ok iv been in korea frovera year i was supposedto leave on aug 16 2010 but i AIP n now i want to commnd sponsor but im not quit sure how i start the command sponsorship…if u have any helpful infrmation to get my wife n 1month old over here so we can be together again please let me know

*****
Generally, you have to have a certain amount of time left on your orders or be willing to extend in order to have your family sponsored for a move. Your best bet is to talk to your chain of command to find out what your options would be. If they are command sponsored, they will need an EFMP exam and secure no-fee passports before moving to Korea. Good luck.

Greetings from Osan AB, South Korea. We are an Army Family stationed on an Air Force Base here in South Korea and this is something that is common here. So you coming to South Korea. There is nothing to fear about here. If the Army didn’t feel Korea was safe for families to being approved to living here they wouldn’t approve Command Sponsorships. South Korea is in the process of becoming a Tour Normalization which is like Germany your soldier and family will be stationed here for a few years.

A few things I can tell you about Korea and what don’t expect and what to expect. Don’t expect that you will get the chance to be living on post because such as for Osan AB we live on base but we got lucky since the Air Force gives there housing basically to the Air Force families and with the Army the units here get only 10% of the families that are command sponsorship. At Camp Humphey’s there new housing is full, and at Yongsan if you have a pet you will not be allowed to live on post housing. But that is perfectly fine, because we are Army Families and we can survive anything.

Living off post is not bad at all. My husband, our two dogs and I did live off post at first. There are a lot of apartments that are fully furnished in Korea so leaving your good furniture in storage and on the Army’s bill just do it. I will just give you one suggestion if you don’t like a stiff hard mattress and your mattress that you have is a pillow top mattress I would suggest you bring that. The mattresses are stiff as a hard rock and take time to get used to.

Here are a few more things I suggest for you to bring with you that we where advised not to bring and we regret for not bringing them along. We left behind our microwave, toaster and toaster oven. The outlets are different then US outlets but your Realtor will give you converter boxes to use your American appliances so if you want to bring them then you know you can.

We are here on Command Sponsorship and I am an FRG leader here. So I want you all to know that there are FRG’s within the units in Korea and they are active and should be active.

If your coming to Korea, Non Command Sponsorship, a few words of advice from my knowledge and learning of being here. You do get a rations card, your allowed on base, but there are chances where you might not get into seeing a doctor with making a doctor’s appointment since you would have to try to make a same day appointment on space available. Another thing is that your soldier would need permission from his command to allow him to live off post depending on his rank and since your in Korea as Non command sponsorship. The Army will not pay for your flight to Korea, for your stuff in storage since you decided to come here without the Army’s approval for Command Sponsorship.

I am just letting you all know what I have learned since I have been in Korea since April 2009 and love to share my experiences with you.

Ronni F. Newton

Your Name (if you would like it to appear):

Dreamy

Base Name:

Yongsan

Base Location:

S. Korea, Seoul

How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present)

2008 – 2010 Command Sponsored

What is housing like? On-post? (waiting list, conditions, etc.) Off-post? Any areas to stay away from? Average price to rent or buy?

On Post

Lower Enlisted and Junior NCO’s are in High Rise Housing at Hannam Village, which is about a 15 minute walk to post but shuttles run hourly. The housing is based on rank and family size. There is a waiting list and it will depend on when you get here as it changes all the time. The housing is small and a little cramped. AC is provided by individual units in each room. The heat is controlled by the post and usually runs from October-April. No pets are allowed at Hannam Village so do not bring them with you if you plan to live on post.\

Senior Enlisted and Officers have several areas that are open to them. Hannam, South Post, Black Hawk Village, Burke Tower and Itaewon Acres. Type of housing that you receive does depend on where you live. It is best to research at the Housing One Stop once you know what you qualify for. Pets are allowed on South Post.

Off Post

There are several different types of apartments here in Seoul. High Rise, Villa and Single Family Home. The single family homes are VERY hard to find and super expensive so don’t even try it.

