I’d like to hear your opinions on the curfew while stationed in Korea. What was it when you were here and does it make a difference?

2015-08-20T01:51:33-04:00

Over the years the curfew as fluctuated up and down. At one point in 2010 it was completely rescinded, which lasted about 3 months, until a rash of Service Member involved incidents occurred. Leadership emphasizes that the curfew is in place to maintain an appropriate state of awareness and mission preparedness. I believe in curfews when the security threat is high. Safety and readiness is critical.
In my opinion the curfew is more of a leash on Service Members in Korea. You’re restricting everybody due to the actions of the few. Leadership can help influence a majority of their people to do the right thing. But I’m saying that the majority of violators are prone to be that person regardless of leadership. Deal with those who screw up. Battle buddies can only help so much. If a service member is going to go do something stupid, curfew isn’t going to make much of a difference. It is a hot topic here on the peninsula and I would like to hear what the rest of you think.

http://www.stripes.com/news/south-korea-calls-on-us-military-to-keep-servicemembers-in-line-1.288737

http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/military-curfew-in-korea-will-continue-usfk-commander-says-1.204222

South Korea calls on US military to keep servicemembers in line

South Korea is urging the U.S. military to better control its servicemembers after several recent allegations of misbehavior — including an attempted taxi theft and the alleged harassment of female employees at a water park — that have received national attention here.

Response by SPC William Weedman made Aug 20 at 2015 5:34 AM

2015-08-20T05:34:23-04:00

I served there from Feb 1989-Feb1990 the curfew had recently been rescinded before I arrived. I understand it was in place mainly to allow the ROK Army to sweep for infiltrators. ( I was assigned near the DMZ) I never noticed a lack of readiness in our unit, although there were a couple of alerts that I was assigned my rifle and I wasn't totally sober ;) The only place I remember a curfew was at the "turtle farm" at Camp Casey. If memory serves the gates to the inprocessing center were closed from 0200-0600 each day, with first formation (in BDUs) @ 0600.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Aug 20 at 2015 8:44 AM

2015-08-20T08:44:58-04:00

I was never actually stationed in Korea, but in 2002 I had a 30 Day TDY/TAD to Osan. At the time the curfew was midnight, I remember a couple nights making the mad dash to the Entry Control Point with "chicken" on a stick from the street vendor in hand, hoping to make it before the clock struck 12 :)

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 20 at 2015 9:32 AM

2015-08-20T09:32:26-04:00

I was in Korea in 2004 - 2005. I never totally understood the curfew thing. Soldiers going to mess up regardless. I think it's only in place as a way to hopefully save face in front of a country like N. Korea that would love to exploit something to strengthen their argument against the United States.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 20 at 2015 8:06 PM

2015-08-20T20:06:37-04:00

MSG Marshall Rader, During 1954/55 I have no recall of a curfew. Being caught, and arrested in a Korean Village at night usually resulted in 30 days confinement. One night as SGT of the Guard, I got a call to pickup a Joe from the MP Station. I knew he had just been released from jail Friday, the day before for an identical offense! He just couldn't wait.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 1 at 2015 5:57 AM

2015-09-01T05:57:45-04:00

When I was in Inchon the Curfew was midnight. Everybody was supposed to be back on base and in their tents. Fact of the matter though, I never saw a head count done to insure this. I stayed out at my girlfriend's apartment a lot of nights. I was always in formation on time the next morning so nobody knew or if they did , they didn't say anything. Of course I didn't go roaming the streets or bars due to US M.P's coupled with S.K. MP's patrolling looking for stragglers. You didn't want to get caught. It was an automatic NJP then. Also back then the South Korean Civilian male population really frowned on American military personnel fraternizing with their females. You didn't want to get caught alone by a group of them. So if things have not changed, part of the curfew is actually for your own safety. I don't care how bad ass you are, you cannot take on a group of 20 t0 40 male civilians with just your hands and feet.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 9:16 AM

2015-09-01T09:16:13-04:00

Although I've never been to Korea, I have never liked the way curfew was handled by the military while I was on active duty. "Rank has it's privileges" never sat well with me, when I saw some senior NCO's and junior officers violate curfew or liberty standards. Since it violates standing orders to "adjust" peer attitudes, why punish entire groups because of a single violator. There will always be that one who pushes the envelope and they need to be held to account. Punish the violator, harshly, not those following the rules.

Response by TSgt Ryan Lee made Sep 1 at 2015 9:44 AM

2015-09-01T09:44:35-04:00

I was stationed in Osan in 2003-2004, the curfew was midnight as well. Here is my take on the reasoning behind the curfew from my own observations while I was there. Now I did partake in my share of adult beverages, however I don't believe I was ever wrecked enough to be like some of my fellow Airman. My observation of the curfew is that most people who go downtown to drink are rather blasted already by midnight, and to control people from over drinking or causing disturbances that may have already started before midnight. I would say on almost every weekend, someone was getting jacked up at the gate for trying to fight with the police. I also saw many people passed out in the streets by 10pm some nights as well. Most people who PCS there have never been outside of the US before, they drink the unregulated alcohol and Soju and lose their minds. Did I think the curfew was stupid at the time, yes, but I think it served it's purpose to keep some type of order in the local communities.

