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Yongsan Garrison

Yongsan Garrison (Korean: 용산기지; Hanja: 龍山基地), meaning "dragon hill garrison", is an area located in the Yongsan District of central Seoul, South Korea. The site served as the headquarters for U.S. military forces stationed in South Korea, known as United States Forces Korea (USFK), and as United States Army Garrison Yongsan (USAG-Yongsan) until 2018, under the supervision of the U.S. Army's Installation Management Command Pacific Region.[1] From 1910 to 1945 it served as headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army in Korea.[citation needed]

U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan
FoundedOctober 2006; 16 years ago (2006-10)
Country United States of America
 Korea
Branch United States Army
TypeArmy garrison
Part ofEighth United States Army
Installation Management Command
Garrison/HQSeoul, South Korea
Nickname(s)"The Army's Home in Korea"
Motto(s)"Sustain, Support, Defend!", "We are The Army's Home in Korea!"
ColorsRed, green, black & gold
       
Websitewww.army.mil/yongsan/
An ichnography of USAG Yongsan. The yellow area at the top is Camp Coiner.

The USFK headquarters relocated to the new $11 billion Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek south of Seoul in 2018, as part of the Yongsan Relocation Plan.[2][3][4] By the end of 2019, more than 20,000 U.S. troops and family members will have been relocated to the new Camp Humphreys facility south of Seoul.[5][6][7] While most of the land will be returned to the South Korean government, the U.S. will retain a small portion of land in order to keep open the Dragon Hill Lodge military resort hotel and for a future site to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. Korean officials are still debating the future use of the land being returned, with some calling for a large park and others calling for more affordable housing.[8]

History Edit

Yongsan land had traditionally been the site of military facilities under former Korean kingdoms. In 1882, Qing troops used it during the Imo Incident. During those times, Korean and Japanese garrisons were on the outskirts of the city in mostly undeveloped land. The Imperial Japanese Army originally created it as a garrison and from 1910 to 1945 it served as its headquarters. Since then, the city of Seoul has spread, to envelop Yongsan Garrison.

Yongsan Garrison has been used by the United States Army as Garrison Yongsan (USAG-Yongsan), under the supervision of the Installation Management Command Pacific Region.[1]

In November 1992 some 297,000 square meters (77 acres) of land, including a golf course, was given back to the City of Seoul to become Yongsan Family Park and the site of the recently opened National Museum of Korea. The opening of the completed National Museum was delayed several years while the fate of a U.S. Army helicopter landing facility (H-208) was decided (its approach path and landing pads were directly in front of the museum).[citation needed]

In April 2003 South Korea and the United States agreed on the early relocation of Yongsan garrison outside of central Seoul.[9]

In August 2008, U.S. President George W. Bush spoke to U.S. and South Korean military personnel, their families, and civilian employees at Yongsan Garrison's Collier Field House, 6 as part of his final visit to Asia.[10][11] During his speech, Bush said,"Fifty-five years have passed since the guns went quiet and the cease-fire was signed on this peninsula, and since that time our forces have kept the peace. Our nations have built a robust alliance".[10] He also said that the U.S. would keep its military in South Korea, while returning some bases to South Korean control.[11]

In February 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited senior U.S. and South Korean military leaders at the Combined Forces Command headquarters at Yongsan Garrison on her first official trip overseas as the United States' Secretary of State.[12]

In 2009 The Korea Times reported that defense ministry officials said that South Korea and the United States have agreed to complete the relocation of the U.S. military headquarters in Yongsan to an expanded military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, by 2014.[13] The plan was delayed to 2018.[14] The 2018 estimates place the relocation completing in 2019 or 2020.[15][16]

South Korea had traditionally regarded this garrison as insurance against the U.S. Army abandoning Seoul, located only about 65 km from the DMZ. As part of the relocation and the planned withdrawal of U.S. troops near the DMZ, all American troops would be pulled back from north of the Han River. A December 2014 agreement between the South Koreans and the U.S. declared that one U.S. Army brigade would be allowed to remain "north of the Han River"; it is believed this means on or near the present U.S. Army Camp Casey in Dongducheon City.

The Embassy of the United States in Seoul may build a new Chancery on part of the land planned to be vacated by the U.S. Army, most probably on Camp Coiner. Most of the U.S. Embassy officials live in an Embassy housing compound in an area almost completely enveloped by Yongsan Garrison, and with direct access to it.

Facilities Edit

Many of the older, dark-colored brick buildings on the base are former Japanese Army buildings and are used by U.S. forces, most notably the Eighth Army headquarters building. Directly across from Eighth Army headquarters is the Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea headquarters, a structure built in the early 1970s. The building is home to the Commanding General, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea.[citation needed]

Facilities include multiple family housing areas, a large commissary[17] and Post Exchange,[18] Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities,[19] restaurants, indoor and outdoor sports complexes, a library, a bowling alley, a skateboard park, a miniature golf complex, a hospital, a dental clinic, three Department of Defense Dependent Schools, a United Service Organization (USO), child development centers, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an automotive care center, and a self-service gas station.[20] The garrison is also home to the Dragon Hill Lodge,[21] a hotel which is operated as an Armed Forces Recreation Center by the U.S. Army in support of personnel assigned or employed by the U.S. Forces Korea, their family members, and guests.