Villas are usually in 4-8 story buildings and some don’t have elevators. The villa is large and comfortable and the price is comparable to the highrise. Most of the time utilities are not included in the price of rent. So please be aware of this when you are making your choice of where to live. Rent is usually 2000-4000 dollars a month. You are paid OHA and a deposit

My Apartment:

I live in a high rise. My rent is almost 3500 a month and that includes utilities. What we don’t use out of our utilities it is given back to us at the end of the contract year. In the winter it is roughly 400 dollars and in the summer 600. The amount you get for utilities does change. So don’t count on it until you get your housing contract.

I do have in floor heating or ondul. This is my FAVORITE thing about our apartment. Our heating bill is usually 80 bucks in the winter and that is keeping the house at 72 degrees all day long. The toasty warm floors do come with a price. You feet will dry out faster so make sure to keep them moisturized!

Summer is HOT here so make sure to plan ahead of the AC costs. We went hog wild with AC last year and we paid for it later. Our electricity bill for July and August was 1000 dollars. Only use it when you have to. Buy lots of 220 fans. We didn’t use the AC at all in June and our bill was 150. In Seoul you are given a certain amount for eletricity and each unit you use over that amount they can double and even triple. So make sure you talk to your realtor about the rates in your building.

Video Link to my apartment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub26Msz4Hxs

Housing does provide nice furniture but I would bring your own bed and couch. You only get 50% of your move allowance for the states so please be aware of that amount when moving here. There isn’t always a lot of storage areas in some places.

My suggestion

When choosing a place to live look at traffic, bus and subway accessibility and how far it is from post. Most people either live in Itaewon, Park Towers or CJNine Park. If you are wanting to truly absorb the culture living off post is the best way to do so! I like the high rises but others want the larger SQ footage of the villa. It is all about personal preference. Make sure to check for mold, since it gets extremely humid here in the summer mold is often found everywhere. Do not rent a place that has mold.

Rate the PX & Commissary.

PX: It is okay. I am not a fan of the clothing selection. Unless you are a size 0 or a 90 year old Korean lady, you will not care for the women’s clothing. There is barely a maternity section and the shoes are not that great. It will be a good resource when you have no other option and need something that day.

Commissary is great for frozen or prepackaged items on the shelf. I do not recommend their produce at all, it goes rotten after a day and frankly poor quality. Buy it off post and wash it with produce wash.

Activities on base?

Movie theater, bowling alley, a couple bars and nice restaurants of course. There is a family fun center, a driving range, several pools and one indoor pool. There is a decent Arts and Craft shop that has classes and plenty of things you can do on your own. The children’s clubs are very active during the summer and has something going on at least once a week.

Since we are in a foreign country, we limit our time on base. We spend a majority of our time off post and exploring.

Active Spouses Club?

Yes! There is the American Forces Spouses Club! I love this organization and have volunteered through them since I got here. They always have something planned and have monthly luncheons. You also have volunteer opportunities and the ability to work in the Chosun Gift Shop. I would highly recommend joining!

Things to do in area?

What isn’t there to do!?! Seoul is a large wonderful city that always has something for everyone.

Shopping

Itaewon, Nandaemun, Dondaemun, and Insadong are just a few of the shopping districts here. Seoul is a large city and shopping is one of the favored activities here. You won’t find as many “American” style malls but there are a couple great open air markets like The ones I mentioned above. Insadong and Dondaemun are my favorites.

Insadong is the most fun in the summer on Saturdays. There are traditional tea houses, antique stores, restaurants, and demonstrations everywhere. I love the homemade jewelry and pottery that you can get here. Plus it is much cheaper than Itaewon for souvenirs and the vendors are always willing to bargain.

Dondaemun is where some of the best shopping is found. There is a fashion district, a fabric market, a toy center, and book and craft alley. It is one big open air market and it is best to go on a Saturday. Sundays are slower and not as many of the shops are open. I have gotten some great deals on fabric, clothing and pet supplies here.

Restaurants

Beef and Leaf/BBQ places are the best to enjoy. The meat is cooked in front of you and you get unlimited side dishes to fill you up. Do not be afraid of trying everything in the little bowls. Kimchi is the staple of Korean food, while it can be spicy it is something you can not come to Korea and not try!

