How is South Korea (places to visit, things to do, quality of life)?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 May 2018 22:11:46 -0400

So I’ll be heading to South Korea soon for a training rotation? (I don’t know I wouldn’t call going to South Korea a deployment). Any advice from those that have been there recently on places to visit, things to do, quality of life there?

Response by SGT Ej P. made May 16 at 2018 10:29 PM

SGT Ej P. — Wed, 16 May 2018 22:29:23 -0400

Yes it's not a deployment but just an overseas tour or temporary change of station depending on your orders... Normally it depends on which area you get stationed at to know where you can go and what you can do, unless you have pinpoint orders (specific company/det/trp) then you'll go to reception and find out which unit/area you'll be going to and then you go from there

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2018 11:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 May 2018 23:14:59 -0400

Get off post and explore. Don't shy away because you don't speak the language. Usually anywhere you go you can find at least one English speaker. But show respect and learn a bit of Korean it goes a long way with the locals. Learn the sub and bus system quick. Many make the mistake of hiring a cab and spending tons on fairs. But you can get practical anywhere with a few bucks. As far as sites to see. There are many fortresses that have reenactments of you like history. Gyeongbokgung Palace was our favorite. If you like nature I'd visit bear tree park and there's tons of great hiking trails. If your a city kid stay away from Itaewon they charge higher prices to us dumb Joes. Gangnam is where I preferred to shop. There's also a great bar there that has over 200 types of beer from all over the world. However, Namdaemun Market and Dongdaemun are great places as well and a bit larger. If you like thrills then Everland is where you want to go, Lotte World is geared towards younger kids. There's also the sex park and penis park that are interesting to check out to to say you did.
All in all there's tons to do in Korea. Drag a battle with you and see it all. Those that hate Korea rotations are the ones that stayed onpost the entire time. If somehow you get burnt out on Korea go on pass/leave and take a MAC flight to Japan or grab a super cheap flight to one of the islands.
Best of luck.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 16 at 2018 11:25 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 16 May 2018 23:25:59 -0400

If you can get the following tours, go:
- JSA/DMZ. Puts the whole thing in perspective
- infiltration tunnels
- TF Smith Battlefield
- Seoul Tower
- Lotte World
- War Museum
- Seoul
- Chejudo Island

Generic things you can do:
- get a suit/dress uniform tailor made. It will fit you for decades.
- Shopping in Itaewon, Songtan Ri (Osan AB where you can check out the battlefield where COL Lewis Millet earned the MoH), etc
- go with some friends for Korean BBQ, aka the beef and leaf. Get your training wheels off at the KATUSA snack bar first, maybe get a KATUSA to take you to the Korean BBQ place.
- wander around town and just look, listen, and feel the place
- book a night at the Dragon Hill Lodge in YongSan in Seoul.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2018 12:13 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Thu, 17 May 2018 00:13:15 -0400

It:s funny you ask that, I was never there, my next younger brother was in the !erchamt !marine, he'd gone to Pusan, he'd !mentioned at one point, along with a whole!slew of mother places....

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made May 17 at 2018 12:54 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 17 May 2018 00:54:25 -0400

Please check NAM SUNG, aka “Mother Mountain” in Seoul. Are there really 1,000 steps? I lost count in 1955.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2018 5:36 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 May 2018 05:36:17 -0400

Wherever you do end up going for sightseeing during your time in the country, withdraw money on-post. I've heard a couple cases from guys I'm with now that they withdrew money off-post and got their account info stolen. Lost a LOT of money. Food for thought.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 17 at 2018 9:02 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 17 May 2018 09:02:08 -0400

Pan Mun Jom is a must - best way to go to North Korea in the safety of the peace talk buildings. Tons of museums and battlefields to see. In my day the shopping was a blast, no trademarks on designer logos, etc. Experience the culture. Take the train and ride. I was on the Z back in 91-92. I used to talk to the farmers drying their peppers on the sides of the road. They'd invite you to try the winter kimchi just as they dug up the pots. Your mouth may never forgive you but it's worth the try. If you're in the Army, visit the Air Force bases to see how the other half lives :-)

Response by SPC Ashlee Greebon made May 17 at 2018 10:06 AM

SPC Ashlee Greebon — Thu, 17 May 2018 10:06:48 -0400

Definitely go to Seoul! A lot of neat sites to see especially Seoul Tower. Also try Puffins, they are located outside the Camp Humphrey’s gate, they have some great food! :)

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made May 17 at 2018 11:17 AM

SGT Tony Clifford — Thu, 17 May 2018 11:17:45 -0400

Korea is fun if you're single. There will be plenty to do, on and off post. There is a curfew at midnight and it doesn't matter if you are in line to go through the gate or sitting in the ville. If you're not on post by curfew the MPs will arrest you. You're already an NCO, so know that discipline problems your Joes had stateside is nothing compared to the problems in Korea. KATUSAs can either be the best or the absolute worst soldiers you have. Half of them get deadman profiles, the other half are usually good. There are casinos everywhere and a few slot machines on post. Learn the on post bus schedule, it will be your friend. Summer is monsoon season and the winters are very cold. You will have an alcohol ration. Do not exceed it, you will get in trouble if you do. Other than that, just remember that your troops are essentially in a revolving door so you will be gaining and losing soldiers nearly every month.

Response by PVT Mark Brown made May 17 at 2018 12:14 PM

PVT Mark Brown — Thu, 17 May 2018 12:14:51 -0400

South Korea is FANTASTIC, plain and simple. I spent 26 months in Korea in 1968-1970 and loved (for the most part) every minute of it. (I didn't care for the getting shot at part.) There is an endless assortment of cultural and historical things available, you just have to go look. Don't look at the regular places. I found that while was in the Army I was able to go places and do things that your ordinary tourist will never do or see. I was lucky in that my MOS allowed my to have a jeep issued to me that I kept with me 24/7 (except when the motor pooled needed it) and was pretty much able to travel freely. I was with an ADA Bn, our 7 batteries were spread far and wide. I was t HHB at Camp Humphreys (a very small compound back in those days.) Also, from Korea you have access to the entire Orient, take advantage of it, you might never have another chance. There is a lot in Korea, drink it all in.

Response by Jerry Rivas made May 18 at 2018 9:17 PM

Jerry Rivas — Fri, 18 May 2018 21:17:47 -0400

Korean food is good, rice paddies smell bad any time of year except winter.

Response by SPC William Weedman made Apr 22 at 2019 2:46 PM

SPC William Weedman — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 14:46:23 -0400

As a single soldier, first assignment out of AIT I enjoyed it. My first roommates were KATUSAs and were the best roommates I ever had. They went with me into towns that weren’t “GI towns” and helped me haggle for good prices on things. They also explained a lot about Korean culture to me. Go tour the DMZ on a tour. My tour was a bit more”intense”. Take weekend trips through MWR, if you are there in winter skiing is supposed to be awesome. Most of all don’t be a barracks rat, the drama and bs Isn’t worth it, took me a few months to wake up and explore, of course I arrived in winter, where daytime highs are below 0F.