The garrison consists of two main parts: Main Post (North Post) and South Post, which are physically divided by Itaewon-ro, a four-lane city boulevard. In 2003, a two-lane overpass bridge was constructed over this boulevard to solve traffic congestion.[22]

The garrison provides installation support for K-16 Air Base, Camp Kim, Sungnam Golf Course, and Camp Coiner. Camp Coiner, covering approximately 50 acres (200,000 m2) on Yongsan Garrison's northern edge, is named after 2nd Lt. Randall Coiner, a Korean War Silver Star recipient. Until 2014, it also an supported an outlying U.S. Army housing area called Hannam Village in Hannam-dong; that site was sold in 2016 to private developers and, as of 2018, redevelopment as luxury housing was underway.[23] After the Korean War it served as Korea's primary in-processing facility for Army troops. (As of 2008, the 1st Replacement Company (1RC), a part of the Yongsan Readiness Center, serves as the central in-processing and orientation center for U.S. servicemembers and their families arriving to Korea.[24]) There was an Officers' Club, NCO Club and Enlisted Club in the camp.

Collier Field House[25] serves as the garrison's primary fitness center. Named in honor of Corporal John Collier,[26] who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War, this sports complex is on Yongsan South Post and features basketball, racquetball, volleyball, baseball, softball, aerobic, and weight training facilities. It offers authorized patrons instructor-lead fitness training programs. The Collier Field House is used for community events and town hall meetings.[10]

The single family suburban style housing areas, with yards and tree lined streets, plus the small wooded areas throughout the Garrison stand in stark contrast to the highly urbanized areas surrounding the facility.

The War Memorial of Korea directly abuts the garrison. Before the construction of this museum, the land was part of the Korean military command and was only slightly separated from the U.S. Army facility, both having been part of the original Japanese Garrison.[citation needed] Outside the garrison, east of the compound is the commercial district of Itaewon, with westernized shopping and nightlife. To the west of Yongsan is the Samgakji subway station and Yongsan Electronics Market. Although access to the garrison is controlled at the gates, it was possible for larger-than-normal drops of North Korean propaganda (leaflets and CDs) to occur at Yongsan Garrison, as recently as 22 December 2017. US troops were cautioned not to handle the materials themselves but to report them to Eighth Army G2X (counterintelligence).[27]

Administration Edit

 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits USAG-Yongsan 20 February 2009. The Combined Forces Command (CFC) Commanding General Walter Sharp (right) and his deputy, General Lee Sung-chool (이성출, left), welcomed the secretary.[12][28]
 
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard A. Cody (left) and Installation Management Command Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. John A. Macdonald (right) present USAG-Yongsan officials with a third-place trophy for the Fiscal 2008 Army Communities of Excellence competition 8 May at the Pentagon.[29][30][31][32][33]
 
President George W. Bush spoke to military personnel, their families and civilian employees at Collier Field House while visiting U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, 6 August 2008.[10][11]

Yongsan Garrison is commanded by a U.S. Army colonel and is one of four U.S. Army Installation Management Command Pacific Region(IMCOM-P)[34] garrisons in the Republic of Korea,[35][36] and one of 179 such garrisons worldwide.[37]

IMCOM-P is a military organization primarily to provide the United States Army in Korea the installation capabilities and services to support operations, and to provide a quality of life for soldiers and their families. IMCOM-P is the Korean regional office of the Installation Management Command headquartered in Hawaii.[38]

Army Family Covenant Edit

In December 2007[39] Yongsan Garrison officials and the IMCOM-Korean commanding general pledged their support to develop and improve family programs during an Army Family Covenant signing ceremony.[20][40] According to garrison officials, "The Army Family Covenant is our commitment to deliver a quality of life commensurate to our Soldiers' service."[20] During the ceremony, the Yongsan Garrison commander cited recent improvements to family programs at the USAG-Yongsan, such as elimination of initial registration fees for child care, extended hours for respite care and extended-duty child care, and expanded programs for teens and after-school care, including youth sports.[20] The Army committed $1.4 billion to family programs in fiscal 2008.[20]

Army Family Housing Edit

The garrison's primary housing areas[41] include Loring Village, Lloyd L. Burke Towers, Watkins Ridge and Krzyzowski Hills.[42] Commonly known as Black Hawk Housing Area, Loring Village consists of 16 housing structures, each containing multiple housing units, and was named after U.S. Air Force Major Charles Loring,[26] who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War. In 2004, South Korean-funded construction of the Lloyd L. Burke Towers (commonly known as Burke Towers) was completed .[43] Consisting of two five-story towers, the housing area includes three-, four- and five bedroom units, as well as outdoor barbecue areas, a basketball court and underground parking facility. The towers were named after Army 1st Lt. Lloyd L. Burke,[26] who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War. Watkins Ridge housing area consists of 23 housing structures, each containing multiple housing units, and was named after Army Master Sergeant Travis Watkins,[26] who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War. Krzyzowski Hills housing area consists of 10 housing structures, with multiple housing units each and named after Army Captain Edward Krzyzowski, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War.[26] Unaccompanied military personnel are assigned to Unaccompanied Personnel Housing on-post such as barracks, Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ), Senior Enlisted Quarters (SEQ), or Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ). When on-post housing is not available, unaccompanied military personnel are assigned to off-post quarters.