I love trying all the little hole in the wall restaurants. They are small with one or two tables but the food is homecooked and amazing. My favorite dish is Cheesy Ramen with gimbap.

Stay away from “American” type resturants like Outback. It is very expensive and the portions are smaller and they do not taste the same.

One thing you will see everywhere are food stands. Korean Street food is everywhere and very yummy! I love dokbokii and gimaree. I eat it exclusively in the winter time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzjajL1lOh0 : introduction to street food.

Waterparks

This is something new to Korea. The parks are not always the same as the ones in the states but they can be a lot of fun. They are a little expensive but still have the basic slides and wave pools. It is worth going to if you love waterparks!

Amusement Parks

Everland and Lotte World are the largest ones in Korea. I would suggest going to both.

I like Lotte World but only if you have small children and love long waits in line. The park is inside so avoid going in the summer or during Korean holidays. I went on a Tuesday and found it wasn’t as crowded. It is a popular date spot. There is a great museum that is also included in the price of admission. I would compare the rides to a decent state fair.

Everland is more a long the lines of Disney World. There are more rides and shows than Lotte World and it is completely outside. But the rides are not as exciting as some of the parks we have in the states. Do not expect large roller coasters. They do have a sledding hill there in the winter and a smallish zoo. I went in the winter and found it to be not crowded and I was able to ride almost anything we wanted more than once.

Sauna/Spa/public Baths

I love them. I have gone a couple times and found them to be a wonderful relaxing atmosphere. Since I can’t comment on all I will just recommend the one I went to. The Dragon Hill Spa(not affiliated with the Dragon Hill Lodge on post) is clean and hygienic. It is located next to the Ipark mall in Yongsan and close to the Electronics Market. It wasn’t expensive, about 12000 won, for one person to go swimming and enjoy the baths, steam rooms and sweat rooms. Bring your own towel and cleaning products. Also, this is a naked area, so be aware that many of the people in your bath area will be naked. I got over it rather quickly, just as much as you aren’t looking at them, they aren’t looking at you.

They do have several packages but I would skip the massage. The Asian massage is very different then in the states and you will feel like they are beating you up. I have gotten bruises before, so I recommend skipping it.

Other Cities

Osan: I love Osan, they have the best purses off post and their BX is a little better. This is an AF base so IMHO the facilities are nicer. They also have a Chili’s on post. Also this is the best place to purchase Mink blankets. Do not get them in Itaewaon.

Sokcho: Quite possible my favorite place in Korea. It is a smallish seaside village that has beautiful mountains for hiking and camping and the Sea of Japan for swimming and fishing. Mt Soraksan is here and is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Korea. It is about 2 hours drive from Seoul with no traffic and is a little on the expensive side, but very worth going to. We love the Seafood market where you can get fresh(like just off the boat) fish and crab. I had a crab that they just got off the boat and it was steamed right then and there. It was amazingly good.

This is just a small slice of things to do. There are tons of museums, historical sites and even folk villages(think Williamsburg VA) that you can go to as well. I could write a book about all the places we have been to. Do not be afraid to get lost here! You often find the best stuff when you are, I know we did!

School System?

No children. There is an elementary, middle school and high school on post.

Any colleges in area?

There is an education center on post that has some classes and offers online classes as well. It is the typical online schools of UMCC and Central Texas. There are tons of wonderful local colleges off post but I am not sure of the requirements for enrollment.

Jobs? (on post and off)

Off Post: If you are planning to teach English, get the proper visa, talk with the US Embassy for this. Do not do so without it. You can get deported, fined and your spouse will get in trouble. Is it worth it? There are several schools that will hire you if you have a college degree. I loved teaching here off post and one family has become so special to me. They have even planned a visit to us in Germany(our next duty station). If you speak Korean and English there will always be companies that would love to hire you. There is also the US Embassy as well.

On Post: Just like in the states it is who you know. There are jobs at the commissary and the PX but those are usually taken by Korean Nationals. It is getting better for spouses here to get jobs but the process is slow. If you are a teacher, in the medical profession or childcare you will find a job easily.

Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city?

Being in such a large city. There is a great public transportation system and there is always something going on.

Least favorite aspect?

