Korean Job Discussion Forums

[spmorley]

I hear that on the US Base there is awesome shopping for international food, and cheap alcohol . How do you get on if your not American? Any thoughts?

[coffeeman]

"Welcome To Korea!" You must be a new guy asking that question.
Actually, there are some strategies that have worked very well for Non-Americans to get on the base.

Method #1 - You're timing is good because April is student protest month. Every year in April the university students in Korea have riots. The U.S. miltary offers sanctuary against these dangerous and unstable students. Just tell the guard at the gate that you are baing chased by anti-foreigner Korean university students throwing gas-filled bottles at you and they'll let you in.

Method #2 - It doesn't matter whether you are a guy or gal, just put on a sexy dress and make-up and ask the guards at the gate if you can come into the on-base nightclub. You can get free drinks if you come on a Tuesday 'cause it's lady's night.

[Bulsajo]

When my dad came to visit me he was still a serving officer in the RCA (and with proper ID to that effect).
Now, Canada and the US have reciprocal agreements on facilities-sharing (sort of a joke really, because there's nothing on a Canadian base that US personnel would even consider crossing the street for, and rightly so). It is supposed to be world-wide and has held true in the Middle East, Europe and North America that I am personally aware of- Cdn Service members with ID get base access and PX, gym, hotel, etc. on post.
But, not in Korea, apparently.
We tried to go on Youngsan main post, and the Korean guard looked at my Dad's military ID and said, "Sorry, you're not American. No access."
That didn't go over too well and my Dad asked to talk to the guy's supervisor, who was American (an MP, if I recall correctly).
He got the same answer "American personnel and their guests only".
When my Dad reminded him of the reciprocal agreement, the guy simply said "It doesn't apply here."
So, no dice.

Bear in mind that this occurred before 9/11, and draw your own conclusions as to whether access is easier now or not.

I'm not posting this as a rant on how Americans aren't honouring their signed agreements (it wasn't a big deal, we were walking around Itaewon towards the museum and he thought he might like to pop in and check out the facilities, we ended up eating over at the USO- not great but it served its purpose),
I'm simply pointing out the realities of base access.

I think most non-newbies know this, maybe there should be an FAQ on this topic.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Grotto]

[Imbroglio]

I found this for you.


http://www.goarmy.com

[red headed stranger]

Due to black marketing, there are a lot of extra rules in place about PX/Commissary privileges. If if you are in the US military, you may be able to get on post, but you have a whole other set of paperwork to go through to get a ration card that you have to present at the PX and Commissaries that keeps track of your purchases. My Dad is retired from the US Navy, and therefore has the right access many of the facilities on post, but he still has to jump through a lot of hoops before he can use the PX/ Commissary. I am not surprised that some of our allies have a hard time getting on post.

Unusual buying habits or going over ones ration limit can get you an investigatory visit from the MPs.

That said, if you have a friend with post access, they can sign you on post and you can still do things like go to the restaurants.

[RACETRAITOR]

I got on by tagging along in a group with some of my American friends. They have Chinese food in there.

[jinglejangle]

Easiest way is just to adopt a GI and get him/her to take you on post from time to time.

It'll be good for the GI as well, since most seriously need to get out more, and to spend some time with non military types when in Korea.

Or you could marry one.

[lawyertood]

I think you still can get base access privileges by joining the American Chamber of Commerce, filling out some additional paperwork and paying some annual fee. A Canadian friend did this about five years ago. No PX privileges, however.

[mindmetoo]

[BigBlackEquus]

Oh, the irony of this topic.

[HapKi]

A Canadian roommate I once had volunteered at the Red Cross on base in Youngsan. He was able to get on for weekly volunteer work.

[animalbirdfish]

[Porter_Goss]