Army Community of Excellence Edit

In 2008, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard A. Cody recognized Yongsan Garrison as one of the top three U.S. Army Installations in the World[10] and recognized the garrison by declaring it an Army Community of Excellence.[37][44] The ACOE competition recognizes excellence in installation management and encourages and rewards installations that optimize opportunities and demonstrate a commitment to service and excellence.[10][32] Of 179 Army installations, Yongsan placed third behind second-place Fort George G. Meade, Md., and first-place finisher Fort A.P. Hill, Va.[32][37][45]

Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital Edit

Yongsan Garrison was home to the Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital (BAACH).[46][47] The main tenant unit residing in BAACH was the 121st Combat Support Hospital, providing the staff for inpatient and outpatient care. The staff included a mix of active duty soldiers, civilians employees, and Korean employees. It was originally activated in 1944 as the 121st Evacuation Hospital, Semimobile.[48] It participated in the European Theater during World War II and in the Korean War.[48] It has served continuously in Korea as a field unit since 25 September 1950 and as fixed medical treatment facility, Seoul Military Hospital, since 1959.[48] In 1971, Seoul Military Hospital merged with the 121st Evacuation Hospital to become the U.S. Army Hospital, Seoul (121st Evacuation Hospital). On 16 April 1994, the 121st Evacuation Hospital reorganized and was redesignated the 121st General Hospital.[48] On 30 June 2008 the facility was formally renamed the Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital.[46] Colonel Allgood served as the commander at this hospital from June 2004 through June 2006.[46] Allgood's final assignment was July 2006 when he was posted as the Command Surgeon Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I). On 20 January 2007, he, along with 11 other U.S. service members, were killed in action when their UH-60 helicopter was shot down by enemy rocket fire in Iraq.[49][50] In September 2019, BAACH completed its relocation from Yongsan to Camp Humphreys.[51]

Department of Defense Dependent Schools Edit

Seoul American High School (SAHS) is on Yongsan Garrison.[52] The school complex comprises eight buildings,[53] containing over 60 classrooms and special purpose rooms.[53] The school has two combination faculty lounges and work areas.[53] A library/media center houses 12,000 books and audio visual materials. The educator staff of 70 is composed of the Department of Defense Dependent Schools education specialists and classroom teachers.[53] SAHS opened in 1959 with approximately 150 students.[53] The first class graduated in 1960.[53] The classrooms at that time were Quonset huts located across from the main Army Community Service building.[53] Taegu, Pusan, and Chinhae students boarded at SAHS as there were no high schools in those areas until 1967.[53] In the fall of 1967, Taegu opened its high school, which alleviated the long drive for students. Construction began on the new high school in 1981 and was completed in the fall of 1982.[53] In addition to the main, arts, and gymnasium buildings a new structure which includes a JROTC section was opened in 1987.[53] The JROTC facilities have two classrooms, three offices, supply room, arms room, four-point indoor rifle range, and a hard top area used for inspections and drills. Additionally, JROTC formal inspections are held on the Falcon Fields, the school's full-sized artificial turf football and soccer field. School year, 1995–96 Seoul American High School had 550 students. This year enrollment is 630. SAHS is one of the larger schools in DoDDS Pacific and has a reputation for being one of the leading academic schools. Every year SAHS ranks in the top 15%[53] of high schools academics.[53] Over the summer of 2009, SAHS Football/soccer field recently had "stadium lights" placed along the side of the fields, which can be easily seen when driving by the field, fulfilling their part in the "American Dream". The tennis court was also taken out and replaced with a new building due to an influx of students from the states.

Seoul American Middle School (SAMS) and Seoul American Elementary School[54] (SAES) are on Yongsan Garrison. In 2008, to accommodate an increase in student population, a 7,900-square-foot (730 m2) classroom building was constructed on the SAMS campus. The new building's six classrooms – each 900 square feet (84 m2) – accommodate up to about 170 Department of Defense Dependent Schools students.[55] The SAES campus consists of seven buildings and a cafeteria.[54] The main building houses primary classrooms, the Information Center, the Dolphin Theater, and computer labs. Grades 3, 4 and 5 and some Kindergarten classrooms are located in outlying buildings.[54] SAES is one of the largest schools in DoDDS and ranked as one of the highest in academic performance. There are about 1,100 students at Seoul American Elementary School. The staff consists of over 90 professional educators, 20 educational aides and 10 clerical personnel. The school's curriculum is based on the U.S. national standards with special classes including art, music, physical education, computer and Korean culture.[54]

Environmental problems Edit

Since 2004, the metropolitan government has tried to clean up high levels of benzene and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in areas adjacent to the Yongsan base, such as Noksapyeong Station.[56][57]

Camp Kim Edit

Camp Kim is adjacent to Yongsan Garrison.[58] and home to a USO facility,[59] an Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) distribution and storage facility, an AAFES vehicle repair facility, the Special Operations Command Korea, and the garrison office for vehicle registration and decals.

The USO facility consists of a canteen, tour and ticket office, the Virtues Development Program, the Good Neighbor Program, a big screen television lounge. The Virtues Development Program and the Good Neighbor Program are Community Outreach Programs designed to promote cross-cultural understanding through English education for Korean school-age children.