Nothing. Korea is a wonderful tour. It does suck to be away from family and you can make any situation negative, but Korea is one of the best overseas tours available.

Any other tips?

There are tons of little booths that say “Tourist Info” all over Seoul. Do not be afraid to go in one! They have maps, magazines, tourist pamphlets and discount coupons.

Links to help you on your journey to the Land of the Morning Calm.

http://www.eatyourkimchi.com – a foreingers guide to Korea

http://www.facebook.com/youryongsan – Yongsan FB page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yongsan-South-Korea/US-Forces-Korea-Official-Page/425064710222 – USFK page

http://yongsan.korea.army.mil/ Yongsan Main page

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10400-planning-your-move-to-korea/index.html plan your move

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/24/11206-what-to-expect-when-you-arrive-at-incheon-airport/index.html Airport FAQ

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10406-shopping-with-a-ration-control-card/index.html Ration Control

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/23/11109-yongsan-readiness-center-adjusts-newcomer-orientation-program/index.html – Newcomer info

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/14/10840-commanders-corner-sponsorship-is-a-vital-mission/ Sponsorship

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/02/10551-acs-explains-sofa-stamp-a3-visa-procedures/index.html Visa info

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/26/10398-bringing-a-pet-to-korea/index.html Pet Info

1. Your name (as you would like it to appear): Rebecca

2. Army Post Name: Camp Red Cloud also called CRC, Area 1

3. Army Post Location: Uijeongbu (pronounced We Jong Boo), South Korea

4. Dates When You Lived Here (please include year): Sept 2009 – July 2010

5. How is housing? On-post? Off-post? There is no on-post housing in Area 1. All families live off-post. The homes are normally in multi-story buildings. Ours is a 20 story building that requires a code to enter. Within 1-2 miles of either the front or back gate of the post there are at least 3 home communities that many families live in. The floors are normally wood throughout and the entry way and bathrooms are stone or ceramic. We live in a 3 bedroom. The most annoying thing about our home is during the summer the heat/humidity is awful. Since most Korean homes do not have central heat and air we have their version of the window unit. This is an appliance that is very understated and fairly quiet but can be costly if used too much.

6. Rate the PX and Commissary. The PX and Commissary are very small and carry only a limited inventory however there are multiple other posts with better facilities within an hour to an hour and a half trip.

7. Are there activities on post? Is there lodging on post? There are regular activities on post and within Area 1. The MWR distributes a free monthly magazine with the highlights of the trips and other activities to participate in. There is a small lodging available on post. I have never been there so I have no experience with it personally. I do believe that they are in the process of adding a children’s play area close by.

8. What is there to do in the area? There is so much to do in this country. We spend at least two weekends a month down in Seoul (only about an hour and a half away) sightseeing. Closer to home in Uijeongbu there is shopping at the myriad of shops along the streets, you can visit any number of authentic Korean restaurants or western restaurants like Outback. There is also a movie theater near the subway that has many American movies. The movies are not dubbed; they have subtitles in Hangul. After a couple you probably won’t even notice them anymore.

9. Rate the school system. I do not have kids but a school has recently been built for at Camp Casey and is planned to open in the Fall of 2010.

10. Are there colleges in the area? Please list. There are Korean colleges but if you are looking for an American education then you can attend school via the Army Education Center on post which offers degrees from 3 or 4 different schools. Or you can attend an online school.

11. How is the job situation? What types of jobs are in the area for spouses? It is difficult to find a job in Korea. If you are qualified you can get a new/different visa and teach English off-post. Otherwise you would need to find a job on post using the CPOL resources found at http://acpol.army.mil/employment.

12. Favorite aspect of the post and surrounding area? I love that CRC is small. I can walk from one end to the other easily. They are always trying to come up with and bring in new ideas for activities for families whether that is on-post Org days, off-post trips to festivals around the country, or just new classes at the gym on post.

13. Least favorite aspect? It’s small so if you can’t find what you need you will need to travel to another post or off-post to a store like HomePlus or Lotte to find what you need. The language barrier makes off-post trips a bit more difficult but it is totally doable if you have a bit of patience.

