The whole tone outside the (Osan) gate has changed, 7th Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Jan-Marc Jouas said. Contact information for the base operator is:011-82-63-470-1110, or DSN 315-782-1110. Clusters of airmen stand outside and smoke, and around the corner, where the diners turn into juicy bars, music is already starting to blare. " Food was good. The city of Gunsan itself is a very vibrant and upbeat community filled with 5-star restaurants, quaint coffee shops and numerous clothing stores. The Community Bank, which is affiliated with the Bank of America is the only banking service located on Kunsan AB. Kunsan, rowland.ashley@stripes.com Twitter: @Rowland_Stripes. This upstairs restaurant is one of the few places in Korea to get pizza without corn (or with, if that's your thing). Kurt Weisel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marcus Morris/Released) . Four of those bars are currently off-limits, and the 8th Fighter Wing is in the process of placing the fifth bar off-limits after it was recently found to be participating in the selling of companionship, according to 7AF. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Aviano Air Base, Italy. The Official Website of 8FSS - Kunsan AFB - United States Air Force - 8th Force Support Squadron - Kunsan Air Force Base Lake Chungju & Kosu Cave, . Ngon Restaurant, Ho Chi Minh City: See 49 unbiased reviews of Ngon Restaurant, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #583 of 5,841 restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. Learn more about Kunsan on the homepage. Kunsan Air Base . " 03/05/2021. Three of the women said they were open to "having a boyfriend" and another said she wanted to "talk personally" over lunch about what it would take to accompany him back to his hotel room. Strunk said Air Force officials, working with various arms of the South Korean, U.S. and Philippine governments, have determined that juicy bar promoters were bringing the women into the country illegally on E-6 entertainer visas. This hole-in-the-wall is best for takeout or a quick bite before hitting the bars outside nearby Kunsan National University. At least one airman thinks the name change is a good idea. For Reservations with children and Pet Friendly Rooms Please contact the Lodging office directly for accurate reservations. Kunsan Air Base is a remote / unaccompanied assignment, and all 8 FW active-duty military members must reside on the installation unless authorized by the Installation Commander (Wolf). Kunsan AB Movie Showtimes. lI[4tjY7yI0mG2Zrg*8/?ktt. Enjoy!0:09 Best part of Kunsan=the friendships. For service, call DSN 315-782-4318 or 063-470-4318 from a cell phone. Everybody knows about it in Korea. Welcome to America Town, a tangle of narrow streets and neon lights where generations of airmen from tiny Kunsan Air Base have gone to eat, drink, buy souvenirs and meet women. google_color_bg="DED1E9"; Yet USFK continued to allow servicemembers to patronize the juicy bars outside its bases with the exception of businesses caught promoting prostitution or human trafficking. Lee Sung Dang is the oldest bakery in Korea. Local corporations donated 12,500,000 won, approximately $9,000, for two new signs. Hotel Direct. google_color_url="1A4292"; He said the town reminds him of undeveloped parts of South Korea during the 1970s. google_ad_format="125x125_as"; You will be surprised at how authentic this Italian restaurant is. from around the world. However, at the insistence of the U.S. military, the juicy bars that once dotted the landscapes are gone. . Kunsan Air Base is located in Gunsan, South Korea approximately 150 miles south of Seoul. In 2010, then-USFK commander Gen. Walter Sharp said it would be unfair to punish all juicy bar owners for the actions of a few. 2 F-35A aircraft taxi down a runway at Kunsan Air Base, . Also has table and chair seating. Sadie Chambers, DAF religious affairs senior enlisted advisor, interacted with the Wolf Pack, Feb. 23 to 24, as special guests of the Wolf Leadership Forum. The economy is aboutthe same as the US national average. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites, Although proprietors have recently changed the entrance sign to read "International Ville, Gunsan residents will always call it A-Town. 782-4987. Kunsan Air Base is a remote / unaccompanied assignment, and all 8 FW active-duty military members must reside on the installation unless authorized by the Installation Commander (Wolf). The difference in atmosphere is obvious outside Osan, where juicy bars numbered 44 about a year and a half ago. Keeping watch7AF officials said the Korean government was crucial in pushing the juicy bars to close. . This service is mandatory for all duty passenger travel. ", Special and Critical Installation Information. Located inside Falcon Community Activities Center (CAC), Wolf Pack Caf offers a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items available 24/7. Use coupon code FLYDREAM to get upto 25000 off. The interior looks like a converted brothel (private rooms with couches, barred windows, and wallpapered ceilings) giving it the nickname "Chinese Whore House," but the food is great and inexpensive. 