Walking tour of Yongsan Army Base 2022 (Touring closures)
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- Yongsan is the oldest most strategic U.S Army base in South Korea. During the last decade there has been many closures due to the agreement handing over the property back to ROK. This video show many closures of popular area among the base.
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This is really sad. I grew up roaming the entire south and north post. At the PX I got my first Nintendo in 1989! And the building across the PX, there was an arcade and food court. They had Anthony’s pizza and variety of food options. I remember playing street fighter and meeting my friends to start the day and we would go to collier field house to play basketball. That was 1991. So many fond memories of growing up on the base. When my family left for the states eventually, I missed this place so much. This base and Hannam Village was my home.
I was there 90-91 as MPI
I remember Balboni Theater. I lived on Yongsan from 92-94. So many great memories.
My family lived in South Post from 83 to 84. I was around 10 at the time. The memories still live with me to this day. I remember riding my bike to the small Baskin Robbins near the commissary to get ice cream. I often raced into that PX looking for anything Colecovision or Michael Jackson related. The food court across from the PX opened recently back then and was called the TownHouse. That used to be my favorite place b/c there was a small arcade in there. TownHouse back then didn't have corporate restaurants but it did serve American favorites such as pizza, tacos, and burgers. As a kid I didn't appreciate how good I had it. When my family moved back to the states, I instantly knew I wanted to go back. Yongsan to this day was the favorite part of my childhood and possibly my life. Thanks for the video.
I remember BR near the commissary but I didn't know it was that old to go back to 83?
@@calebchoi289 Back around that time it was really small. I think it was a couple of steps away from an eating place called "The Dugout"---> food place with outdoor seating.
BR?
@@ralphwinfield2872 basking robins
We were there 84-86 (I was 9-11). Lived in Embassy housing for the first year and right inside Gate 19 for the second. We celebrated the last day of school at Baskin Robbins with a high sundae called the Matterhorn. Although many of the buildings had changed from way back then, this video did bring back old memories. My kids are currently in Seoul with their mom and staying in Itaewon.
Wow !!!!!! So many memories. Good memories.
I was stationed at USAG Yongsan four times, plus another tour in TDC, last leaving in 2013. The building at 4:30 housed the Four Seasons, the Barber Shop, Alterations, and as the author stated, Clothing Sales. The building just east of that was the Food Court.
The food court was The Townhouse when I lived on Yongsan from 92-94.
At the end, the housing at Watkins Ridge was senior enlisted housing with a gate at the bottom of the hill which went into some of the Embassy Housing on South Post. We lived next to the first house shown when the narrator just lets the footage roll. Although an officer, we were offered housing there because our family was large, and USAG-Y had not yet started modifying officer housing for large families. Housing Division wanted to move us when those units became available, but the CSMs who were our neighbors "let us stay." Good neighbors on that tour. Thanks for the memories.
I was not stationed at Yongsan but I went there several times. Crazy to see it like that. I remember the PX. That building across from the PX was Burger King if I remember right. Is the Dragon Hill still operating. I remember staying there several times. Walking out that gate near it and catching a cab to itaewon.
Dragon hill is still open. It will never close. Its still a great hotel.
I was there 04-05. Worked at the hospital. Our barracks were behind the px. Walked to work every night all the way across base. My wife visited me over thanksgiving. We had our first thanksgiving as a married couple at the Popeyes that was in the food court! I remember there was a nice little movie theater there. It was a really nice post.
The South Koreans built most of those buildings for us over the years. Wish they would do something with them (allow citizens to move in to the housing) so they don’t have to tear them down.
Man I was thinking about revisiting the base, lived there from 2nd grade until the end of 5th from 2005-2011. Super happy to be able to find this video and also sad to see what it looks like nowadays..!
Thanks for making the video. I never realized how lucky I was to have been stationed there. Is the Dragon Hill Lodge going to stay open?