14. List any local websites.
http://www.mwrkorea.com
http://www.korea.amedd.army.mil/default.asp
http://affiliates.uso.org/korea/default.cfm?contentid=103
http://8tharmy.korea.army.mil
http://www.2id.korea.army.mil
http://redcloud.korea.army.mil

15. Any other tips or information? Yes it can be scary to move to a foreign country but the experience is totally worth it. You will get to experience something that is new, different, and fun all at the same time.

as submitted by Staci

Just wanted to give you a little update on a few things I’ve learned from our experiences preparing for a move to Korea…

First of all, the information that my husband was given at his brief was pretty thorough and complete. It has been a huge help for us. I didn’t realize that moving to Korea would require 2 passports for myself and my children…one for official business and one for tourists. Both of these are paid for by the Army. They gave us a website to go to and then we just print out a page, fill it out, and take it up to some people on post who will verify it, take our pictures, and voila….we have passports. Also, my husband and I have decided to sell both of our cars and use public transportation while we’re there. My cousin (who lived in Japan for 2 years) told me to talk to my insurance company because she also sold her car when she went out of country and when she came home her car insurance doubled because she was considered an uninsured driver. I didn’t realize this of course, so we are being given a “beater” car that doesn’t run so we can have liability on it while we’re gone. This is a cheap way to keep up with our insurance and not worry about someone wrecking the car while we’re gone.

Just a few tips so far……

Your Name (if you would like it to appear):

Mai

Base Name:

Yongsan

Base Location:

S. Korea, Seoul

How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present)

2008 – present

What is housing like? On-post? (waiting list, conditions, etc.) Off-post? Any areas to stay away from? Average price to rent or buy?

There are many apartments off-post that are a short walking distance to post  which is great because my husband can come and go. It is only my husband and me, but we live in a 2 bedroom, 1 office, 1 bathroom apartment for roughly about 3000 US dollars including utilities and depending on the exchange rate. However I do believe the average of off-post apartments to be lower. Here in Korea, one thing I have noticed over and over again is plenty of shelves so you can store whatever you like into the small compartments. We had a normal bathroom so the bathroom wasn’t soaked every single time. You also wash and dry clothes in the same machine, which is kind of cool.  We also must separate food and garbage into special bags that we can buy from the Korean shoppettes around the corner.  As for on post housing so far as I’ve seen, I can’t say much, but they seem pretty decent. There is also a curfew on-post which is one of the reasons why I like living outside post. For those who don’t have a car, we have cheap efficient cabs and the bus to get us from one place to another on post, otherwise, it’s walking all the way, which can also be a workout due to all of the hills.

Rate the PX & Commissary.

The PX here is pretty nice I would say and the prices are decent. I took a bus ride to Osan once and the BX there is much bigger but that’s just another option if you want to visit some of the other areas around Korea. The commissary is great although it is a little distant from everything else. And it is not as well stocked as many of the commissaries in the states. I sometimes find better deals at the commissary than at the PX.

Activities on base?

I’m not much of an active person since it’s only me and my husband is usually working, but there is a movie theater, a bowling alley, a driving range, and a few clubs that usually open around 1600 everyday. There is a monthly pamphlet that I pick up to see what kind of activities or fun run is going on. There’s usually something going on, you just have to get involved.

Active Spouses Club?

Not active in any spouses club so I don’t know. I’m sure there are some however.

Things to do in area?

There is a museum right off-post that you can visit. I had a chance to visit the zoo during a company trip. You’d have to take the subway for this but it’s a lot of fun especially with the kids. A lot of people go to Itaewon to shop and have fun.

School System?

I don’t have any kids so I don’t know. From what I hear, it takes a while to register your children for school.

Any colleges in area?

I’m not attending college either so I can’t say. I’d say online schooling is probably the best option for the time being.

Jobs? (on post and off)

I’m not quite sure about jobs off-post but unless you are specializing in a certain area such as teaching English, then the language barrier may be our disadvantage. As for jobs on-post, there are a few to my knowledge from childcare to working at the commissary, and even working in the hospital if you are qualified in that area. You can always volunteer too.

Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city?

