What advice would you give to someone going to Korea (first duty station) who has never been out of the country before?

Until I had gone to West German I had never been out of the country. Just tell him or her to go over there and have some fun. Before I went to Korea, people use to say " The best way to make Spc. is to go there as a SGT." The best thing I can tell you is Proper Plase, Proper Uniform, and Proper Time. If you follow that you will enjoy it very much. And if you are under 21, STAY AWAY FROM DRINKING. I seen too many soldiers loss a whole lot because of drinking.

Been married to a Korean for 40 years this July 9th. Not all fun years but overall she has been a person who has followed me on my Army adventures and since being retired in 92 has been a special lady to me. Two tours to Korea 76-79 and 86-89 I've seen the Juicy girls, had the juicy girls but and just short of paying the juicy girls. Get off base and explore your new surrounding, learn to speak the language at least a bit. Respect begets respect thru out Korea and while my two tours were years apart the time gives me pause to reflect my first tour were the Koreans who lived and now thrived under US prescience and loved the Americans and then in 87-89 those kids of those same folks now have things and don't have a first hand experience of the way it was during the war and many were starting to upraise at colleges and many a day did I sit in my house near a college and get tear gassed in the 80's. I wish my president luck in getting things settled down on the Korea Peninsula and taming Rocketman.

Read up on Korea and its history. Find out about their customs and try to incorporate this into your dealings with the locals. Try to learn some Korean. Relations with the locals usually go a little better if you take the effort to learn at least some of their language instead of being a stereotypical American and expecting everyone to cater to you. Enjoy your time there. Get out and visit the local area. I was always amazed at the number of junior enlisted, and some senior enlisted, that never left the base during their entire tour and then complained about how bad the location was. Travel. You probably will never have another opportunity to have so many other countries so close to you and available for travel. A one or two hour plane ride from Seoul can get you to a lot of beautiful places. Just for your sanity, don't be the soldier that goes to Camp ICantStandThis and stay on base, never interacting with the local community. Travel to a foreign country, and interacting with the people in that country, expands your horizons in so many ways. I am so thankful that I got to travel all over the Orient and Europe on Uncle Sam's dime. It took another 35 years after getting out before I was able to start traveling again (kids will do that to you) and it's much more expensive with me paying for it.

Don't drink the water

Take the time to travel around Korea, beyond the areas directly off post. Learn about the culture, and don't be intimidated by the environment (I know I was).

If you have the opportunity to take some mid-tour leave, take it because the OPTEMPO is extremely high in Korea. Maybe get a space-available flight to Japan, the Philippines, etc. The opportunity to live in a foreign country is so tremendous, good luck!

Always travel with a buddy, never carry more than enough money to spend on what you are looking for and a beer or two (OB is best) Always negotiate with whoever you are buying from, They will not respect you otherwise. Never follow someone somewhere you have not been to b4 unless you trust them with your life and even then be careful. Korea is like Fantasy Island, If you have the money anything is possible. Be very careful of the Black Market or if someone asking you to buy/pay for something for them unless you know you are getting a lot of money for it or willing to go to the Monkey House(JAIL!). They have a sad song for everything and a con for everyone. There are good ones just be selective. Some KATUSAs (Korean Augmentation To United States Army)will show you the right places to go to or help buy something cheaper. Slicky boy/girl will get you and steal your wallet and your dreams. Be careful of soldiers you do not know that have been there and short timers as they will play tricks on a Cherry Boy/Turtle (Naïve person/Newby). If you do not want trouble, Do not wet a $20 bill and stick it to your forehead then walk in a bar. It is a common practical joke for Turtles among other things. FYI, A Turtle is a newcomer to Korea and In-Processing and out-processing buildings are normally just a few feet apart, Hence, A Turtle would take a whole year to walk 20 feet. ALWAYS WEAR A RUBBER, Sometimes two or three as the guards or UPs(Unit Police) like poking holes in them b4 they hand them out at the gate. Better yet Buy your own and not catch the Clap, Syphillis or worse knock up a Korean girl as they want that more than your money so you will marry them, DONT Do That !! Unless you really Love them and not just for an Overnight Unless they are paying you a ton of money. It has been a long time since I have been in country so policy changes are likely but GREED NEVER CHANGES. Hey Enjoy yourself if you are single really enjoy. If you are married then stay in contact with the wife and call as often as possible, write letters and send pictures of country side. This is part of a lifetime of lessons from one year of duty in Korea, It can be the best or worst assignment of your career just keep your head on a swivel and think 3 times be fore doing anything, but do it quickly. Also grow that third eye and do not drink the WATER, no Joke, unless it is bottled. Happy Trails !!!

Don’t drink Soju!

As I was told along with the rest who were new-comers to Japan: "You're representatives of the United States in a host country. Conduct yourself appropriately as you would like them to conduct themselves if they were guests in your home or country!!" Overseas duty (back when I was in the Navy from '78-'82) was not given out to just anybody. So consider yourself lucky to have been selected. I was only supposed to be stationed in Japan 2 years but when my time was up I decided to stay over there and finish out my last 19 months of service. Glad I did because I haven't been able to go back since and I have tons of great memories!!

Stay away from the villages, especially TDC

Stay out of the villages!!!