DHL is still open
From Nov.1986 to Dec.1988, I served as a KATUSA soldier and was stationed in the Main Post. Across the "PX" building was the "Town House"(where we used to eat AFFES pizza) and the barracks next to it ( the building you are asking at 4: 25) used to be Headquarter building of the 501st Support Group. That was my company. Amazing it remains almost same after some 37 years. I miss those young military days. Great video. Thanks.
I went to school at Seoul American High School (SAHS) and Seoul American Elementary School (SAES) decades ago, they closed the schools in 2019. The football/soccer field was named after Captain Sean Sims (c/o 1990) who was KIA in 2004.
The housing on Yongsan were for higher enlisted and higher officers. We lived on Hannam Village, which was a drive through Itawon, they have since torn down Hannam Village, can't remember when. Thanks for bringing back some great memories!
My first duty assignment. Brings back good memories
My dad was stationed here back in the 90s. We lived in Hannam Village and it was always so exciting for me to go to that food court arcade and play Xmen vs Street figher. Or play the one at the Dragon. Lol i remember taking the bus as a little boy from Hannam to Yongsan by myself to play. I got in sooooo much trouble. Lol
At 4:03 was the food court on the left, the big building on the right had the clothing and sales and class six and many other shops.
Damn i miss that place, was there 2014-16
Man, that was amazing. Thanks. I was stationed there in 1967 & 1968. Didn't recognize much. I was near the Honor Guard building... Wow!! I can remember the smell and the dirt roads...
Thanks for the tour; I was with the 1st Sig Bde, 74-75. met my wife in the bowling alley and I have fond memories of Yongsan. I didn't recognize any of the tour highlights; I was next to 8th Army Hq's working out of an old WWII Japanese horse barn; loved it. Again, I liked the tour, your commentary, you reminded me of my old Personnel Sergeant, SFC Bleumke.
hey there, HHC 1st Bde 2003-2005, this vid brings back so many good memories of a great army base
I know this is kind of late but is it possible to film the movie theater, commissary, library, and elementary school please? I have very fond memories of this place during my childhood in 2003-2008 and it would mean the world to me.
Update please?
At 18:30, the Main Post Indoor Pool. The Outdoor Pool was on South Post, just south of SAHS.
I loved going to that pool on South Post. As a kid you pretty much had it made when you lived on base.
OMG.. I used to love going to the PX at Yongsan. I did three tours in Korea. HHC MSCK , 19th SUPCOM, Dec 1989 to Dec 1990, camp Carroll, in Waegwam. C 2- AMC 2ID, NOV 1996 to Nov 1997 at Camp Stanley, in Iujongbu and G Co 52nd Aviation 194th MNT BN, OCT 1999 to OCT 2000 at Camp Eagle. in Wonju. Camp Eagle/ Camp Long are Definitely closed. Camp Humphreys was no where as big as it is now. Yongsan was the place to go. especially in Itaewan. At the time when I was station in Korea. the buses from different camps would park inside the camp in front of the food court. I used to go in the food court to get the lasagna or spaghetti. The Food Court had a Hamburger grill also lasagna and spaghetti. There was a Burger king, a Robin Hood Sandwich, Anthony's Pizza and a Shoppette. There used to a be a small market place in another building near the bus station where soldiers could buy korean items like wall clocks, grandfather clocks, jewelry, furniture, Korean artifacts and culture items. shoes, blankets, and so much stuff. To include Stereo gear and radios. the other side of Yongsan was not connected then. Soldiers had to go out the gate, cross the street and go back thru the gate to get to the other side of Yongsan. That part of post is where all soldiers that landed at Seoul Kimpo Airport had to go to IN process, In Most cases. Soldiers did not even know which camp they were going until got into Korea, The two Yongsan's post were not connected then, They also had the dragon hill lodge and the far end of post was where the commissary was located.
that building was where my father got his Jeep, It was a dealership in 2004. I went to elementary, SAMS there sadly I moved away when my father had to station to Louisiana before retiring after 20 years. I was born there, where my brother had worked at the 121 general hospital. I was lucky to experience it and grateful for growing up with army kids. Things dont last but memories do.