2023 Stars and Stripes. Bar girls were often enticed from the Philippines to work in the South Korean bars with false promises that they could earn legitimate incomes as singers and entertainers. % Kunsan commander Col. Bryan Bearden suggested renaming A-Town after he arrived at the base in late spring. Osan Air Base USAG Yongsan, Camp Red Cloud and Camp Casey . Latitude, Longitude 35.9274549834673 . KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — It’s 9 p.m., still early for a Saturday night, as airmen trickle into the mom-and-pop restaurants in this dimly lit neighborhood for bulgogi, ramen and greasy fried mandu. Gunsan, North Jeolla Province 96264, KOR. 3 hard or soft tacos or 2 tacos and 1 serving of homemade Wings: $0.75 a wing Various flavors (No discounts or coupons), Lunch: Mexican Baked Chicken, Beef Enchiladas, Baja Fish Tacos, Spanish Rice, Oven Brown Potatoes, Spanish Style Beans, Hacienda Corn & Black Beans, Hacienda Green Beans, and Jalapeno Cornbread, Seonyeon-ri, Okseo-myeon, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do, South KoreaBldg: 1027 DSN: 782-5985Cell: 010-9917-7841. If you search Gunsan, you will find information about the host city. South Korea has 265 businesses designated as entertainment venues for foreigners, though it was unclear how many of those are juicy bars that cater solely to the U.S. military community. "There’s always going to be prostitution, no matter what you do," said a Filipina working at a bar in America Town, an off-base bar and restaurant district near Kunsan Air Base. (Armando R. Limon/Stars and Stripes). . (Ashley Rowland / S&S). endobj Home; Exhibits and Displays For instance, although the number of juicy bars outside Osan Air Base has dropped precipitously in the wake of the 7AFs crackdown on the bars from a few dozen last year to nine in May the number of establishments off-limits for suspected human trafficking has held steady at nine since August 2013. But establishing the link to human trafficking and proving that the female hostesses were working against their wills was almost impossible. If it swims and is edible, you can find it here (still swimming). Gunsan City is pronounced Gunsan-si and is spelled . No worries! Kunsan Air Base, Republic of South Korea . Commander UNC/CFC/USFK Command Sergeant Major Dep Commander USFK Dep Commander CFC . The United States first used the base in 1945, but on a very small scale. After a little small talk, the women or their supervisors would ask visitors to buy the juicy girl a drink — most often the equivalent of $10 for a small glass of juice or purported shot of tequila, which also bought another 15 or 20 minutes of their time. Due to NIPR Net restrictions this website might not be displayed correct or complete. It is situated on the Gunsan Airport. Behind the scenes of the Exercise Agile Reaper 23-1 and the 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing. (Armando R. Limon/Stars and Stripes), Several bars alongside each other in the Sinjang-dong Shopping Mall outside Osan Air Base, South Korea on April 6, 2014. However, details that have been announced about the checks raise doubts about whether they present an accurate picture of what really happens inside the inspected establishments. The ministry said it will not release the results of inspections conducted this year until December 2014 or January 2015, in part because the government thinks releasing the results would tip off businesses that have yet to be checked about what inspectors are looking for, a MOGEF official said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity. All newcomers must complete the mandatory online USFK sponsorship survey as well as USFK Theater Specific Required Training. The city of Gunsan itself is a very vibrant and upbeat community filled with 5-star restaurants, quaint coffee shops and numerous clothing stores. The base is named after Gunsan City, a port town seven and a half miles east of the installation. It is one of only two United States Air Force installations in the Asian peninsula, with the other being found in Osan, nearly 6 hours away. Coffee Shops. . It is located on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. (Maj. Gen.) Randall Kitchens, Department of the Air Force chief of chaplains, and Chief Master Sgt. Maybe a Philly Steak Sandwich at 0500? google_ad_width=125; 314 Devils Run Rd. It is also recommended that you have at least one set available in your accompanied baggage. Nearby restaurants serve the goods up raw, and sometimes still wriggling. Just like less fatty galbi, this meat is cooked at your table and wrapped in a leaf with vegetables and sauces. All Rights Reserved. The inspections included interviews with 51 Filipina employees, most in their 20s or early 30s. Gunsan Saemangeum Air Show, Game on at Falcon CAC, Tournaments featuring Bingo, Chess, 8 Ball, and Ping Pong. She said she wants Kunsan airmen to have a nicer area near their base where they can relax, instead of going to Osan or Seoul for fun. Interviews will be conducted with female workers outside the presence of their employers, he said. One bar was dropped from that list in December, while another was added in April. Infrastructure and Operations Division Chief. We believe that those business owners are going to fully cooperate with us because we are trying to protect foreign women workers human rights, he said. Dunn Maintenance. Aragon Alley has the highest concentration of bars in the area. Nearly all base facilities are closed during exercises to include BX and commissary. The prostitutes disappeared long ago, he said, and the bar area started to become less rowdy about five