Legacy Edit

As countless USFK personnel as well as Korean civilians have lived and worked on post, Yongsan Garrison has had far-reaching influence on Korea's society and development. Historians have been rushing to archive Yongsan's history, tracing its influence in areas including music, art, cuisine, medicine, engineering and so on, for the Yongsan Legacy project so it won't be forgotten after physical traces have disappeared.[61]

See also Edit

References Edit

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  2. ^ "New U.S. Base not entirely out of range of North Korea threats". USA Today.
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  4. ^ Park, Byong-su (28 June 2018). "US Forces Korea leaves Yongsan for new headquarters". Hankyoreh. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  5. ^ Jun, Ji-hye (19 May 2016). "Relocation of US forces going into full swing". The Korea Times. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
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  7. ^ Im, In-tack (11 July 2017). "After 10-year delay, USFK starts relocation from Yongsan Garrison". Hankyoreh. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
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  13. ^ Jung, Sung-ki (5 January 2009). "Yongsan Garrison to Be Relocated by 2014". The Korea Times. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
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  22. ^ [1] 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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  26. ^ a b c d e "Medal of Honor Recipients – Korean War". History.army.mil. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  27. ^ Army Times (22 December 2017) "US military warns about North Korean propaganda at Yongsan Garrison"
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  29. ^ David McNally, USAG-Yongsan (8 May 2008). "Yongsan claims $750K ACOE prize". Army.mil. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
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  31. ^ Col. Dave Hall (USAG-Yongsan) (15 November 2008). "Commander's Corner: Army Community of Excellence". Army.mil. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  32. ^ a b c John Pike. "Army Honors Top Installations". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  33. ^ [3][dead link]
  34. ^ . Imcom.korea.army.mil. Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  35. ^ [4] 24 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ "Defense.gov News Release: General Officer Announcements". Defenselink.mil. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  37. ^ a b c T.D. Flack. "Yongsan 'road map' leads to Army community honor – News". Stripes. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  38. ^ . Yongsan.korea.army.mil. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  39. ^ [5][dead link]
  40. ^ . www.imcom.army.mil. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  42. ^ "16 teams may be on hand for Taegu Christmas tournament – Sports". Stripes. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  43. ^ Jeremy Kirk. "Yongsan celebrates opening of two new U.S.-operated high-rises – News". Stripes. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  44. ^ [6] 31 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ Elizabeth M. Lorge (17 October 2007). "Army Leaders Sign Covenant with Families". Army.mil. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  46. ^ a b c Array (22 July 2008). "U.S. Army Hospital Renamed in Honor of Col. Brian D. Allgood". Army.mil. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  47. ^ . www.seoul.amedd.army.mil. Archived from the original on 2 May 2006.
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  51. ^ "After a long wait, US military dedicates new $275 million hospital at Camp Humphreys".
  52. ^ . Seoul-hs.pac.dodea.edu. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
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  54. ^ a b c d . Seoul-es.pac.dodea.edu. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
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  56. ^ At Yongsan US military base, ground pollutants 500 times normal levels. Korea Exposé, Dec.26,2016.
  57. ^ Ben Jackson of Contamination at U.S. Military’s Yongsan Garrison Begins to Emerge.[permanent dead link] 18 April 2017. Korea Exposé
  58. ^ 37°32′24″N 126°58′23″E / 37.54000°N 126.97306°E / 37.54000; 126.97306
  59. ^ USO Affiliates 14 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  60. ^ "132 seniors graduate from Seoul American High School | Article | The United States Army".
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External links Edit

  • USAG Yongsan Official YouTube News Video Channel
  • Department of Defense Education Activity
  • Yongsan Army Garrison