I was there May 2003-2004. My barracks room was up the hill behind that PX. I just about shed a tear to see how a place that held so many memories for me is just derelict.
The px closed down around early 2019 and the food court was still open. Also, the last class to graduate from the highschool was around the same time. it's sad to see this place close, I met my ex fiance here and had the best memories of my life on this post and in the barracks by the indoor pool on the hill.
Thank you for a lovely, nostalgic tour. Greatly appreciated!
so across from the px was the food court it had taco bell, baskin robbins, cinnabon, KFC, burger king and also a separate mini convience store. In that other building attached to it was like a beauty parlor, hair cut, also like a home goods an uniform store. You could buy your boots and uniform. Also there was the korea shops where you can get your uniform cleaned and pressed and your shoes shined nice for the day :(
I remember after graduating OSUT, getting sent to Yongsan. So many memories there. And if you go to the tower up there, I wrote “Diamond Dogs” on a lock 🔒
Oct 2017 I was stationed in Yongsan. I will never experience anything like it every again!
My barracks was up the hill from Trent Gym. I'd like to visit the base again.
1411 was not the MP barracks when I was there in 90-91. The MP barracks were up the hill behind the PX. Were across the street from the 121 Evac Unit.
I stayed from 2002 to 2004. I really miss the place.....
I was a KATUSA worked in South Post Chapel 1998-2000. My barracks was behind Memorial Chapel at the top of the hill. Miss those days.
I was stationed here from June 2000 thru 2002. This took me back 20 years. The two buildings at 5:29, those were two of the four barracks my Company used. Mine was the building on the right, 2nd floor, second door on the left. That overgrown area between the two, we would do PT, sunbathe, build snowforts in Winter, cookout at the brick grill behinds those trees. You also toured our old Motorpool, I was promoted to E-3 in front of the 2-story building at 15:08, and the building to the right was our Battalion supply. That Burger King was my go to after hours on post too, lol. This was my first duty station and probably the most memories. I'm heartbroken when I go back this will probably all be gone, thank you for doing this.
Added a picture of me with my Company and Battalion leadership right in front of the my barracks at 5:29. This was Class A Inspection summer of 2001.
i.imgur.com/Aj3FTYS.jpg
Thanks for sharing. I was stationed at the 142nd from 79-80.
I was in the 142nd MP CO from 2013 to 2014. When I saw the barracks it tugged on my heart strings. A lot of memories there.
142nd washn't living at those barracks. I know cause I was there in 2017, they were living across the street from tent city
I was stationed on south post 1996 to 1997. That provost building use to be HHC 8th MP Brigade. The fenced in area across from the building was our motor pool. I was supposedly their first generator mechanic. Good memories.
That used be a class 6 store across from the px.
I'm forwarding this to my husband to see as he was there I believe from 1975-1977 as his father was an Air Force Colonel stationed there. My husband flew to Seoul on his 16th birthday and loved every minute he lived there. He attended Seoul American HS but ended his last 6 months back in the USA. He didn't want to return with the family he liked it so much there! I know they lived on something he called, "General's Hill" or near it so wonder if that's still there. I believe it was individual homes for Officers. Guess I'll wait till he watches this and see what he says about Dragon Hill. He took me to George AFB in California which is worse than Youngsan looks. I could have cried seeing the state of what was once a bustling "city", one which I never knew. It's so sad to see bases after they have been decommissioned and shut down. Thank you for this video. Maybe if enough comments are made, you can go back and film some requested areas?
I was stationed there for 2 years from 2014 to 2015 and it is sad to see where it is now, all run down
At 22:35 the PMO Station used to be the 8th MP BDE HQ, which is why that hilltop was nicknamed MP Hill. We lived one switchback down from there on the south side. There was a Chinese Restaurant on MP Hill that burned down, along with all of its financial records, just prior to a big audit (or so the story goes). USAG-Y then built a nice park/picnic area down the hill on the north side.