or six years ago. A Stars and Stripes reporter recently visited about a dozen juicy bars outside Osan and Kunsan air bases over a two-night period. Bearden said the new name will become more popular in about a year, because of the high turnover rate at Kunsan, where airmen serve one-year unaccompanied tours. - See 164 traveller reviews, 77 candid photos, and great deals for Ramada by Wyndham Gunsan at Tripadvisor. Coordination with your sponsor prior to arrival is required to ensure they know your date/time of arrival. Last summer, when the 7AF put a number of bars outside Osan off-limits, owners staged protests for three weeks, saying the military was trying to shut them down. Craving fresh pancakes at midnight? Ive had many airmen that have just come out and said that in conversation. Although proprietors have recently changed the entrance sign to read "International Ville," the military community and local Gunsan residents will always call it A-Town. Earn 4x points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the US; Earn 4x points on US supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, . The United States and the Republic of Korea conducted a combined air training event when U.S. Air Force B-1s. 4 0 obj Paradiso Perduto Italian Cafe & Kitchen. This run down neighb orhood is known for its dance clubs, eateries, and custom tailor shops all catering to the American military community at nearby Kunsan Air Base. 2 0 obj Taxi fare starts at $3.30 and prices go up depending on the distance. wplodge@outlook.com <> Ocotpus, cuttlefish, mussels, clams, and fish of all varieties are available for purchase. He said 85 percent of the area’s customers are American airmen, and the rest are workers from the Philippines and Uzbekistan. google_ad_format="125x125_as"; https://kunsanfss.com/, Address It's like a free aquarium show where you can eat the exhibits. google_color_text="697335"; Col. Michael Strunk, 51st Fighter Wing Mission Support Group commander at Osan, said officials had a gut feeling that illegal activity was taking place. There are four buildings that make up Dream Ville labeled A-D. Buildings A and B are typically where most military families live. In 2009, Stars and Stripes first reported that prostitution and indentured servitude were everyday realities at many of these popular hangouts for American soldiers. There are two fish markets that can be found in town: Haemang-dong and Bieung port. This includes information on travel fees and departure schedules. Many excursions await those interested in exploring the traditions and customs of this great country. Maybe if they change the name, maybe they’ll get more than just GIs coming here to drink," said Master Sgt. 7 days in Seoul (including arrival day at 10am, this will include the half day DMZ tour and possibly suwon/bukhansan/nami island if we run out of things to do or need a change of scenery. More. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown made a stop at Kunsan on Aug. 12 and visited with airmen and base leaders, according . We are not trying to find them doing illegal acts through sudden spot checks, Hong said. All of those venues will be subject to inspections, though Hong Hyeonjoo, a MOGEF official, said the government does not have the authority to inspect those that are not registered and may be operating illegally. It is one of two major Air Force installations operated by the United States in Korea. Seong Jin Kim, 38th Fighter Group operating branch radar controller, looks at a radar at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Feb. 16, 2023. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She graduated from Korea University and also studied at the University of Akron in Ohio. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. June 29, 2017. "I was here 10 years ago, and this place hasn’t changed a bit. Kunsan Air Base is home to the 8th Fighter Wing which is known as the Wolf Pack, a nickname given during the command of Colonel Robin Olds back in 1966. View on Google Maps, Latitude, Longitude The class is held once a month and features a different dish each time. South Korea, Gunsan City recenty renamed the area "International Culture Ville" in hopes bringing new development to the bar and restaurant district. The city wants to further spruce up the town by building a giant shopping center, and areas where troops can relax and the city can hold festivals. For Covid relation questions, please review the updated CoVid-19 Guidelines for USFK. It is critical to coordinate your arrival with your sponsor to ensure you have the basic necessities. "I heard about A-Town before I even got here," said Senior Airman Daniel Lane. google_ad_client="pub-5023238660846020"; stream (Ashley Rowland / S&S), Airmen from Kunsan Air Base eat dinner at the Big Boy Restaurant in America Town as the South Korean owners clean up at the counter behind them. "The military makes this place what it is, and it’s A-Town," said Staff Sgt. Exercise Agile Reaper 23-1 kicks off in Guam, Tinian. Dream Ville is an apartment complex and hotel where many non-command sponsored military spouses or families live while assigned at Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, South Korea. Museum of the Kansas National Guard . The city has done little to make the area nicer for residents or airmen, who sometimes come into his store looking for a garbage can for their cans and cigarette butts