I think my favorite aspect of this base would be that the PX and commissary is only walking distance and I wouldn’t have to plan a day to get to those places if I needed something. For that I’m very thankful.

Least favorite aspect?

The fact that the PX and the commissary are the only places that you can shop really besides the shoppettes. There are no Wal-Mart’s or anything like that so what they have at those two places are just about your only options unless you decide to go out to different areas. I really enjoyed my time although I didn’t go out much. I really believe it’s what you make of it. Invest in jacket for the winter cause it gets really really cold. During the summer, it gets ridiculously humid.

Any other tips?

Definitely take advantage of the view, from where I come from, I don’t get to see this every day. And when you’re new to the country, it may be easy to get lost. I was once told that if I ever wanted to find my way back, just keep turning right and eventually I will end up back where I started, Here in Korea, this does not work, you keep turning right and you may end up somewhere totally different so don’t go out alone until you know the area well. Also, Koreans also adore little kids, so if you have em, they will get a lot of attention.

On the message board recently, I asked for anyone with a spouse living in Korea to write an article that could be added to the website. Jamie graciously volunteered and wrote the following about how life has been in Korea. She has also volunteered to answer any questions either through the message board or her email address.

By Jamie (You can visit with Jamie and ask more questions in the Korea section of the message board)

I know I may sound like a broken record on the Korea board, but I highly recommend wives move here if they are able to do it. My children and I joined my husband here in April, about 5 months into his tour. He did extend his tour for another year so we will be here until November 2008. My husband is currently stationed at a small base in Area II (Seoul). There are probably about 450 soldiers at K-16. In our company alone we have five wives over here non command sponsored. Everyone that has been here for awhile cannot get over how many families are now joining their spouses and they all think it is great. We don’t have a commissary or large PX on base and have to travel by bus (free of charge) to Yongsan to basically do anything, but even with that inconvenience I am so happy to be able to spend this time as a family because we all know the inevitable will happen once we get back to the states.

Before DH left for his tour here, I wanted to get our family passports just so we had them in case we decided to come to Korea even for a visit and I didn’t want to mess around with having to get his signature faxed or whatever since you do need both parents’ signatures for minors passports, I just wanted to make sure I could get the kids’ passports. DH did the paperwork and got the approval for us to come over here and all I had to do was store everything back home and buy the plane tickets. We only needed DH’s orders to bring us into the country and with your inprocessing you will have to get the SOFA stamp that lasts until the DEROS.

It is difficult to adjust to not having a vehicle and having to plan your day around bus schedules, but that is just our situation because of our base. There is a subway system and public buses to use. There are a lot of things to do here, it is just getting out to do them. I have used the websites: tour2korea.com and asiarooms.com just to check out some of the different things to do.

We are currently living in a three bedroom apartment off post and besides some small things here and there it feels just like an apartment in the states. You have to use power converters to use US appliances that are only rated for 110. The showers tend to be just a shower head on the wall in the bathroom so your entire bathroom gets soaked. The washer/dryer combo takes longer than US washers and dryers. Those are really just the small things we’ve just gotten used to.

Being here non command sponsored, the only issue I have run into so far is that I am on a waiting list to see if my son can get into school, which I will find out shortly. I have taken my children to the doctor on base and even to the ER and haven’t had any issues.

Most of the Koreans are very nice. They love children and just adore them. My kids get so much attention when we are out. It is definitely interesting to get out and see the different culture. Your experience here is what you make of it.

My fiance is finishing up AIT on April 27th. He will be stationed in South Korea. Does he get any leave time between AIT and Korea? We want to get married, but he says if we file the paperwork before he leaves, it will hold him up at Fort Gordon. If he files the paperwork once he gets to Korea, how long will it take for the paperwork to go through so I can come be with him?

**********
Hi,
Command sponsorship for Korea is difficult to obtain though not impossible. It can sometimes be a drawn out process to get everything in order as well as get permission to move family to Korea. However, that being said, there is nothing that stops you from moving to Korea on your own though officially the Army discourages this practice. Here are articles about living in Korea that may be of assistance:

http://www.marriedtothearmy.com/army_post_guides_korea.htm

http://www.marriedtothearmy.com/army_post_guides_korea2.htm