program" and it is through this that you must now get a pass if you want one. I checked into it and it is not worth it. You either need to sponsor a huge sightseeing tour and banquet for a large group of military personnel (maybe 20 or 30 million won), or you have to volunteer at least 16 hours a week on base doing something to benefit the military (again, not worth it). I think the goal of this program was to get rid of all the Koreans who were buying passes and then going to the small slot machine casino in the DHL. Unfortunately, it affected US citizens who were donating money to the AUSA program (Association of the US Army).

I have to say that it was nice being able to get good burgers (Navy Club), deli meat (DHL) and Taco Bell. But, at the current exchange rate, it would not be so much fun. Also, a lot has changed in Korea over the past 5 years. It used to be impossible to find a good burger or taco off base, but not any longer. So, I don't miss it too much.

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

I love going on base. It gives me temporary relief from living in Korea. Grass. Food. Not being surrounded by Koreans and being knocked around. Priceless.

mc_jc · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Location: C4B- Cp Red Cloud, Area-I

So it is indeed possible to volunteer to do something onbase and get a basepass?
I was led to assume that it was only through volunteering with the USO did a person get a basepass.

Actually, it is not just the basepass policy that is under scutiny. As of late-2008, the agency that approves hirings onbase is also cracking down on those who got hired from South Korea:

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63572
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63079
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60591

All these articles talk about how the Contracting Command-Korea is now cracking down on people getting hired from South Korea (although certain jobs specify that the person could be picked up for hire from within "the commutable area", it is not the case and about 80 so far have lost their jobs because they were hired from Korea).

I guess it is not just English teachers getting knocked around anymore.

FistFace · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 2:38 pm Post subject:

It's been about 4 years ago, but I remember a little old woman that would drive around in a small car selling alcohol to the bars around Itaewon. They would pour it into empty Korean-marked bottles. Saw this on more than one occasion.

mc_jc · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Location: C4B- Cp Red Cloud, Area-I

gakduki · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject:

Posing with tanks on base, lol, they actually let civilians take pictures of tanks. Doesn't sound right. I've been on OSAN AFB and Im surprised they have tanks being an AFB but what do I know. I've also been on Yongsan. I've never been close to soldiers, but diplmats and contract workers have signed me on before. Its sweet, they didn't even take my id or my name when I came on with a diplomat. I could have been a Chinese or Russian spy. When you go with a GI or a contract worker you must hand over your ID. Certain nationalities are not allowed on base, any teachers would be because they are from 'friendly' countries.
Base sucks anyways, there is a Tacobell and thats about it. You cannot go into most shops let alone buy anything without a proper card, doesn't matter if your a guest. One time we snuck into the Commisary, that was sweet, all the cheap cheese and beef. My friend ran out of his monthly rations in about a half an hour.
I highly doubt you can take advantage of the banks there and send money home for free or deposit it into your account. First of all you would need USD, I doubt they take Won. Secondly are the banks really that stupid? You probably need some sort of service personelle card. (That I don't know however.) Why on Earth would a soldier want to re-deposit money he/she took out and send it back home? Unless they have another job of somesort without direct deposit. Sounds dodgy.
Well have fun on base, good luck its like taking a trip to America to some backwash community in the suburbs.

rowdie3 · Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Location: Itaewon, Seoul

Love how you were able to throw in a massive generalization about your OWN military. RUDE!

amandaz · Joined: 05 Jun 2008

My boyfriend is in the AF (I'm a teacher) and I have spent some time on Kunsan Airbase. Its not that great. You HAVE to be signed on by someone in the military during certain hours. Once you are on base you cannot walk around unattended (without the person that signed you on). You cannot buy anything on your own. They just stopped selling liquor in the bars on base. There is nowhere cool to hang out. Yes, you can get Tacobell, but I never ate that crap back home, so why would I here? All in all, not worth the trouble unless its your friend or significant other and you are looking to just hang out with a bunch of American men!

Shiktang · Joined: 10 May 2009

It would be intersting to know how much contraband gets pilffered and resold for triple the price off base to expats. There is one hell of a lot of mini markets with stuff right from the U.S. Around the bases every other home has a room with pilfered goods for sale.

I went on base once and was eating in a fast food place with a U.S. serviceman, and he pointed to a group of koreans eating across from us saying " there goes a ton of U.S. goods off the base"

There are always Korean parents standing by the gates trying to palm their kids off onto Serviceman and their families for an hour or two of cultural experience. I'm sure they paye quite well for their kid's experience.

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

Shiktang · Joined: 10 May 2009

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Yes, I despise dishonesty. I still haven't seen any proof that base passes were for sale. A couple of posters mentioned that some passes were available for working with/volunteering with certain organizations and another poster provided links to stories on a different topic. Also, one poster asserts that the base security guards just waved some people through simply because they were in the company of a US diplomat--a ridiculous assertion, to say the least. Like roadwork, I've never seen people "pawning their kids off on random soldiers." You might want to remember that some of the personnel authorized to be on the base and authorized to escort guests also happen to be related to Koreans. There are even Korean nationals enlisted in the US Armed Forces.

For grins, I called the MP number I provided above and enquired what the procedure is for someone not affiliated with the base or the military to obtain a base pass. The response was, "We've never heard of anything like that. If you're not SOFA personnel or employed on the base, then you must have an authorized escort sign you onto the base."

Well, I'll be checking into the Dragon Hill Lodge this Friday evening. Of course, I must present my identification card to go through the security entrance. I'll happily take a photo of the poster they have at the security shack indicating what types of ID will gain someone access. If such photography is not permitted, I'll copy down all the form numbers and see about getting a poster myself to scan and post here.