Hi guys.

I've posted only a few times in the past, but to recap, my father was an Air Force officer and we were stationed in Korea from 1971 to 1973. We lived on South Post. For some reason, everyone I've talked to who lived on Yongsan back then remembers it (and Korea generally) very fondly. Perhaps it was the lack of anti-Americanism, or the location, or the freedom (as teens we pretty much had the run of Yongsan, it was considered so safe)...in any event, it was a great time and those were certainly formative years.

This seems like a great opportunity to ask some of you who live there today a few questions (I haven't been there in 33 years).

Is South Post still military housing? I lived just north of Collier Field and right up against the perimeter wall, w/ ROK Army facilities behind the house. We used to chat w/ the young Korean guys over the wall. I was about a five minute walk from Gate 19 and right below what we called "Hairy Hill"...does anyone know this area? I'd love to hear what it is like today.

Also, the high school used to be across the street from the middle school and elem. school, next to the Commissary. I've read that the Commissary has moved...is the building still there? and what is the old high school today?

Is there still a place called the Hartell House? it used to be across the street (near gates 5 and 10) from the officer's club, which seems now to be part of Dragon Hill Lodge.

It would be cool if somewhere there is a history of the development of the post. Old-timers like me appreciate this kind of stuff....

Thanks, and if you have any info on this stuff, please chime in!

scott

PS I have posted this link before (I think) but here is my Webshots site w/ about 220 photos of Korea and Yongsan in the early 1970s:

http://community.webshots.com/user/harmolodic

I hope you enjoy them.

Scott;

Thanks for sharing the photos they brought back some memories. I was a soldier stationed there during those years.

>>For some reason, everyone I've talked to who lived on Yongsan back then remembers it (and Korea generally) very fondly.

I would agree Korea was a different country in those years. The Korean people were the most patient people I had ever encountered in that era. I was asked by a Col recently what was the major difference in the culture from then until now. I had to say it was the impatience that first came to mind. She found astounding based on her experiences of Korean culture (1 year) :-)

The second major difference was the creativity and resourcefulness. It was during that era when we seen adashis servicing electronic equipment with a simple, multi-meter. They could take what we called trash and make something very useful. They took empty soda cans to make heating ducts.

I went to have a couple keys made a couple years ago. The first place I went was a local hardware store. The guy cut the key and assuming (<g>) everything was kosher I took it home to try it. The key would not even fit in the lock. I went back and he refunded my money. I then went down the street to a locksmith. You can probably guess the results. I ended up taking it to an older lady outside the gate near a military base and she had no problem making one that would work. The store was a older shack w/o high speed equip to operate.


I did not intend to digress; I thought you may want to know the major differences from that era.

The anti-American demonstrations are not as bad as some people and media are giving attention to it. While it does exist it is not the masses engaging in the demonstrations. One only needs to look at the college campuses and the sixties in the USA. It was a fad for the most part, and it was really against the war. If you notice the younger Koreans frequently use the old peace sign that was common from this era. I am not alluding to any correlation between Korea now and the US in the 60’s. Some of the older relics from that era are still around. One of them is in Iraq serving on Sadam Hussein’s legal counsel.

>>Is South Post still military housing?

Yes. There is a new heliport they built across from Collier and the housing area. This is used by the US and ROK. As you may also be aware the MND is on the other side of the wall. They also expanded 121 Hosp. It sounds like you may have lived near the MND side. The style of the housing is like your picture.

Also, the high school used to be across the street from the middle school and elem. school, next to the Commissary. I've read that the Commissary has moved...is the building still there? and what is the old high school today?

Yes, the commissary relocated to SP 51 Area or the Rod and Gun (Bottle <g>)

They have a BK and a Popeye’s across from the HS. The HS students usually go to one of three places for lunch. The other OP is Dragon Hill Lodge. It is a hotel and has a few restaurants for fast food.

>>Is there still a place called the Hartell House? it used to be across the street (near gates 5 and 10) from the officer's club, which seems now to be part of Dragon Hill Lodge

Yes the HH is still there. There is not really any Officer’s club anymore. They have a Main Club on Main Post. The HH is a membership club that really has not changed over the years.

I would suggest contacting the Seoul American HS http://www.seoul_hs.pac.dodea.edu/TitlePage/index2.html

You should be able to correspond with someone there. I understand they have faculty that were there during that same era 
Hope this helps.