37°32′N 126°59′E / 37.533°N 126.983°E / 37.533; 126.983

yongsan, garrison, korean, 용산기지, hanja, 龍山基地, meaning, dragon, hill, garrison, area, located, yongsan, district, central, seoul, south, korea, site, served, headquarters, military, forces, stationed, south, korea, known, united, states, forces, korea, usfk, un. Yongsan Garrison Korean 용산기지 Hanja 龍山基地 meaning dragon hill garrison is an area located in the Yongsan District of central Seoul South Korea The site served as the headquarters for U S military forces stationed in South Korea known as United States Forces Korea USFK and as United States Army Garrison Yongsan USAG Yongsan until 2018 under the supervision of the U S Army s Installation Management Command Pacific Region 1 From 1910 to 1945 it served as headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army in Korea citation needed U S Army Garrison YongsanFoundedOctober 2006 16 years ago 2006 10 Country United States of America KoreaBranchUnited States ArmyTypeArmy garrisonPart ofEighth United States ArmyInstallation Management CommandGarrison HQSeoul South KoreaNickname s The Army s Home in Korea Motto s Sustain Support Defend We are The Army s Home in Korea ColorsRed green black amp gold Websitewww wbr army wbr mil wbr yongsan wbr An ichnography of USAG Yongsan The yellow area at the top is Camp Coiner The USFK headquarters relocated to the new 11 billion Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek south of Seoul in 2018 as part of the Yongsan Relocation Plan 2 3 4 By the end of 2019 more than 20 000 U S troops and family members will have been relocated to the new Camp Humphreys facility south of Seoul 5 6 7 While most of the land will be returned to the South Korean government the U S will retain a small portion of land in order to keep open the Dragon Hill Lodge military resort hotel and for a future site to relocate the U S Embassy in Seoul Korean officials are still debating the future use of the land being returned with some calling for a large park and others calling for more affordable housing 8 Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 2 1 Administration 2 2 Army Family Covenant 2 3 Army Family Housing 2 4 Army Community of Excellence 2 5 Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital 2 6 Department of Defense Dependent Schools 3 Environmental problems 4 Camp Kim 5 Legacy 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Yongsan land had traditionally been the site of military facilities under former Korean kingdoms In 1882 Qing troops used it during the Imo Incident During those times Korean and Japanese garrisons were on the outskirts of the city in mostly undeveloped land The Imperial Japanese Army originally created it as a garrison and from 1910 to 1945 it served as its headquarters Since then the city of Seoul has spread to envelop Yongsan Garrison Yongsan Garrison has been used by the United States Army as Garrison Yongsan USAG Yongsan under the supervision of the Installation Management Command Pacific Region 1 In November 1992 some 297 000 square meters 77 acres of land including a golf course was given back to the City of Seoul to become Yongsan Family Park and the site of the recently opened National Museum of Korea The opening of the completed National Museum was delayed several years while the fate of a U S Army helicopter landing facility H 208 was decided its approach path and landing pads were directly in front of the museum citation needed In April 2003 South Korea and the United States agreed on the early relocation of Yongsan garrison outside of central Seoul 9 In August 2008 U S President George W Bush spoke to U S and South Korean military personnel their families and civilian employees at Yongsan Garrison s Collier Field House 6 as part of his final visit to Asia 10 11 During his speech Bush said Fifty five years have passed since the guns went quiet and the cease fire was signed on this peninsula and since that time our forces have kept the peace Our nations have built a robust alliance 10 He also said that the U S would keep its military in South Korea while returning some bases to South Korean control 11 In February 2009 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited senior U S and South Korean military leaders at the Combined Forces Command headquarters at Yongsan Garrison on her first official trip overseas as the United States Secretary of State 12 In 2009 The Korea Times reported that defense ministry officials said that South Korea and the United States have agreed to complete the relocation of the U S military headquarters in Yongsan to an expanded military base in Pyeongtaek Gyeonggi Province by 2014 13 The plan was delayed to 2018 14 The 2018 estimates place the relocation completing in 2019 or 2020 15 16 South Korea had traditionally regarded this garrison as insurance against the U S Army abandoning Seoul located only about 65 km from the DMZ As part of the relocation and the planned withdrawal of U S troops near the DMZ all American troops would be pulled back from north of the Han River A December 2014 agreement between the South Koreans and the U S declared that one U S Army brigade would be allowed to remain north of the Han River it is believed this means on or near the present U S Army Camp Casey in Dongducheon City The Embassy of the United States in Seoul may build a new Chancery on part of the land planned to be vacated by the U S Army most probably on Camp Coiner Most of the U S Embassy officials live in an Embassy housing compound in an area almost completely enveloped by Yongsan Garrison and with direct access to it Facilities EditMany of the older dark colored brick buildings on the base are former Japanese Army buildings and are used by U S forces most notably the Eighth Army headquarters building Directly across from Eighth Army headquarters is the Combined Forces Command and U S Forces Korea headquarters a structure built in the early 1970s The building is home to the Commanding General United Nations Command Combined Forces Command and U S Forces Korea citation needed Facilities include multiple family housing areas a large commissary 17 and Post Exchange 18 Army Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation facilities 19 restaurants indoor and outdoor sports complexes a library a bowling alley a skateboard park a miniature golf complex a hospital a dental clinic three Department of Defense Dependent Schools a United Service Organization USO child development centers indoor and outdoor swimming pools an automotive care center and a self service gas station 20 The garrison is also home to the Dragon Hill Lodge 21 a hotel which is operated as an Armed Forces Recreation Center by the U S Army in support of personnel assigned or employed by the U S Forces Korea their