Coming to Korea as a Tourist

11-22-08 Coming to Korea as a tourist got easier for U.S. citizens on Nov 17, 2008. In response to the U.S. State Department decision to open 90-day visa-free visits to the U.S. by Korean citizens, the Korean Immigration Office reciprocated by initiating 90-day visa-free visits by U.S. citizens. A valid passport is required. For those traveling with non-U.S. citizen spouses who are not citizens of Korea, a visa will probably be required for the spouse to enter Korea. Korean citizen spouses may also be required to have a visa for Japan if traveling through that country.

Getting Here

Commercial flights in and out of Korea are frequent, and you can often find special prices, particularly during the low travel periods, primarily in the winter. In addition to the normal business summer vacation period (about July 15-August 15), the Lunar New Year in January or February, and the Korean Thanksgiving (Chusok) in September or October are heavy travel periods for Koreans. All commercial transportation is booked and the roads are heavily congested. Because the Lunar New Year and Chusok are based on the Lunar Calendar, the dates vary from year to year.

Traveling space available to Korea requires a combination of patience and luck. Part of the luck is based on good planning, such as trying to avoid the summer vacation period when military families take advantage of school vacation break. As much as possible try to get a direct flight to your destination or as close as possible. And remember, you can sign up for space available via e-mail, up to 60 days in advance of your planned travel. This includes signing up at your expected destination(s) for onward and return transportation. You can learn more about Space Available travel here. When you're ready to sign up, click on the Space Available button in the Links menu at the left. There you can sign up on-line at virtually any military passenger terminal worldwide.

Hotels and Yeogwans

In the larger cities, five-star international class hotels are available, but expensive. In Seoul, expect to pay $150-200 and more, depending on the extent of luxury and the location. Comparable hotels in other cities may be a bit less expensive. The more common hotel is know in Korean as a "Yeogwan," which translates generally to "inn." These are relatively simple, but comfortable and considerably less expensive than the five-star hotels.

03-01-02 For those wishing to stay in a hotel in the Songtan area of Pyongtaek City outside Osan AB, there is a list of contract hotels used by the Osan Inn billeting office. Contract hotels are used for visitors on orders or incoming PCS personnel when on-base temporary quarters are not available. There are four hotels classified as "tourist" that are somewhat more luxurious (and somewhat more expensive) than the others.

Getting Around

01-26-02 If you've spent any time in Korea, you know that the country has a well-developed public transportation system, particularly the intercity express buses that travel the expressways and main roads. A schedule of buses serving Incheon International Airport to Osan AB, Yongsan Army Garrison (Seoul) to Osan AB, and Kunsan AB to Osan AB is available here. Rental cars are available (see below for info), but if you haven't driven in Korea before, commercial transportation is recommended.

For local travel, taxis are abundantly available in most areas at most times. The one major exception is Seoul in the late evening. At that time, the demand for civilian taxis is greatest (discounting bad weather situations) and taxi drivers are choosy about who they pick up and where they will go. And there is a late evening surcharge tacked on to the standard fare.

Shopping on Base

01-26-02 Retired military personnel and accompanying dependents are authorized temporary ration cards for their stay, and the card is good for 30 days. The cards allow shopping in the Commissary, Exchange and Class VI (Package) Store. Privileges at the left contains the detailed Commissary dollar limits and alcohol purchase limits for various family sizes. Temporary cards may be renewed twice (for a total of three months). Unaccompanied dependents of active duty (except on Environmental Morale Leave) and unaccompanied dependents of retired military personnel are not authorized the temporary ration card.

Shopping on the Economy

01-26-02 The Osan AB shopping area continues to attract shoppers from all over Korea and the Pacific. Clothing, brassware, ceramics, jewelry, shoes and other leather goods, and many other items are available in a wide range of quality and price. The biggest problem for retirees is the APO mailing restriction of 16 ounces. Both dollars and won can be used on the economy, and ready access to your cash is available from a variety of sources. The most convenient are the four ATMs, two of which are located just inside the Osan AB main gate adjacent to the shopping area. Legal money exchange outlets are available just outside the Osan AB gate, and they currently offer the best rate of exchange (better than either Korean or on-base banks, including ATMs). You can also cash checks at the exchange, or at the club if you're a member. The Community Bank does not cash checks for retirees, but will convert dollars to won for any ID card holder.

Mailing the Bargains Home

Retirees are restricted to mailing letters and parcels no larger than 16 ounces per item. One alternative is to mail the merchandise via the Korean postal system. The other is to pack light for the trip over, then fill up the bags (including the new ones you can buy here) for the return trip.

Car Rental in Korea

This is information for retirees traveling to Korea for a visit. If you plan to rent a car, they are available. You will be required to have an international driver license or a Korean driver license. Car rental rates vary considerably -- for example, the 88 Car Rental agency in the Dragon Hill Lodge at Yongsan Army Garrison (Seoul) charges $84 per day for an Intermediate size car, while Avis Car Rental agency in the Osan AB Shopping Center charges $33 per day for the equivalent car.

Caution: If you haven't driven in Korea before, it's dangerous, and the use of public transportation is recommended to keep your vacation enjoyable. Also, despite many advances since before and after the '88 Olympics in Seoul, road signs are still often confusing, poorly-positioned, or not there at all.