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Hello, I would like information about Yongsan, South Korea. My branch manager said he can put me on assignments there but I would like more informations.
1. Are there any signal units there and what do they have the 25L's do there?
2. Is it better to do command sponsorship at your current units or your future unit?
3. Me and my family have two cars so would it be better to ship both or just one?
4. How hard is for spouse to gain employment and getting child care? It took my wife almost two years to get a job and it took one year for my son to get child care on base.
5. Will they let people stay on post or off post? I am a SPC(P) and will make SGT soon j,but I just wanted will they let soldiers stay off post or do you have to be a SFC and above to do so.
6.Is there anything I should prepare as far as cell phone and internet? I heard Netflix and Hulu doesn't work over there and you need a cell phone carrier that is in Korea.
How is the MWR and USO trips in South Korea? I heard people said it is wonderful but I want to know do they do oversea trips to different countries?
I try do my own research ,but he doesn't give an enough information that I would like. If anybody could answer my question I would greatly appreciate. Thank you
1. Are there any signal units there and what do they have the 25L's do there?
2. Is it better to do command sponsorship at your current units or your future unit?
3. Me and my family have two cars so would it be better to ship both or just one?
4. How hard is for spouse to gain employment and getting child care? It took my wife almost two years to get a job and it took one year for my son to get child care on base.
5. Will they let people stay on post or off post? I am a SPC(P) and will make SGT soon j,but I just wanted will they let soldiers stay off post or do you have to be a SFC and above to do so.
6.Is there anything I should prepare as far as cell phone and internet? I heard Netflix and Hulu doesn't work over there and you need a cell phone carrier that is in Korea.
How is the MWR and USO trips in South Korea? I heard people said it is wonderful but I want to know do they do oversea trips to different countries?
I try do my own research ,but he doesn't give an enough information that I would like. If anybody could answer my question I would greatly appreciate. Thank you
South Korea
Yongsan Garrison
Signal
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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Ship one car. If you need another, you can buy a hooptie off a DEROSing soldier for cheap, then sell it off before you DEROS yourself. BUT being a junior soldier, IIRC, you will still need commander's letter to get into the USFK driver's license course and test.
If you are not command sponsored yet, DO IT NOW. You will incur all costs of travel if you bring your family with you if they are not on your orders. They will also not get a SOFA stamp for their Visa so they will not be able to stay more than the allowed tourist visa (I believe 90 days). As a command sponsored SPC(P), you will likely live in Hannam Village on the other side of Itaewon from base (about 3 miles but can take a long time when traffic through Itaewon is bad). If you DO get to live off post, try to roll all of your monthly expenses into your rent. I can hook you up with a good realtor if and when you get to Seoul. I'll just need to find his card.
You can buy a phone and service package at the PX or Dragon Hill Lodge when you get there. Korea is the most wired city in the world and cell packages are cheap. And being in the town where Samsung is headquartered you can get the newest tech well before it hits the rest of the world. As far as you computer, you can download ISP masking software (I used Hidemynet.com) so that when Netflix, etc read your ISP it will read from somewhere in the US.
If you are for sure staying at Yongsan, I would go ahead and make reservations at the Dragon Hill for about 3 weeks. It takes about 3-4 days to inprocess post, then you go on permissive TDY to househunt (if you are off post). But you only get 14 days of TLA, so it behooves you to find housing fast and get out of the Dragon.
Yongsan is premium duty in Korea. You are living smack dab in the middle of one of the largest and most vibrant cities in Asia. There is tons to do and lots of MWR and USO stuff. You almost have to stay 2-3 years just to do everything. I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 tours at Yongsan and would go back in a heartbeat if asked. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I was just in Korea last year so my knowledge is relatively up to date.
If you are not command sponsored yet, DO IT NOW. You will incur all costs of travel if you bring your family with you if they are not on your orders. They will also not get a SOFA stamp for their Visa so they will not be able to stay more than the allowed tourist visa (I believe 90 days). As a command sponsored SPC(P), you will likely live in Hannam Village on the other side of Itaewon from base (about 3 miles but can take a long time when traffic through Itaewon is bad). If you DO get to live off post, try to roll all of your monthly expenses into your rent. I can hook you up with a good realtor if and when you get to Seoul. I'll just need to find his card.
You can buy a phone and service package at the PX or Dragon Hill Lodge when you get there. Korea is the most wired city in the world and cell packages are cheap. And being in the town where Samsung is headquartered you can get the newest tech well before it hits the rest of the world. As far as you computer, you can download ISP masking software (I used Hidemynet.com) so that when Netflix, etc read your ISP it will read from somewhere in the US.
If you are for sure staying at Yongsan, I would go ahead and make reservations at the Dragon Hill for about 3 weeks. It takes about 3-4 days to inprocess post, then you go on permissive TDY to househunt (if you are off post). But you only get 14 days of TLA, so it behooves you to find housing fast and get out of the Dragon.