family members and guests The garrison consists of two main parts Main Post North Post and South Post which are physically divided by Itaewon ro a four lane city boulevard In 2003 a two lane overpass bridge was constructed over this boulevard to solve traffic congestion 22 The garrison provides installation support for K 16 Air Base Camp Kim Sungnam Golf Course and Camp Coiner Camp Coiner covering approximately 50 acres 200 000 m2 on Yongsan Garrison s northern edge is named after 2nd Lt Randall Coiner a Korean War Silver Star recipient Until 2014 it also an supported an outlying U S Army housing area called Hannam Village in Hannam dong that site was sold in 2016 to private developers and as of 2018 redevelopment as luxury housing was underway 23 After the Korean War it served as Korea s primary in processing facility for Army troops As of 2008 the 1st Replacement Company 1RC a part of the Yongsan Readiness Center serves as the central in processing and orientation center for U S servicemembers and their families arriving to Korea 24 There was an Officers Club NCO Club and Enlisted Club in the camp Collier Field House 25 serves as the garrison s primary fitness center Named in honor of Corporal John Collier 26 who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War this sports complex is on Yongsan South Post and features basketball racquetball volleyball baseball softball aerobic and weight training facilities It offers authorized patrons instructor lead fitness training programs The Collier Field House is used for community events and town hall meetings 10 The single family suburban style housing areas with yards and tree lined streets plus the small wooded areas throughout the Garrison stand in stark contrast to the highly urbanized areas surrounding the facility The War Memorial of Korea directly abuts the garrison Before the construction of this museum the land was part of the Korean military command and was only slightly separated from the U S Army facility both having been part of the original Japanese Garrison citation needed Outside the garrison east of the compound is the commercial district of Itaewon with westernized shopping and nightlife To the west of Yongsan is the Samgakji subway station and Yongsan Electronics Market Although access to the garrison is controlled at the gates it was possible for larger than normal drops of North Korean propaganda leaflets and CDs to occur at Yongsan Garrison as recently as 22 December 2017 US troops were cautioned not to handle the materials themselves but to report them to Eighth Army G2X counterintelligence 27 Administration Edit Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits USAG Yongsan 20 February 2009 The Combined Forces Command CFC Commanding General Walter Sharp right and his deputy General Lee Sung chool 이성출 left welcomed the secretary 12 28 Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen Richard A Cody left and Installation Management Command Deputy Commander Maj Gen John A Macdonald right present USAG Yongsan officials with a third place trophy for the Fiscal 2008 Army Communities of Excellence competition 8 May at the Pentagon 29 30 31 32 33 President George W Bush spoke to military personnel their families and civilian employees at Collier Field House while visiting U S Army Garrison Yongsan 6 August 2008 10 11 Yongsan Garrison is commanded by a U S Army colonel and is one of four U S Army Installation Management Command Pacific Region IMCOM P 34 garrisons in the Republic of Korea 35 36 and one of 179 such garrisons worldwide 37 IMCOM P is a military organization primarily to provide the United States Army in Korea the installation capabilities and services to support operations and to provide a quality of life for soldiers and their families IMCOM P is the Korean regional office of the Installation Management Command headquartered in Hawaii 38 Army Family Covenant Edit In December 2007 39 Yongsan Garrison officials and the IMCOM Korean commanding general pledged their support to develop and improve family programs during an Army Family Covenant signing ceremony 20 40 According to garrison officials The Army Family Covenant is our commitment to deliver a quality of life commensurate to our Soldiers service 20 During the ceremony the Yongsan Garrison commander cited recent improvements to family programs at the USAG Yongsan such as elimination of initial registration fees for child care extended hours for respite care and extended duty child care and expanded programs for teens and after school care including youth sports 20 The Army committed 1 4 billion to family programs in fiscal 2008 20 Army Family Housing Edit The garrison s primary housing areas 41 include Loring Village Lloyd L Burke Towers Watkins Ridge and Krzyzowski Hills 42 Commonly known as Black Hawk Housing Area Loring Village consists of 16 housing structures each containing multiple housing units and was named after U S Air Force Major Charles Loring 26 who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War In 2004 South Korean funded construction of the Lloyd L Burke Towers commonly known as Burke Towers was completed 43 Consisting of two five story towers the housing area includes three four and five bedroom units as well as outdoor barbecue areas a basketball court and underground parking facility The towers were named after Army 1st Lt Lloyd L Burke 26 who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War Watkins Ridge housing area consists of 23 housing structures each containing multiple housing units and was named after Army Master Sergeant Travis Watkins 26 who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War Krzyzowski Hills housing area consists of 10 housing structures with multiple housing units each and named after Army Captain Edward Krzyzowski who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War 26 Unaccompanied military personnel are assigned to Unaccompanied Personnel Housing on post such as barracks Bachelor Enlisted Quarters BEQ Senior Enlisted Quarters SEQ or Bachelor Officer Quarters BOQ When on post housing is not available unaccompanied military personnel are assigned to off post quarters Army Community of Excellence Edit In 2008 Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen Richard A Cody recognized Yongsan Garrison as one of the top three U S Army Installations in the World 10 and recognized the garrison by declaring it an Army Community of Excellence 37 44 The ACOE competition recognizes excellence in installation management and encourages and rewards installations that optimize opportunities and demonstrate a commitment to service and excellence 10 32 Of 179 Army installations Yongsan placed third behind second place Fort George G Meade Md and first place finisher Fort A P Hill Va 32 37 45 Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital Edit Yongsan Garrison was home to the Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital BAACH 46 47 The main tenant unit residing in BAACH was the 121st Combat Support Hospital providing the staff for inpatient and outpatient care The staff included a mix of active duty soldiers civilians employees and Korean employees It was originally activated in 1944 as the 121st Evacuation Hospital Semimobile 48 It participated in the European Theater during World War II and in the Korean War 48 It has served continuously in Korea as a field unit since 25 September 1950 and as fixed medical treatment facility Seoul Military Hospital since 1959 48 In 1971 Seoul Military Hospital merged with the 121st Evacuation Hospital to become the U S Army Hospital Seoul 121st Evacuation Hospital On 16 April 1994 the 121st Evacuation Hospital reorganized and was redesignated the 121st General Hospital 48 On 30 June 2008 the facility was formally renamed the Brian D Allgood Army Community Hospital 46 Colonel Allgood served as the commander at this hospital from June 2004 through June 2006 46 Allgood s final assignment was July 2006 when he was posted as the Command Surgeon Multi National Forces Iraq MNF I On 20 January 2007 he along with 11 other U S service members were killed in action when their UH 60 helicopter was shot down by enemy rocket fire in Iraq 49 50 In September 2019 BAACH completed its relocation from Yongsan to Camp Humphreys 51 Department of Defense Dependent Schools Edit Seoul American High School SAHS is on Yongsan Garrison 52 The school complex comprises eight buildings 53 containing over 60 classrooms and special purpose rooms 53 The school has two combination faculty lounges and work areas 53 A library media center houses 12 000 books and audio visual materials The educator staff of 70 is composed of the Department of Defense Dependent Schools education specialists and classroom teachers 53 SAHS opened in 1959 with approximately 150 students 53 The first class graduated in 1960 53 The classrooms at that time were Quonset huts located across from the main Army Community Service building 53 Taegu Pusan and Chinhae students boarded at SAHS as there were no high schools in those areas until 1967 53 In the fall of 1967 Taegu opened its high school which alleviated the long drive for students Construction began on the new high school in 1981 and was completed in the fall of 1982 53 In addition to the main arts and gymnasium buildings a new structure which includes a JROTC section was opened in 1987 53 The JROTC facilities have two classrooms three offices supply room arms room four point indoor rifle range and a hard top area used for inspections and drills Additionally JROTC formal inspections are held on the Falcon Fields the school s full sized artificial turf football and soccer field School year 1995 96 Seoul American High School had 550 students This year enrollment is 630 SAHS is one of the larger schools in DoDDS Pacific and has a reputation for being one of the leading academic schools Every year SAHS ranks in the top 15 53 of high schools academics 53 Over the summer of 2009 SAHS Football soccer field recently had stadium lights placed along the side of the fields which can be easily seen when driving by the field fulfilling their part in the American Dream The tennis court was also taken out and replaced with a new building due to an influx of students from the states Seoul American Middle School SAMS and Seoul American Elementary School 54 SAES are on Yongsan Garrison In 2008 to accommodate an increase in student population a 7 900 square foot 730 m2 classroom building was constructed on the SAMS campus The new building s six classrooms each 900 square feet 84 m2 accommodate up to about 170 Department of Defense Dependent Schools students 55 The SAES campus consists of seven buildings and a cafeteria 54 The main building houses primary classrooms the Information Center the Dolphin Theater and computer labs Grades 3 4 and 5 and some Kindergarten classrooms are located in outlying buildings 54 SAES is one of the largest schools in DoDDS and ranked as one of the highest in academic performance There are about 1 100 students at Seoul American Elementary School The staff consists of over 90 professional educators 20 educational aides and 10 clerical personnel The school s curriculum is based on the U S national standards with special classes including art music physical education computer and Korean culture 54 Environmental problems EditSince 2004 the metropolitan government has tried to clean up high levels of benzene and total petroleum hydrocarbons TPH in areas adjacent to the Yongsan base such as Noksapyeong Station 56 57 Camp Kim EditMain article Camp Kim Camp Kim is adjacent to Yongsan Garrison 58 and home to a USO facility 59 an Army and Air Force Exchange Service AAFES distribution and storage facility an AAFES vehicle repair facility the Special Operations Command Korea and the garrison office for vehicle registration and decals The USO facility consists of a canteen tour and ticket office the Virtues Development Program the Good Neighbor Program a big screen television lounge The Virtues Development Program and the Good Neighbor Program are Community Outreach Programs designed to promote cross cultural understanding through English education for Korean school age children Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital Yongsan Garrison March 2009 Seoul American High School Graduation Ceremony Yongsan Garrison June 2008 60 8th Army Good Neighbor Program youth soccer team Yongsan Garrison Lloyd L Burke Towers housing area seen in the background April 2008 Seoul American Middle School class picture Yongsan Garrison 1 October 2008 A South Korean military drill team performs during the Fall Festival Parade Yongsan Garrison on 11 October 2008 Legacy EditAs countless USFK personnel as well as Korean civilians have lived and worked on post Yongsan Garrison has had far reaching influence on Korea s society and development Historians have been rushing to archive Yongsan s history tracing its influence in areas including music art cuisine medicine engineering and so on for the Yongsan Legacy project so it won t be forgotten after physical traces have disappeared 61 See also Edit2nd Infantry Division United States Anti American sentiment in Korea Department of Defense Dependents Schools Eighth United States Army Army and Air Force Exchange ServiceReferences Edit a b IMCOM Pacific Imcom pac army mil Archived from the original on 14 October 2010 Retrieved 24 October 2010 New U S Base not entirely out of range of North Korea threats USA Today Song Sang ho 29 June 2018 U S Forces Korea opens new headquarters in Pyeongtaek Yonhap Retrieved 24 