UPDATE: Another source confirmed that the base is open to the general public. Also, I will not be going after all since we now have enough volunteers to cover the whole event.
ORIGINAL POST: I got the following email last night:
Referencing gate access: My understanding is that US citizens with proper IDs (passport and driver’s license) will be allowed in without being “signed in”
Korean citizens with a National ID card can get in with a “one day pass.”
Can anyone confirm this (especially with a link)? If true, then my base access problems are solved and any US citizen can come in and get registered to vote over at the VFW tent.
For folks planning to go, here is some information. The closest entrance to the festivities is Gate 17 near Ichon Station (on the #4 line).
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No idea on the open day, but the last time I tried (last year) you could not sign people in through gate 17, you have to go through one of the main ones between Noksapyeong Station and the War Memorial.
I can’t confirm with a link but I can confirm it after hearing it from some military guys that were on vacation. I told them I was jealous that they had access to a taco bell and how I wanted to go on the base to eat it but I didn’t know anybody to sign me in. For Americans, he told me all I needed was 2 forms of ID, ie passport, US license, and they will allow me onto base.
Nope. Not true.
Access control still says “no”
http://yongsan.korea.army.mil/.....s/pid.html
It was confirmed Friday morning with a call to the USO. They said anybody could come on with an i.d., no questions asked. -well, except for searching bags.
When I arrived, though, nobody seemed to have informed the (non-English speaking) guards at the gate. I was told I need a visitor pass, so I go in to get a visitor pass and I’m told there is absolutely no way to enter without a sponsor.
So, I call my friend on base to come get me. He brings this cheap little piece of paper and gives it to me. As soon as I have that “event pass” (which the USO never mentioned) in my hand, I was shown right in without having to be officially signed in. (after being told there’s no way on base without a sponsor)
So there was a critical piece of information missing, and a lot of miscommunication going on.
Once inside, they were fairly strict about where people there for the celebration could and could not go. I don’t think going to Taco Bell would have been possible. When I was on my way back to the gate to hand off some event passes to some other non-military friends, I was stopped and asked for an i.d. I showed my passport and he clarified a military i.d. He said I couldn’t continue without a sponsor.
Thinking I may be stuck on base forever, I showed him my magical ticket and was told I can continue if I walk on the left side of the road.
The whole thing with the ticket seemed a little absurd and pointless, but that may have been mostly out of frustration at no one seeming to know all the details.
And, also, it was a pretty nice event, though small. Good for families with young kids. Probably better to come in the evening and stay for fireworks than to plan on being there all day long and getting bored enough to leave an hour before the fireworks. It was worth the little bit of bureaucratic hassle to be able to see a celebration of the 4th for the first time in… wow, 4 years.
Hopefully they do it again next year.
Damn, I never had so much trouble to get onto base. And I am not American. But I did have a sponsor and signed in. Maybe because it wasn’t an event, but I had no trouble getting to the food court.
Good experience, after learning not all Americans are like the stereotype I went on to learn not all American servicemen are like their stereotype.
I did at one point go hypoglycemic and started mimicking the US accent. Probably not a great idea with several large servicemen around.