Osan Air Base
The Base – For most people coming to Korea, Osan Air Base is the first place you will see because this is where the Space A flights land in Korea. The most recognizable feature of Osan while landing will the PATRIOT missile batteries that protect the airfield.
However, going to Osan Air Base when you have been stationed in 2ID for a while is like going to Disneyland. The cultural difference is just amazing. It actually feels like you are back in America. The base is extremely nice and has a huge PX and commissary plus everything else you would expect from a large US military installation back in the states.
At Osan AB there is plenty to do both on and off post. On post there is opportunities to participate in many intramural sports from softball to bowling. There is also a great golf course located coveniently on post. The post also features plenty of American eating establishments along with night clubs. The housing on Osan for the soldiers is the best in Korea with college dorm quality that the majority of barracks are either new or renovated. The rooms all have access to a great cable package to get all your favorite stations from the states along with high speed internet access. So if you get stationed on Osan feel fortunate because it is the nicest installation in Korea.
The Shopping – The Songtan market is famous for great shopping for foreigners in Korea. The shop owners in Songtan can speak some English and are familiar with western tastes. Unbelievable discounts on suits, leather jackets, hand bags, wallets, jewelery, etc. can be found in Songtan.
You will be absolutely amazed by the bargains there. Make sure you always haggle for the best price because in Asian culture haggling is expected so don’t by shy to negotiate for a lower price. Just tell them “kaka-chu-seyo!” This is Korean for, “I want a discount.” Use this phrase because it will save you money. Don’t pay more than you have to because if you do it encourages the shop keepers to raise their prices to rip off other foreigners.
Night Life – Outside the gate is the city of Songtan. The city features possibly the best night life in Korea outside of Itaewon.
Songtan has both your typical “juicy girl” clubs where soldiers buy drinks for $20 to talk to either Phillipino or Russian women brought into Korea. Make sure you do not get involved in human trafficking and prostitution. There is a big crackdown on this activity in the military and the best way to avoid it, is to avoid the juicy girl clubs.
The novelty of the juicy girls gets old and expensive after a while anyway so make sure you check out all the great normal clubs in Songtan. Unlike other GI “villes” in Korea that have nothing but “juicy girl” clubs, Songtan has plenty of normal clubs to check out.
If you have been stationed on Osan before please leave comments about your insights on Osan Air Base.
You are a piece of ignorant SHIT. You want to blame the prostitution on the Drinky girls who are stripped of their visas? FUCK YOU. If it weren't for horny soldiers like you, their wouldn't be a prostitution problem in the first place. I just can't get over how ignorant America's Army is. PS: I am white.
If the drinky girl is stripped of her Visa all she has to do is report it and the club will be put off limits which will mean she will quickly get her Visa back and a ticket out of the country. The fact of the matter is that the majority of these juicy girls want to be in Korea due to the money they make, the hope of marrying a GI, or simply the attention they would not get in their home countries. Back in the Phillipines they are just like any other girl. Here they are put on a pedestal.
Many of these drinky girls not all use the sob stories to get GIs to feel sorry for them and get more money out of them. I have lots of experience dealing with the aftermath of soldiers getting wiped out by drinky girls so I am in big believer in doing everything possible to get rid of the drinky girls and educating the soldiers as much as possible so they can avoid being wiped out too. There should be no non-Koreans (ie- Phillipinas or Russians) working in a club here that caters to GIs. That would solve the human trafficking problem right there.
Also your claim that the US military is the cause of all the prostitution in Korea is truly ignorant and shows you probably don't get out of the ville much. If the Army left tomorrow the prostitution industry here will continue to thrive. Have you ever noticed all the barber poles? Or the Da Bangs, tea houses, & massage parlors? These are all forms of prostitution which having nothing to do with GIs and these forms of prostitution are present in even the smallest villages all throughout Korea.