Yongsan is premium duty in Korea. You are living smack dab in the middle of one of the largest and most vibrant cities in Asia. There is tons to do and lots of MWR and USO stuff. You almost have to stay 2-3 years just to do everything. I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 tours at Yongsan and would go back in a heartbeat if asked. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I was just in Korea last year so my knowledge is relatively up to date.
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SSG (Join to see)
Thank you very much sir, I think they will be sending me off post because I went to the Army Housing Website and they are saying no one is staying on post in Hannnam Village anymore because I guess they are moving everyone to Camp Humpreys. I will stay in touch with you if anything changes sir. Thanks again.
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First off are you sure your going to Yongsan? That is the hub where new soldiers arrive before being assigned to other locations. Everything up there is eventually moving to Camp Humphreys which is pretty nice if you ask me.
As for cars, I woud say don't ship any if you can avoid it and buy a used one there pretty cheap. If not only ship one.
Jobs are available but not many, especially if you don't speak the language. There are some but it depends on your spouses experience.
Living off post can be problematic no matter where you live. They are pretty expensive in most places because they know you will get the money. The utilities will be your biggest expense. Americans are used to running AC continuously through the summer back home but if you do that there you will get a real nice bill.
Korea is the most connected country in the world whe it comes to cell phones and Internet. Yes you could jailbreak your American phone but it's much easier to just get a Korean phone, the Samsung Phones are awesome.
Apply for command sponsorship as soon as you can to alleviate a lengthy separation.
The USO trips there are awesome and soldiers don't use them enough. All too often young soldiers get hooked on the drinking scene and spend the whole tour recovering rather than experiencing the Korean culture.
As for cars, I woud say don't ship any if you can avoid it and buy a used one there pretty cheap. If not only ship one.
Jobs are available but not many, especially if you don't speak the language. There are some but it depends on your spouses experience.
Living off post can be problematic no matter where you live. They are pretty expensive in most places because they know you will get the money. The utilities will be your biggest expense. Americans are used to running AC continuously through the summer back home but if you do that there you will get a real nice bill.
Korea is the most connected country in the world whe it comes to cell phones and Internet. Yes you could jailbreak your American phone but it's much easier to just get a Korean phone, the Samsung Phones are awesome.
Apply for command sponsorship as soon as you can to alleviate a lengthy separation.
The USO trips there are awesome and soldiers don't use them enough. All too often young soldiers get hooked on the drinking scene and spend the whole tour recovering rather than experiencing the Korean culture.
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SSG (Join to see)
Thank you SFC Grudzinski. I am going to 1st SIG BDE and my branch manger told me they are station in Seoul. You can call me the young Andrew Zimmerman from Bizarre Food because I love traveling and experience different culture.
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1. Yes. It would be impossible to say exactly without a pinpoint but no different from any Army position, extra duty and work outside your CMF is normal.
2. Command sponsor at your current unit.
3. Ship what you will need but keep in mind that parking is at a premium in South Korea, even more so in Yongsan, and even on base there isn't that much parking. Public transportation is ubiquitous so you probably don't need two cars. Driving in South Korea, especially Seoul, is worse then any other country I've been to except maybe the Philippines. I would suggest bringing the old car with you and leaving the nice new one.
4. Employment is very difficult, child care not so bad. The SOFA agreement guarantees a certain percentage of base jobs to the Local Nationals. Working off post requires applying for a workers visa which may be very difficult to get.
5. Generally you will be allowed to stay off post, but occasionally they will require certain ranks and positions to stay in on-post housing.
6. https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/
Take advantage of your time there. Learn Korean and explore the country. Just stay far away from the 'villes. Travel around southeast asia. Check out http://www.afvclub.com/ and their really great deals in many of the countries nearby. Good luck!
2. Command sponsor at your current unit.
3. Ship what you will need but keep in mind that parking is at a premium in South Korea, even more so in Yongsan, and even on base there isn't that much parking. Public transportation is ubiquitous so you probably don't need two cars. Driving in South Korea, especially Seoul, is worse then any other country I've been to except maybe the Philippines. I would suggest bringing the old car with you and leaving the nice new one.
4. Employment is very difficult, child care not so bad. The SOFA agreement guarantees a certain percentage of base jobs to the Local Nationals. Working off post requires applying for a workers visa which may be very difficult to get.
5. Generally you will be allowed to stay off post, but occasionally they will require certain ranks and positions to stay in on-post housing.
6. https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/
Take advantage of your time there. Learn Korean and explore the country. Just stay far away from the 'villes. Travel around southeast asia. Check out http://www.afvclub.com/ and their really great deals in many of the countries nearby. Good luck!
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SSG (Join to see)
Thank you SSG, Sweeney I really appreciated your advice. I think you may know an business acquaintances of mines at WHCA. Her name is SSG Parker Whitney she is a very knowledgeable NCO she help me be a better soldier by learning outside my MOS.
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