Contact Information
USAG Yongsan is the most important base run by the United States of America in South Korea. It is located in the capital of the country, in Seoul. It hosts the headquarters of the American presence in this country. The unit is referred to as the USFK – United States Forces Korea. The base is actually a garrison. It covers a little over 600 acres and is placed in one of Seoul’s districts, Yongsan-gu. The place is run by the US Army. Although its size is not impressive, the inhabitants have access to a wide variety of facilities. It is, therefore, a little American community strategically built in the heart of South Korea. Among the most useful facilities, you can count exchange offices, post offices, a commissary for the internal regulations, plenty of family and child orientated services and offices, restaurants and dining facilities, a library, a dental clinic, multiple health care clinics and a wide variety of indoor and outdoor recreational centers. For instance, the sport lovers can play golf, bowling, basketball or football. The kids can kill their spare time in the few parks and skateboarding parks in the garrison once they finish the local schools courses. In other words, the camp is a little town located in a large city.
History
USAG Yongsan was actually a military base built by the Empire of Japan at the beginning of the 20-th century. The place was so resistant that many of the buildings raised by the Japanese engineers are still standing today and used by the American forces. The military base was built in a specific area of South Korea. At those times, this entire place was used for military garrisons, forts, training facilities and military schools. Due to the connections between South Korea and the Empire of Japan, the Japanese Imperial Army used this place for its headquarters, from 1910 to 1945, when the Americans invaded the place.
USAG Yongsan is not just the most important US base in South Korea, but also the most visited one when it comes to American superiors. For instance, George W. Bush or Hillary Clinton are among the most famous people visiting this place and talking to the troops. Each of them tried to encourage the soldiers and promised better times. According to George W. Bush, the units were supposed to get there and leave the place by rotation, so everyone can get to come back home.
Housing
When temporarily deployed to USAG Yongsan, your best option is a hotel if not given a house automatically. Dragon Hill Lodge is an on site hotel operated by the United States of America for visitors, family members and temporary troops. When in a long term engagement, you might want to bring in your family as well. You will need a sponsor then. The sponsor will find you a home and help you accommodate to a completely different lifestyle and culture. Simply get in touch with the local housing office.