Make it to the DMZ, see the WWII memorials and if your stationed at Osan AB be a part of the Hospitality house its like an Oasis after you overkilled the Juicy bars. Visit the clubs and if you go for a juicy sweet talk and don’t be dummy and buy more than one drink if you must. Have a good time with your buds, dance, let it hang out and play hard to get with the Juicy’s if you can. Don’t go overboard and get into any prostitution and stay out of human trafficking. You’ll get the story if you ask the right person about the girls lousy, crampt, living conditions its not cool. The Russian mob is physically abusive to them and seem to control the clubs easily without being in sight. Lastly, Remember to haggle down all prices because they are negotiable and use “Won†not US dollars to pay. I usually had to pay much more to ship the crap bakc to the States then too buy it.
am I the only person that thinks osan blows? don't give me that "it's what you make of it" bs. I've done many things and gone many places, I would rather be back in Iraq.
Osan is without a doubt, the best remote assignment available. However, things have changed over the years and as Osan continues to evolve to be more like a stateside base, the unaccompanied Airmen seem to enjoy it less. I recall that after work the Chiefs and the Airmen all mixed together downtown and seemed to have a good time.
As one Chief told me, his only job in the AF was to take care of those of less rank and he felt he needed to be with them to do that.
Hopefully, we still have a few of those leaders left.
Jenna,
"You are a piece of ignorant SHIT."
GI Korea is neither.
He is, however, VERY careful to avoid placing any blame on the military for tolerating, perpetuating or encouraging the involuntary prostitution and human trafficking that goes on outside the military bases… especially Osan where the club/leadership relationship is uncomfortably close.
However the situation is spun, the reality is that Korean club owners make an incredible amount of money off the misery of young women imported from foreign countries to service American GIs. Some of the girls take advantage of this as best they can by scamming the GIs on the back-end… many go home with little more than they came with.
This is all counter to the laws of Korea, America, UCMJ yet this system (despite window dressing) is allowed/encouraged by USFK leadership… some of which benefits by its existence.
Don't believe that it can't be stopped with a single order. It can all be stopped instantly… as has been done with the inexpensive glass houses which are off-limits and actively patrolled to insure the juicy girl monopoly makes all the big money.
Of course, prostitution in Korea will still continue, as GI subject-changingly pointed out… but that is not the issue here.
The issue is… what kind of country is America and what values does its military have? Do we "bring freedom to the world" or do we give reasons for Korean gangsters to entice teenage girls into a world of prostitution?
Well… judging by USFK's actions, we have an answer.
…and, speaking of Osan…
Anybody hear about the Korean reporter with the hidden camera that just went to Osan and talked to the girls?
Let's see if this modifies "leadership"'s behavior…
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It dosen't matter where you are located, there are always prostitutes. In San Antonio there are ares where ladies of the night(sometimes day) are selling their services.
Osan (Songtan) has the best nightlife in Korea? I would say that it has the worst nightlife in Korea, no contest. You need to get out in the country if you feel this way, you are missing out on so much.
Yes, Osan is the best US military facility in Korea. I was first stationed there in 1980 and returned to Korea 2007 and 2010 and visited Osan atleast once a month. The base upgrades are unbelieveable and yes, Songtan has come a long, long, way. Bargaining is the excitement of shopping off base. Night life is what it is – you decided what type of entertainment you want – option #2 – on base entertainment.
My boyfriend is there, so I hope most attached Airman have more class and sense than to mingle with this form of third world prostitution. Only you know!!
Those who want hookers or too much will find them.
Those who want warm Christian fellowship can find it at Songtan Central Baptist Church.
Osan AFB isn’t as bad as some folks make it. It’s tough being away from home; but that’s no excuse for poor choices.
The shopping in Songtan is good, and it’s a short bus or train trip to Seoul. No excuses…
Some folks can behave without others looking over their shoulders, or the threat of hell.
No threat of hell! Just threat of dumping if he doesnt behave, but I guesss it would be a desperate man who turned to a juicy girl when he has a hottie at home. Read lots of horror stories though, tragic when a desperate man can’t use his hand and betrays his lady and in some cases his children as well. The effect is devastating especially when we remain loyal despite men here coming onto us.
We’ve seen it go the other way quite a few times too. 😛
I appreciate that, and that is just terrible. My airman is lucky I love him and would never do that to him. Actually it is not luck, itis decency.