10-4 on Hiker's update! I lived in 7090-B right by the Bunker at Gate 19 in those years. Gate 19 is still the same, with some high fashion shops now just outside, all along the route to the Yongsan Post Office. The P.O. is bigger and better. There is the Shin (new) Yongsan subway station underground by the P.O.
About two blocks across the street from the Yongsan Post Office and toward the S.W. is the giant Yongsan Station (Subway and Train). It incorporates a big Electronics Depatrment Store, and an E-Mart (Like a K-Mart with a nice Grocery Store in the lower level.) A free parking garage (if you buy something.)There are some restaurants and an ice cream shop, and a few other businesses inside. Escalators go to all floors. You can get a fast train to Pusan, or anywhere. For about $2.00 you can ride to Osan. (The Post Bus costs $8.00!) Down a ramp from the back of the station takes you to the Electronics Market, where you can get appliances, computers, and all manner of electronic stuff. Some retail, some cheaper. Videos, counterfeit CD's and all. Multi -screen Theaters all over. There are 20/30 story buildings all over town now. We have to walk out gate 19 and N. past the P.O. to the Korea Telephone Building to pay our phone bill. Actually, you can pay at most banks, or at the 7-11 stores! Yep, that's right! They are here too, off post. There is a McDonald's and a Dunkin Donuts in the Seoul Main Train Station, and at lots of places around town. KFC, even Outback Steak Houses! I live in Itaewon, and can walk to work if I wish. The Dragon Hill Lodge is nice, but more expensive than it needs to be. Koreans are eating more meat and potatoes, and the children are fatter than you remember. The girls are just as pretty and thin as ever!
I know you want to visit again now! To sum it up- things are not cheap anymore- but it is still a great place to visit!

Joe;

You forgot the Pizza Hit in the Seoul Station <g>


Excellent job on the recap, especially the size of the Korean people from the 70's to today, lest not forget the Korean girls. <g>


What A SB. I was happy to see Heniz Ward get the MVP. Although he does not have the big numbers that some of the other players have he is always there in the clutch.

Yeah, I missed Pizza hut. Actually they are all over town, as well as Domino's
and Korean versions of Pizza.
You forgot the new Quiznos Subs and the Starbucks behind Burger King up at the old Embassy Club!
I just wrote a long story about more food places around Yongsan, but it froze up on my computer and had to be killed!

Scott, go to the internet- Dragon Hill Lodge-Korea, and you can see some of the restaurants there. I have to go now as I'm getting hungry...

Hiker and Mr. Joe,

thanks so much for the great info.

Yes, our house was just south of the MND. The was also another strange building (see first picture below) you could see over the wall (if you were on the hill near the Bunker, I remember) that my father later told me was the KCIA.

I remember the Rod and Gun Club well.

Nice recap of the road outside Gate 19 to the Yongsan Post Office. I took the second pic below standing by the P.O. looking NW...in those days the road from Gate 19 was hardly high-fashion...! it was a favorite hang-out for my brother and I, playing rock-scissors-paper w/ the little Korean kids (who all called the game something like John Cammy Shay) and investigating empty lots and strange antique shops selling old chests, brass stuff, old coins...

So you are both in Korea now? It must be fascinating to actually have seen all these changes occur. I mean, I remember when there were maybe 3 bridges, and we used to see overturned 3-wheel trucks quite frequently! and traffic was nothing. Based on what I read now, those days are LONG gone.

Thanks again. Any other thoughts you want to share would be appreciated. And your own pictures over the years, if you have some.

I'm going to go out to the Yongsan P.O. and shoot a photo exactly where you took yours, and you will see some differences! I'll get some more later on.
Today I am the only one in the office, so far. I saw it was snowing, so I came in before 7AM, before the ladies and the southerners got on the streets!
My office mates stayed home. The Post run buses can't get over the hill, and the schools closed. Then the child care center closed. So all single parents have to find a babysitter or stay home with their kids. Looks like a good day to take snow pictures. We've got nearly two inches, and still snowing lightly. It appears not to be quite freezing, so it may not last.

Joe;

Hope the snow did not bother you too bad.

The one thing I just remembered was the small little park on that strip from G19 to the PO. They have some huge birds in the cages in the park. It is really a little unusual to have those huge birds in the small park. You may want to get some pictures of the park if you are going out to the area. I will have to post some pics in a day. I need to sort them out.

Scott as far as the unusal structure in the pic I really have no idea. I did not recall seeing that before. I have some pictures of the Yongsan Train Station. You will not recognize the old station. I only wish I had taken some before the renovation.

I'd love to see some pictures. Mr. Joe, if you get a picture of that same Hangang-Ro location, I'd be very grateful. I'd love to show it to my mother, who frequented a flower shop there.

Do either of you still have access to the post? is it against the rules to get pictures there? if not, I'd love to see my old neighborhood again.

That strange building is on one of the side streets behind the Post Office and slightly north of the perimeter wall I lived next to. There was (still is? ) ROK Army barracks near it as well. That's where the young soldiers lived that we'd talk to over the wall--trading phrases in Korean and English.

scott

I got a few of the photos I promised into my computer. I had trouble last night trying to put them in the Gallery under "SEOUL". (my computer's problem, not the Forum's) I'm going to try again in a few minutes. we'll see.

Next Note Later--failed again. Maybe tomorrow. Read the how to by MIKE but can't do it tonight. My problem. Later.