Hey, I'm PCSing back to Korea in May did 2 years at Kunsan from Feb 97 - Feb 99... was wondering what the base/A-Town is like now? Can a TSgt live off base or forced to live in the dorm? From what I've been reading on here seems the base kinda went to hell in a hand basket, although there is always something going on at the Kun. When I was there a local who used to change money to won was murdered just as come into A-Town. A SrA was accused, but turns out it was a local Korean girl. Anything is greatly appreciated...

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Coming back for tour # 4!

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Doug

Welcome to the Forum! Korea always changes for the better- especially at Air Force Bases! Your sponsor can get you up to date- meanwhile hang in there and brush up on your Korean!

Doug,

This is my first time at Kunsan, I've been here for 10 months. I disagree with Joe the facilitator, this place is awful and besides building upgrades it only gets worse.
First, nobody at Kusan is allowed to live off base, only MSgt's and above are allowed to drive POV's, we do now get COLA but again only MSgt's and above get full rate COLA. The Wolf has started messing up the hooches and from what I see for no good reason.
Second, we continue to fall under ignorant USFK regulations, such as the POV driving thing and the curfews.
The exercises continue to be long, half simulated and caotic. I've had much better training experience in state side bases and to top it off I don't feel unsafe in Korea and don't feel like the N. Koreans are as big a threat as they'd want us to think.
Overall this place is a joke, I wouldn't recommend anyone coming here and will pass on to everyone I work with in the future to avoid this place like an STD. The divorce rate is through the roof and the lack of things to do on base is tragic. We certainly are the step-child to Osan and get very little to make this place liveable. Even the new dorms are pretty silly, the rooms are small but meet regs but sharing a kitchen a refrigerator with 4 adults is a bad idea. I guess I can't say I'll never come back but if I have to I'll bring my family command sponsor or not.
The Korean culture on the other hand is awesome, I've met lots of nice people, had great food and seen beautiful country. If I could live here, off base or as a cilvian I rethink my hatered for this place but as for now this place is awlful.

^^Thanks for the review. I will be at Kunsan in about 2 weeks.

I have to disagree with Oahuone's statement "The Wolf has started messing up the hooches and from what I see for no good reason."

The hooches were doing things that may seem ok to you and me, but were illegal. Wolf's options were change them or close them. I think he chose well. In practice, I don't see my usual hooches as being all that different than they were, just that donations are taken differently than vote cards were, and bartenders can't take tips.

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Ken at Kunsan
"Dark clouds may hang on me some times, but I'll work it out" - Dave Matthews

So, its been a few months since I've posted about my upcoming assignment so I thought I would take a minute to drop a line... I finally got my orders Friday and TMO is coming next Monday but I really have no idea what to bring, I have the basic junk you always hear on AFN... a few dishes, some clothes... my computer I'm mailing because I want it there when I get there. But it seems like I'm forgetting alot of things. Any suggestions, on what to bring or what not to bring... i.e. should I leave my computer desk here or bring it... think I'll leave it... Orders say I'm going to the 35 FS but as a 3A I know that may change... anyone know what the size of the rooms are for TSgt's or their setup... Are you allowed to use an indoor electric grill or is that a no-go?!? How fast is the internet? Do we get BAS or have to eat in the chow hall or wait is it dining facility or does it have a new name now... I've been at an ROTC det for 4 years and I'm afraid of all the changes that have gone out there in real air force... any help is greatly appreciated...

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Coming back for tour # 4!

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Doug

Welcome Doug!
The only thing we know about you is you are male and been here before. We assume you are going to Kunsan since you posted in Kunsan's forum. So I will let the Kunsan folks answer your questions. Enjoy the Forum!

Yes, I'm coming back to Kunsan. I have a few questions if someone could help me out.

1. Internet--how fast/cost
2. Dorm size for TSgt (35 FS?!?) I thought about bringing one of my Turkish
carpets...
3. Can we use an indoor grill?
4. Should I bring cookware?
5. I've got my sling box and a magic jack for phone--good/bad?

Thanks in advance!

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Coming back for tour # 4!

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Doug

One more question, can I bring a small microwave?

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Coming back for tour # 4!

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Doug

Oahuone - I am saddened to hear you hate Kunsan so bad. I was there in 95 - 96 & loved it. Even tried to extend, but my other base wouldn't let me.

Anyway, I think you should be consider yourself blessed. When I was there we lived in old dorms. The NCOs had their own small rooms & had to share a bathroom. No kitchen. No refrigerator. No internet. No TV. No phones even, the whole floor has to share a community phone situtated in the middle of the hall. If you got a call, someone had to answer the phone & come to your room & get you (if anyone answered it at all. lol.).

As for the rules you complain about so badly, most of those rules are put in place b/c of bone-head moves by GIs, not b/c the admin at Kunsan wants to be pr*cks. For example, we had no hooches - NONE - b/c of some improper stuff that had gone down in them. And if the GIs keep on you'll probably see an end to hooches permanent at the Kun.

Further, they want you on base, not driving & they have a curfew to keep the previously mentioned knuckleheads out of trouble. Yep, the old adage is true - a few bad apples will ruin the whole darn bunch & it has happened. Thus the no living off base, no driving & curfew.

The sad, bad, fact of the matter is, too many bad things happen when you give military folks too much freedom, esp. when they are mostly young males, mostly single & many like to drink & all are far from home. Look at what has gone on in Japan for crying out loud. The Wolf doesn't want that!

I will agree though that we are the step-children to Osan. But that is not always a bad thing. IMO the harder life at Kunsan brought us closer. A lot of the Osan guys had everything & as a result could turn into pampered d*cks. (No offense to any Osan guys out there).

And the divorce rate you speak of is true too. BUT ... it would be a lot less if the married guys there (& married gals too!) would learn to keep their knickers up & not be bedding down w/ every juicy girl they see.

A lot of that divorce thing has nothing to do w/ the Kun, but rather the person themselves. A cheater is a cheater, no matter where he/she is. I have seen MANY a married man get himself a juicy for a g/f & lives the loose & free life. Then he laments his divorce when the wifey stateside finds out. Well yeah! Divorce tends to happen when you cheat on your spouse!

Just buck up man. Kunsan is not even close to being as bad as you say. It's all what you make it. Let your pride down for a minute & have some fun!

Good luck & take care.

BTW, as for the microwave question, we could not have them when I was there but a lot of things have changed since then. Ask your sponsor, they should be able to help you w/ that.

Wolfpack Defender for life!

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