I was only there for in-processing in June 2017 after graduating MP OSUT. I thought I was going to be stationed there until I received my pinpoint orders to Camp Hump.
Talks of closing USAG Yongsan were already flowing around at the time, but no one knew when it was supposed to happen.
That's a precious video. I served as a compulsory police officer in 2017-2018.
I was always curious about the inside and the bridge when I guarded the Yongsan base.
We were stationed there in '04/'05 - so very sad to see it like this, because the norm for Yongsan was it was always packed. Try to find a parking spot near the PX/Food Court during lunchtime - not gonna happen. The Dragon was always, always buzzing with activity. My daughter and her friends had run of the place and it was a wonderful place for them to grow during their middle school and early high school years. A lot like living in a small town, but in the middle of one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet. We visited in Fall of '22 - stayed at the Dragon, which was in dire need of updating. Not sure what the long term plans for that place are. I could easily write 500 words here on seeing Yongsan like this, but suffice to say that change in inevitable, but nonetheless it still breaks your heart...
I was there from 82-83 with the 305th Supply & Service Co. My first duty assignment after A.I.T. 23 years later retired E-8
I remember this military base has been closed, South Korea government is going to build a Yongsan Park in the here, the troops has been moved to Camp Humphreys
I was stationed there from 01-02 the building across from the px with all the glass windows was a food court at the time but I don't remember the other restaurants in there i just always ate burger king. To the right of the px where the trees were there was another building that was basically a liquor store. If you walked up hill from there and crossed the street there was the gym from the gym. If you crossed the street and went uphill to the first building to the right of that was my Barracks 142nd mp co . To the right of our Barracks was the chow hall. I loved it. That chow hall i think was 24/7 basically just walk across the street and eat whenever you want 🤣. Then he mentions the mini mall which I think was to the right of the restaurant area, and I can't believe I totally forgot about this but it was basically like a bazaar. There were different vendors in there and you can buy from whoever kind of like a flea market. I remember buying my first pair of fake Jordan's 11s from there from there for $50. I had a real pair but those were my backups 🤣. Back then air force ones cost $150 and I was getting em for $50 over there.
would have loved to see the old hospital
I was stationed at Camp Howze in 1990/91. This all looks like south post Yongsan. If you rode in on the bus system that ran south from MSR1 or south out of Camp Casey through Uijeongbu you would end up at Yongsan. We went to the Dragon Hill once. Brand new in those days. Spent a lot of time in Itaewon. We took over the Twilight Zone Club. I often thought of going back for a visit to Korea. But almost everywhere I was posted is shut down. With the exception of Camp Casey and Camp Hovey. All the rest north of Seoul is shut down as far as I know. Dreat memories though.
Same thing happened in Japan we had bases and housing areas all over the country in the 70s and early 80s,,so sad..now they are jammed with houses and apartments..😊😊 thanks for sharing..
Thanks Man, good video. Can you tell me if there is still an active free shuttle from Icheon Airport to Dragon Hill Lodge? New Subscriber... Thanks again.
Anthony's Pizza was pretty good in 2001 ( I was an EFL Teacher at Mapo Station), and The Grand Olde Oprey on Hooker Hill, which, I hear, is still kicking, had plenty of nice Americans.
Thank you for showing us this Video#
Do you remember Club MTV in Itaewon?
Interesting..Amazing how quickly nature takes over when everybody has gone and lovely to know there are cuckoos 22.55 and 24.22 in the middle of Seoul.
Most Soldiers were insulted by Expats and South Koreans.
Pffft!The average USA Soldier was kind, brave, generous, and totally cool.
I was the first graduating class of that new school 1983!!!!
That building is class 6 and barber shop and the building behind was wells fargo or bank of america. I was stationed there 10 years ago and used to walk there going to work.