August 2018 Park Byong su 28 June 2018 US Forces Korea leaves Yongsan for new headquarters Hankyoreh Retrieved 24 August 2018 Jun Ji hye 19 May 2016 Relocation of US forces going into full swing The Korea Times Retrieved 24 August 2018 Jun Ji hye 25 April 2017 US military begins work to relocate base The Korea Times Retrieved 24 August 2018 Im In tack 11 July 2017 After 10 year delay USFK starts relocation from Yongsan Garrison Hankyoreh Retrieved 24 August 2018 Jeong Andrew 3 September 2019 The End of Small Town America in the Heart of Seoul The Wall Street Journal Retrieved 3 September 2019 Today in Korean history globalpost 8 April 2014 Archived from the original on 17 April 2014 Retrieved 16 April 2014 a b c d e f Richard Slade Walters Installation Management Command Pacific Region 6 August 2008 President visits Korea thanks troops Army mil Retrieved 24 October 2010 a b c Ashley Rowland Bush visits troops at Yongsan News Stripes Retrieved 24 October 2010 a b Clinton visits Yongsan Garrison Yongsan korea army mil net 27 February 2009 Archived from the original on 24 September 2009 Retrieved 24 October 2010 Jung Sung ki 5 January 2009 Yongsan Garrison to Be Relocated by 2014 The Korea Times Retrieved 29 December 2013 Park Sisoo 25 December 2016 Relocation of US Army bases to Pyeongtaek delayed to 2018 The Korea Times Retrieved 24 August 2018 Jun Ji hye 11 July 2017 Pyeongtaek era begins for 8th US Army The Korea Times Retrieved 24 August 2018 Gamel Kim 26 February 2018 US military leaves rich history environmental concerns as Yongsan move gains momentum Stars and Stripes Retrieved 24 August 2018 Yongsan Commissary Commissaries com Archived from the original on 1 January 2011 Retrieved 24 October 2010 U S Army Garrison Yongsan Seoul South Korea Yongsan korea army mil 26 June 2008 Archived from the original on 20 October 2011 Retrieved 24 October 2010 Home ArmyMWR com Retrieved 24 October 2010 a b c d e Error U S Army Garrison Yongsan Seoul South Korea yongsan korea army mil Archived from the original on 12 December 2012 Retrieved 3 February 2022 Dragon Hill Lodge Dragon Hill Lodge Archived from the original on 22 October 2010 Retrieved 24 October 2010 1 Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Hannam Village sold to Daishin Securities at 540 mil 5 May 2016 Kenneth Fidler USAG Yongsan 23 July 2008 Yongsan Readiness Center adjusts newcomer orientation program Army mil Archived from the original on 1 April 2011 Retrieved 24 October 2010 2 Archived 1 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine a b c d e Medal of Honor Recipients Korean War History army mil Retrieved 24 October 2010 Army Times 22 December 2017 US military warns about North Korean propaganda at Yongsan Garrison United States Forces Korea Secretary of State visits CFC s White House Usfk mil 20 February 2009 Retrieved 24 October 2010 permanent dead link David McNally USAG Yongsan 8 May 2008 Yongsan claims 750K ACOE prize Army mil Retrieved 24 October 2010 David McNally USAG Yongsan 8 May 2008 Yongsan wins ACOE honors Army mil Retrieved 24 October 2010 Col Dave Hall USAG Yongsan 15 November 2008 Commander s Corner Army Community of Excellence Army mil Retrieved 24 October 2010 a b c John Pike Army Honors Top Installations Globalsecurity org Retrieved 24 October 2010 3 dead link IMCOM Pacific Imcom korea army mil Archived from the original on 10 October 2010 Retrieved 24 October 2010 4 Archived 24 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Defense gov News Release General Officer Announcements Defenselink mil 12 March 2009 Retrieved 24 October 2010 a b c T D Flack Yongsan road map leads to Army community honor News Stripes Retrieved 24 October 2010 USAG Yongsan Yongsan korea army mil Archived from the original on 11 October 2010 Retrieved 24 October 2010 5 dead link Archived copy www imcom army mil Archived from the original on 20 February 2008 Retrieved 17 January 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Army Garrison Yongsan Housing Division Yongsan korea army mil Archived from the original on 30 October 2010 Retrieved 24 October 2010 16 teams may be on hand for Taegu Christmas tournament Sports Stripes Retrieved 24 October 2010 Jeremy Kirk Yongsan celebrates opening of two new U S operated high rises News Stripes Retrieved 24 October 2010 6 Archived 31 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Elizabeth M Lorge 17 October 2007 Army Leaders Sign Covenant with Families Army mil Retrieved 24 October 2010 a b c Array 22 July 2008 U S Army Hospital Renamed in Honor of Col Brian D Allgood Army mil Retrieved 24 October 2010 Internet www seoul amedd army mil Archived from the original on 2 May 2006 a b c d Welcome to our Web site www seoul amedd army mil Archived from the original on 22 September 2006 Home and Away Iraq and Afghanistan War Casualties CNN Retrieved 24 October 2010 Wednesday January 24 CNN Retrieved 24 October 2010 After a long wait US military dedicates new 275 million hospital at Camp Humphreys Seoul American High School Seoul hs pac dodea edu 18 October 2010 Archived from the original on 1 January 2011 Retrieved 24 October 2010 a b c d e f g h i j k l Seoul American High School Seoul hs pac dodea edu 8 September 2010 Archived from the original on 27 August 2010 Retrieved 24 October 2010 a b c d DoDEA DoDDS Korea SAES Seoul es pac dodea edu Archived from the original on 1 January 2011 Retrieved 24 October 2010 Yongsan korea army mil net 27 August 2008 Archived from the original on 24 September 2009 Retrieved 24 October 2010 At Yongsan US military base ground pollutants 500 times normal levels Korea Expose Dec 26 2016 Ben Jackson of Contamination at U S Military s Yongsan Garrison Begins to Emerge permanent dead link 18 April 2017 Korea Expose 37 32 24 N 126 58 23 E 37 54000 N 126 97306 E 37 54000 126 97306 USO Affiliates Archived 14 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine 132 seniors graduate from Seoul American High School Article The United States Army Dunbar Jon 23 May 2017 Project to trace Yongsan s legacy The Korea Times Retrieved 24 August 2018 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yongsan Garrison U S Army Garrison Yongsan Official Site IMCOM Pacific Region Official Site Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital 121st Combat Support Hospital USAG Yongsan Official YouTube News Video Channel Seoul American High School Seoul American Middle School Department of Defense Dependent Schools Pacific Department of Defense Education Activity Yongsan Army Garrison USFK Good Neighbor Program37 32 N 126 59 E 37 533 N 126 983 E 37 533 126 983 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yongsan Garrison amp oldid 1135342304, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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