No more Hongdae for you!

by Robert Koehler on February 2, 2007

No doubt a response to the rape of an elderly Korean woman on Jan. 14, USFK has placed the Hongik University area, i.e., Hongdae off-limits to SOFA personnel. USFK explained that Gen. B.B. Bell made the call “in order to increase the safety and protection.” Hongdae was off-limits to USFK personnel from late 2002 to May 1, 2006. (HT to Lost Nomad)

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Mark February 2, 2007 at 6:25 pm: Good riddance.
2 Wedge February 2, 2007 at 6:34 pm: Conversation in Stompers entry queue during last off-limits period (as a result of a knifing):

GI: Hey, aren’t you a bit old to be coming here?

Me: Aren’t you a bit off-limits to be coming here?

Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see if they figure out a way to enforce the ban. Before, I’d never me so many Canucks with southern accents.
3 Wedge February 2, 2007 at 6:35 pm: “never met so…”
4 Brendon Carr February 2, 2007 at 6:49 pm: But, really — aren’t you a bit old to be going to Stompers?
5 Mark February 2, 2007 at 7:12 pm
6 Breaktrack February 2, 2007 at 7:34 pm: I don’t understand why people have a problem with having GI’s around. Only a very small percentage make problems. They’re no different from other people.
7 Bipolar Mindscrew February 3, 2007 at 12:28 am: Exactly. Bans are often for protection of image rather than for any actual security… and likely the only GIs who will stay away from Hongdae are the ones who respect the rules anyway…
8 Zonath February 3, 2007 at 8:03 am: Wouldn’t a better policy be for the generals to place the entire peninsula off-limits to USFK personnel? Maybe they could re-deploy to Korea Town in LA or something.
9 Mark February 3, 2007 at 8:18 am: Don’t laugh, Zonath. That thought crossed the minds of many overzealous command sponsored types who live on post.
10 Wedge February 3, 2007 at 2:23 pm: “But, really — aren’t you a bit old to be going to Stompers?”

You got me. My excuse was that I was visiting the owner, Mr. Lee, who still remembered me from the days when the establishment was on the top of Hooker Hill.
11 Mark February 3, 2007 at 2:55 pm: Wedge,

Does he still have any videotapes from 2001?
12 Wedge February 3, 2007 at 6:16 pm: Mark: You mean those party vids? I didn’t ask, but would guess he does.