I was stationed north at Camp Casey but I went to Yongsan often. I think most of those buildings are razed now?
I was in 142nd in 2017 when the transfer to those barracks happened. Those barracks are a shit ton nicer than the ones down the hill by tent city where we were before.
so sad to see what happened to this place. u were right it used to be thriving. seeing it all apocalyptic looking stirs some weird erie feelings.
My family lived in Burke Towers at the very end of your video from 2013-2016. Best station ever. I wish my kids could return and see the places where our family made such fond memories. Thanks for making this video!
Very cool!
It is sad to see it like that now I worked at what you called the pmo it was hhc 8 th mp bbe it was a great place to work it was in the early 80s the mwr club
Facilities and land look unkempt and sad. The US Army and Korean Gov were negotiating and the plan was for US to move out but it kept getting delayed when I lived in Korea. I played bball many times on base at one of the school gyms with a bunch of guys. Good memory. When did US finally clear out? I tried to Google it ...2019? 2021? Hope they use the land well.
@Marrow9000 In 2017, they started the process because my husband was stationed there and was among the first (advance party) to start transitioning down to Humphreys, where we both ended up working. I remember going there in 2019 and several of the buildings were already closed and the Dragon Hill had been transferred to the Koreans by then.
omg i remember those pools, they were so much fun
Man…. Inprocessed there in 2017
Dang I didn’t know 142nd was still out there, they still have us at those crappy barracks above camp coiner?
Just watched the part of the video where you said they relocated, I didn’t catch where MPs were relocated tho
I was there in 2017 where they transferred us to those barracks. Lets just say those barracks were a massive upgrade to the ones down the hill where we used to live
I’m a 31B stationed at Camp Casey and my platoon is going to Youngsan in October for 3 months to work the road.
Have fun
PX first then lunch
Beautyful places
In 2001, some of my South Korean Students had Fathers from the KATUSA that worked there.
The Nashville Sports Pub would serve decent Western Grub...
Thanks, Sir!!
Wow. So sad to see those buildings abandoned and overgrown. i was stationed at Yongsan (121CSH) 2000-2001 and 2011-2013, so I know that post VERY well.
7:10: As a JROTC Cadet, used to raise the US and ROK flags up those two flag poles. Seoul American High School, class of 1995. Thanks for doing this.
I was one of the last soldiers to inprocess in yongsan back in December 2017. The base was still operating at that time. When I came back summer of 2018 to visit, it was mostly empty. Then a year later only the schools, MP, fire station, commissary, and ACS, food court, outdoor Rec, dragon hill hotel were the only things that was open... this was until beginning of covid.
I went to Trent gym, uso, the pool, food court, katusa bar, etc... didn't know it was going to be my last opportunity to do so. My mother grew up in the yongsan district back in the 60s to 80s. She said American soldiers would typically have name brand candies to sell in their jackets back then.
The agreement with korea to shut down yongsan happened way back in 2009 (so I heard). It was stalled for decades due to pollution clean up. But korean president moon made a hard deadline of 2018.
Yongsan 1979 - 1981. Makes me smile just thinking about the partying, food, women and culture. Camp Howze Second ID 1983 - 1984
I'm pretty sure you see the Dragon Hill Lodge in your tour.
I'taewon was " cool" until 2012.
Hong-ik blows!
Was stationed there with the 25th Transportation unit on the hill right before you went down the hill going to Camp Corner from 94-95. Had the best time of my life. Have always wanted to go back to visit.
It's a bit sad to watch closure of 1411. I was there for only 2 month but still it gives me some weird feelings..
What about the dragon hill lodge?
Still there.
Hey bro stay there for as long as you can so when I PCS from there I can just swap out with you
UN Compound was the greatest
Thanks I Miss It!
I was stationed here 08 to 10. It's so crazy seeing the place in this condition. Also just a ton of memories flooding back regardless of the current condition.
Same. I was at camp Hovey 2 tours 07/08 & 11/12