If you live off base, you'll get the full OHA and the full utility allowance which is $664 right now.

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There's No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Traveled.

When Yongsan housing office authorizes your family to live off-post, you will receive full OHA (for E6 with command sposored dependents in Seoul area - maximum $3261.50 as of 16 Apr), Utilities allowance ($664.37), and one time MIHA ($408.50). I heard that housing office usually doesn't give approval for off-post because the OHA is so high. They believe that the government could save $$$ by putting command sponsored family (w/concurrent travel) in sub-standard government housing ASAP (within 10 days). Check http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/ohaform.html for current OHA rate.

8th Army SMS website will be helpful for your husband to find unit/sponsor info, even though it doesn't seem to be updated often. Supposedly, it shows your husband's assignment to Battalion level within 45 days of your reporting month. If there's no info in SMS, let your husband contact 2nd G1. After numerous phone calls in the night and spending over 200 Euro on phone bill from Europe (and so many harassment to ignorant people), I finally received my welcome packet. It is very common in Korea that you have the GHOST sponsor (who is the one you are replacing) or none at all. Be patient and start harrassing more people and let them to THEIR job - taking care of newbie.

I know of several families here at Hannam Village in which the husband works in Area I and the wife and kids stay here. I've lived in Hannam for 13 months now, and it's not bad at all. There's a mini-shoppette here, as well as a library, ACS office (with loan closet!), a shuttle that runs regularly to Yongsan Main Post (about a mile away), and most importantly for my wife and I, a playground and pool and lots of other kids for our 20 month old daughter to play with. You won't find those ammenities in an off-post apartment.

As for playgroups, there is one on Tuesdays at the ACS center on Hannam, and one on Wednesdays on Main Post. We used those until my wife started working, now we use full time day care at the Yongsan CDC.

Lots of parking at Hannam. I shipped over an XTerra. I hate trying to park on Seoul city streets. The drive to USAG Casey is about 45 minutes. Not too bad. Osan is about an hour's drive. I bought an english language GPS navigator for the car, and that makes road trips convenient. I know several people who don't drive (by choice, not directive), and they manage fine with the shuttle, taxis, and the subway. There is a subway stop near Hannam.

BTW, the weather is getting really nice over here. You're getting here at a great time of year. The cherry blossoms are in bloom, and we're coming up on the season when there's always something happening on the weekends. (both on and off post)

Welcome to Korea!

Driving to Casey is more like 90 minutes if traffic is average. It is not that far, but there is no getting around city driving from Uijongbu north to Casey.

Mr. Joe's right...Casey is about an hour and a half drive. USAG Jackson or USAG Red Cloud I've driven in 45 minutes from Yongsan. Still, even with traffic, driving from one post to another isn't too bad. I once heard that Korea is about the size of Indiana. Crowded yes, but definately not large compared to other countries.

The distance from Osan to Camp Page is 100 miles. The quickest I've ever drivin' that was in 2000. I made it in 1 hour and two minutes. It was also very early in the morning. hehe. Way too much traffic now.

Thank you! It is good to know that there are others in the same situaton and that there are good facilities for children, I will definately be utilising those! We have decided to ship the car so we will see how that goes, I am planning on walking around as much as I can.

I kinda think we have decided to live in Hannam village if there we can get accomodation there. Hubby still has no sponsor and when he called to see where he will be going he was told he is not showing up on their 'system' .. it doesn't bode well.

I think you'll be glad you shipped the car once you get here. We walk and take public transit whenever we can, but for quick trips over to USAG Yongsan, the car is invaluable. (going to and from work, grocery shopping, buying large items at the PX, running back to work because I forgot my cell phone, etc.) Trust me....It's times like that you'll be glad you brought your car. Now, for going to the zoo, sightseeing in Seoul, palace tours, etc., taking the subway is ideal.

Two of the amazing things I discovered about Korea when we got here were that 1. There were way more military families here than what we expected. 2. Many people here have chosen to extend their tours in Korea. It's not uncommon to find a Soldier who's been here for >3 years. I think this speaks volumes about a duty location, that so many people opt to extend their tours.

As for not having a sponsor, I feel your pain. We got most of our information from this forum. We've been in Korea for over a year now, but I was on this site for months doing research before we flew over. I think back on those days when I had a million and one questions (and fear) before I shipped to Korea, and the best advice I can give is look at it as an adventure, accept that the first month will be the most difficult, and know that you've got a great support network waiting for you when you get here.

rader1977,

I have a couple of questions on Hannam Village housing:

1. Is electricity there 110v or 220v? The reason why I am asking this is because we shipped some 220v appliances along with transformers from Europe.

2. How's the guest policy in Hannam Village compared to Yongsan garrison? I have sponsored some guests in Yongsan garrison long time ago and guests must bring their picture ID, driver's license and proof of insurance (if he/she brings a car to the base). As far as I know only three persons can be sponsored by one military member or family member (in Yongsan garrison).

3. Does anyone in Hannam Village that you know hired a nanny (local)? We are measuring the weight between CDC in Yongsan or hiring a nanny. We have never used CDC before and we heard that the charge/fee is dependent on TOTAL family income which will a lot for us since both my wife and I are working.

Thanks in advance for your help.

1.The outlets are 110V. (Just like in the states)
2. I've never signed on a non-military guest, but I'd imagine the policy is identical to Yongsan.
3. I know of one family who uses a local (filipina) nanny. Also, on the community bulletin board by the shoppette on Hannam, I see flyers and 3x5 cards all the time posted by locals offering nanny/house cleaning services. They had to have come from somewhere, so I'm sure there are plenty more nannies on Hannam than the one I know.

Yes, the CDC charges based on total income, but even with both our incomes combined it's not too bad. It's less than what we paid for child care at my last assignment in D.C. Our daughter has went from the infant to the toddler class in the last few months and we've been very happy with the care she gets.