because they can’t find one on the street, he said. google_color_link="000000"; Click the button below to download the menu. The city of approximately 272,000 people (as of Mar 2019) and is located on the edge of central western coast, as a waist of the Korean peninsula, is in 2~3 hours away from anywhere in Korea (231 km away from Seoul and 337 km away from Busan). The WON (Korean Currency) exchange rate varies from day to day according to market conditions; there are many online sites available to research current rates. The scenes inside juicy bars near Kunsan and Osan were strikingly similar. Gunsan City officials put up this sign for "International Culture Ville" in September at the turnoff to A-Town, a restaurant, bar and shopping area near Kunsan Air Base. We have a new. Afterward, the ministry announced that it would increase its oversight of businesses that hire foreign entertainers through checks that include site visits, interviews with workers and business owners and documentation reviews. Nov 2012 - Oct 20164 years. Stars and Stripes reporter Armando R. Limon contributed to this report. Visit us often to find out what's going on around base and how you can be a part of it. It often takes only a few minutes for juicy girls in South Korea to open the door to possibilities beyond a few drinks and conversation. Director of Operations at Blue Sky Restaurants Plainfield, NH. While on active duty he was a communications-electronics staff officer and was stationed at Keesler AFB, Biloxi MS; Griffiss AFB, Rome NY; Torrejon Air Base, Madrid Spain; Langley AFB, Hampton VA; Kunsan Air Base, South Korea; Ramstein Air Base, German. Worldwide Numbers. 02 Kunsan hosts inaugural Wolf Leadership Forum. "It’s always going to be A-Town. 248-14 Naun-dong. The base is named after Gunsan City, a port town seven and a half miles east of the installation. You may access Navy Federal banking system at both Camp Humphreys and Osan AB, respectively 2 to 2.5 hours away. If given the opportunity you must visit. The history of Kunsan Air Base dates back to 1938, when Japanese forces occupying Korea built a base near Kunsan for fighter-interceptor aircraft.. The bottom line is that juicy bars have women that are there to talk to soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines, he said. Several bars alongside each other in the Sinjang-dong Shopping Mall outside Osan Air Base, South Korea on April 6, 2014. <> #2 of 315 Restaurants in Gunsan. I wanted it to be more representative of the community," he said. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Building A is pet-friendly, and building B is . Cho Kyung-soon, owner of Mama’s Restaurant, said the name was "kind of dumb." Located inside 8FSS Falcon Community Activities Center (CAC), Wolf Pack Caf at Kunsan AB offers a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items available 24/7 Wolf Pack Caf - 8th Force Support Squadron - Kunsan Air Force Base When reporting to Kunsan ABUs and/or OCPs are the uniform of the day. Outside Kunsan Air Base, the number of juicy bars has dropped from eight a year ago to five today. Local business owners don’t think much of the name either, saying the area is far from international. If you search Kunsan on the internet, you will find information on the installation. Kunsan Air Base Official Website. KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea &#8212; It&#8217;s 9 p.m., still early for a Saturday night, as airmen trickle into the mom-and-pop restaurants in this dimly lit neighborhood for bulgogi, ramen and . @gR8'6#%AZ|Q-Ww,"-U7so!g)_DSY\:l+)X?53s9>wvW(s@k/# Bars are commonly found in the basement, first and second floors of many . KUNSAN AIR BASE Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the U.S. Pacific Command website U.S. Air Force Airmen of the 554th Red Horse Squadron assigned to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, trained members of the 8th Civil Engineering Squadron on airfield damage repair and force bed down June 19-23 . Recently, F-35 aircraft from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska . Bearden suggested calling the area Barley Town, or B-Town, after the barley fields surrounding the district. After completing the USFK Theater Specific Required Training, print out a copy of the certificate and bring it with you to in-process with your Command Support Staff. "The new signposts are the first sign of change," he said. endobj I hope the city develops the neighborhood, so the airmen can enjoy themselves.". He walked away with telephone numbers of five Filipinas, who wrote them down or punched them directly into his cell phone. Pacific Air Force Consolidates Silver Flag Training at Andersen . (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman . Cracking downThe shuttering of the establishments follows a years-long international effort to link the sale of juice highly priced non-alcoholic drinks that servicemembers buy in exchange for a few minutes of conversation with young girls in revealing outfits to human trafficking. x=n\75@~$Y0{}0J;U-,c7AV>d+_WMx7r2bN\VI>+:ty!->^^qnn)vI)5KZ@kRk9b&f,dli!ANTfz=]^;3a&.4^P1;18L$U!?QM?OMh|w~v COVID-19 Update: All inbound members traveling from Osan AB will be transported to Kunsan AB by the 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron and members arriving to Incheon will take WolfPack Wheels ($65 for official travel). Kunsan hosts inaugural Wolf Leadership Forum.