Posted on May 16, 2018
How is South Korea (places to visit, things to do, quality of life)?
13K
41
18
3
3
0
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?
Korea
South Korea
Camp Casey
Camp Humphreys
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
9
9
0
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.
- 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.
(9)
(0)
SPC Mark Brown
Pyongteak (outside Camp Humprheys) was the real starting place of the Korean War June 1950. I don't know if it is still there but Walker Hill was a great incountry R&R place. I recommend it.
(2)
(0)
LTC Jason Mackay
SPC Mark Brown - so Desiderio Army Air Field at Camp Humphreys is named after CPT Reginald Desiderio who was mortally wounded near by and was awarded the MoH. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_B._Desiderio
He was succeeded in command by COL Lewis Millett, who days later would also earn the MoH at what is now Osan Air Base. Led a one man fixed Bayonet charge that dislodged a Chinese battalion from a decisive hill top.
So the next battle after TF Smith, was the battle of Pyongtaek. While TF Smith held off an Armored Brigade for 7 hours with small arms and grenades and no significant antitank weapons, withdrew in fairly good order with most of their equipment (minus the 105s which had to be blown in place because they had no trucks to move them when they withdrew); their sister BN 1-34IN was ordered to establish a blocking position for what at the time was the main north-south road. Now it is a secondary road that runs between two small hills/ridges. Pyongtaek was not as successful. It had already been leveled by the accidental strafing of a ROK ammo train by US air strikes as TF Smith arrived.
The positions were dug in on the high ground, but really didn't cover the road all that much. There was also a small rail cut runnng along the road. A small bridge was in the center of the sector. TF Smith passed lines there. This spooked the TF1-34 troopers who were not as well trained as TF Smith. When the nK units made contact, the order to reposition a company turned into retreat. Wounded got abandoned. Weapons were abandoned. Only significant return fire came from WWII vets. I led a staff ride to this site. The Korean family that owns it was pretty cool about us being there. They were there's that day. Very eerie.
He was succeeded in command by COL Lewis Millett, who days later would also earn the MoH at what is now Osan Air Base. Led a one man fixed Bayonet charge that dislodged a Chinese battalion from a decisive hill top.
So the next battle after TF Smith, was the battle of Pyongtaek. While TF Smith held off an Armored Brigade for 7 hours with small arms and grenades and no significant antitank weapons, withdrew in fairly good order with most of their equipment (minus the 105s which had to be blown in place because they had no trucks to move them when they withdrew); their sister BN 1-34IN was ordered to establish a blocking position for what at the time was the main north-south road. Now it is a secondary road that runs between two small hills/ridges. Pyongtaek was not as successful. It had already been leveled by the accidental strafing of a ROK ammo train by US air strikes as TF Smith arrived.
The positions were dug in on the high ground, but really didn't cover the road all that much. There was also a small rail cut runnng along the road. A small bridge was in the center of the sector. TF Smith passed lines there. This spooked the TF1-34 troopers who were not as well trained as TF Smith. When the nK units made contact, the order to reposition a company turned into retreat. Wounded got abandoned. Weapons were abandoned. Only significant return fire came from WWII vets. I led a staff ride to this site. The Korean family that owns it was pretty cool about us being there. They were there's that day. Very eerie.
Reginald B. Desiderio - Wikipedia
Reginald Benjamin Desiderio [1] (September 12, 1918 – November 27, 1950) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 27, 1950.
(1)
(0)
SPC Mark Brown
LTC Jason Mackay I didn't know that. As much as I traveled by helicopter I was in and out of that facility on a regular basis and never noticed it had a name. Thanks for that info.
(0)
(0)
6
6
0
Please check NAM SUNG, aka “Mother Mountain” in Seoul. Are there really 1,000 steps? I lost count in 1955.
(6)
(0)
SPC Mark Brown
I think 1000 in an understatement. But this was just one of the many places to see while there.
(1)
(0)
6
6
0
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.
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.
(6)
(0)
3
3
0
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.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
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.
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
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.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
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 :-)
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
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! :)
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
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.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google