Response by MSgt Darren VanDerwilt made Sep 1 at 2015 1:21 PM

2015-09-01T13:21:01-04:00

I always thought it interesting how a young adult in the military can be considered responsible enough to safely carry a loaded weapon, maintain/operate multiple-millions of dollars of equipment, etc. Yet, when out on the town, because of a few bad apples (very few), they're all-of-a sudden a mishap/international event waiting to happen. I call it lack of command and leadership ability. Punish the transgressors, sending a clear message to the rest, that bad behavior will not be tolerated.

It appears though, that commanders are sending the message, "I don't trust my troops," when enacting these blanket policies. Step up and actually lead, or get out!

Response by PO1 Cliff Heath made Sep 1 at 2015 1:30 PM

2015-09-01T13:30:23-04:00

WE PULLED INTO PUSAN AND INCHON WHICH IS A CAB RIDE TO SEOUL THERE WAS NO CURFEW FIRST AEGIS CRUISER IN PACIFIC USS VINCENNES CG-49 IN PUSAN BB-62 WAS PIERED UP ASTERN OF US HAD A GOOD TIME IN KOREA

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 1 at 2015 3:24 PM

2015-09-01T15:24:23-04:00

I don't recall any curfew when our ship visited Korea in the 1980's and 1990's. I do remember my first two visits to the Philippines there was a curfew in effect though.
Some people will always be breaking rules such as curfew just because they can and when they get in trouble they cry up a good sob story.
I'm no fan of curfews but if its in effect for everyone then so be it, follow the rules and enjoy your time you have.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 3:40 PM

2015-09-01T15:40:37-04:00

We had 2 passes, Overnight and Cinderella. only 10% of a unit could have a Overnight pass at any given time. And yes it was for readiness, it was not unusual to have alerts at 0200. 2nd D is in Arty range of N Korea, and the Kim family (il Sung & Jong Il when i was there) are not right in the head. Of course 4P1 was the only live fire base at that time, and it was not unusual for night patrolls to all of a sudden have an extra body in line. thats why everything was taped and tied to you so nothing fell off that they could grab and take back with them.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 4:49 PM

2015-09-01T16:49:36-04:00

We never had a curfew in 94-97. I can't say it will make a difference.

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made Sep 1 at 2015 4:49 PM

2015-09-01T16:49:41-04:00

Marshall law was still on when we were There in 72. I have a good story about being in down town Seoul after midnight. Unable to get into our hotel.

Response by SSgt Shawn McFarlin made Sep 1 at 2015 5:34 PM

2015-09-01T17:34:01-04:00

I was there 95-96 doing army support I remember a curfew for the air force bases but it was never applied to us on the army posts

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 7:42 PM

2015-09-01T19:42:31-04:00

I was station at Kunsan AB, ROK from 1993-1994 and again 2001-2002 and both times there we had curfews. We even had curfews in Kuwait and Qatar. It really never bothered me because what was there to do at 0200 hours in the morning in Korea anyway? Most of the clubs closed around that time anyway.

Now then, if your still in Korea do me a favor, SEND ME SOME BEEF BULGOGI, YAKI MANDU (fried), AND KIMCHEE ASAP!!!!!!

Response by SFC Stephen King made Sep 1 at 2015 7:58 PM

2015-09-01T19:58:20-04:00

I have been stationed in Korea 3 times each of them a curfew was in effect. It is a necessary evil which is in fact punishment for the masses. However as others have stated after 0100 is a reasonable time to be at home.

Response by TSgt Gwen Walcott made Sep 1 at 2015 9:47 PM

2015-09-01T21:47:10-04:00

We faced "OFF LIMITS" situations, no curfews

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Sep 2 at 2015 1:54 AM

2015-09-02T01:54:03-04:00

Curfew? I was there back in the early 90's. MEC-P. Curfew was about 10-minutes before formation... if we had one.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Sep 3 at 2015 10:02 AM

2015-09-03T10:02:03-04:00

Being that the mission has changed a lot since I was there and that you could get your LES wrapped in yakimondu down range before the 1st of the month, I would say it should make a difference!! OPSEC should always be #1 no matter where you are. We had a curfew when I was there of 20:00 hours and over night passes only when you earned them. We also had a lot of soldiers falling in love with gals in clubs that wound up being N Koreans trying to get info from soldier, it always amazed me how males flip over females!!

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 10:06 AM

2015-09-08T10:06:24-04:00

I just returned form a 1 year tour at Kunsan in April of this year. I was also at Osan from Jan '10- Jan '11, which in that time, the curfew was repealed and reactivated do to 2 separate accused rape incidents by some members. From what I experienced, the curfew has good and bad qualities to it. On one side, there were no issues off base after curfew, but that led to members getting uneasy from the alcohol and the cops were left cleaning up the mess. Another problem I have with curfew is, people will do anything to avoid getting caught after curfew. This led to members stealing taxis (and punching out the drivers), hop the base fence line or trying to swim the binjo ditch into the base.

My biggest problem with Korea all around is how the environment encourages drinking to individual limits. I became an alcoholic at Osan. I found myself waking up with the liquor guts, go to the bathroom and find a bottle of Capt Morgan sitting on the toilet tank. So when I found out I was going to Kunsan, I was pissed. But the AF gave me the option to either go there or stamp out within 6 months. So I decided, any time I felt like a drink, I went to the gym or for a run. I refused to return to my old ways.

Korea isn't a bad tour. You do make friends for life there. One and done is that is really needed though. One thing that definitely needs to be changed is making it a new members first duty station. It sets horrible examples for military life. But to be added onto that, how is USFK "Ready to Fight Tonight" if new members are just learning their jobs from the get go with no experience?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 1:15 PM

2015-09-08T13:15:59-04:00

I have spent a total of 5 years station in Korea (98-00 and 10-13) and the curfew always bothered me on a personal level. Like every service member was a child that couldn't be trusted to be out late... meanwhile actual children (including dependents) could stay out as late as they wanted. It particularly bothered me that losing track of time (after 1999) could often earn the same punishment as someone who deliberately committed an actual crime.

On a professional level though, I agree with LT Tom Baillie... it's basically about maintaining good relations with our host country. If a local national behaves badly, it largely gets ignored by the media, but if a U.S military member behaves badly it's BIG news and the USFK commanders get called to the carpet and asked to do something to prevent future bad behavior.

As a side note, it is abuse of alcohol, not staying out late that causes the bad behavior. Unfortunately, confronting a culture of excessive alcohol use is much more difficult than imposing a curfew.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2015 11:30 PM

2015-09-19T23:30:59-04:00

Currently stationed in Korea, and I'll admit that before arriving and until very recently I agreed 100% with you. Curfew was pointless and honestly I didn't understand it very well. Curfew is currently 0100-0500, and sometimes as a leader you will agree that is necessary. I've had Soldiers that never get in trouble and obey it; but I've also had the ones that go out on a Friday night and you would think the world is ending in a few hours. Korea, being a "almost" war zone (it's the simplest way I can put it, without all the political terms) units are expected to maintain a readiness level that can't be achieved if Soldiers are out until sunrise and drinking as if they were back in the Civil War. Why? Because Soldiers get lost over here (even thought taxis know exactly where the military posts are), get drunk in a way that it would be impossible for them to execute their mission if the call came down, get stupid with the locals (as we've seen in the news for the past years), and sadly I've had to deal with a couple of guys like this. That some adjustments can be made to the rules/policies/curfew, yes I agree and support it. But right now, where units are supposed to be ready at any given point if the ballon ever goes up and I can't say a 100% elimination of curfew would be the best course of action.

Response by SPC Tim Richardson made Sep 25 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-09-25T14:02:07-04:00

I was stationed in Yongsan (8th US Army) from 98-00 and there wasn't a curfew, well not for us at Yongsan. But I remember hearing that Camp Casey and a few others had a curfew at 0100.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Sep 25 at 2015 6:58 PM

2015-09-25T18:58:26-04:00

Many years ago when I was in Korea, at 11:30pm the first curfew siren went off to warn you that you had 30 min to find a place for the night and be off the streets. At 12 another went off, meaning don't get caught. Being honest, I never had a problem with it, maybe because I realized that if allowed to be out past that time I wpuld get into trouble or not be fit for duty the next day.

Response by SSG Marlin Dammarell made Jun 10 at 2017 7:59 AM

2017-06-10T07:59:51-04:00

Hey I have a situation. I know a young Soldier who broke curfew in Korea and is facing UCMP. The Soldier hasn't been read yet after 72 days?

Response by SGT Donna Cannon made Sep 2 at 2019 10:12 AM

2019-09-02T10:12:14-04:00

In 1975-76, the curfew was from midnight until 4am. It gave the blind people a time to walk around without being hit by cars, the trash crews could clean up and there were check points all around Seoul. As MP's we had to complete our security checks and we would see their police with small automatic weapons. The quiet was nice. Seoul and Itawon were always bustling. Never a dull moment.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2019 3:32 PM

2019-09-02T15:32:33-04:00

A curfew is a result of punishment not curbing the problem.
A Soldier was severely injured falling from an outer stairway while drunk on Johnston Island. There were other alcohol related incidents. Years worth, primarily fights.
Civilian contractors who fought were off the island on the next flight. Soldiers may, or may not, be removed from the personnel reliability program (PRP). Thise removed were off the island as soon as orders (normally Korea) could be received.
The result of the severe injury was the island going dry.
Punishment doesn't always work, and the command has a higher responsibility to the host nation.
It's not the first tool that should be used, but it is a tool that works.