Yongsan US Military Base Tour with a Professional Commentator

Yongsan-gu and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Launch Walking Tour with Guided Commentary at Partially Opened Yongsan Park... From the 10th, Operated Twice Daily (Morning, Afternoon) Every Tuesday to Saturday... 10 Participants per Session, On-site Registration Without Prior Reservation... On the 7th, Citizen Lecture Series "US 8th Army Showa and Korean Popular Music" Also Opens... Total 5 Sessions

Outdoor Gallery within the Former US Military Officers' Quarters Complex 5

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjanghyun) is operating a historical and cultural interpretation program at the partially opened Yongsan Park site (former US military officers' quarters Complex 5, 221 Seobinggo-ro) starting from the 10th, in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

This is to build public consensus for the complete establishment of Yongsan Park.

The program runs every Tuesday to Saturday, with sessions at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The capacity is 10 people per session, and participants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis on-site without prior reservation. The duration is about one hour.

Those wishing to participate should visit the ‘Gilrajabi (Information Lounge)’ building at the designated time. Gilrajabi is located in front of the main gate of the partially opened Yongsan Park site.

There are a total of nine visiting spots. The tour proceeds in the order of Gilrajabi, Saeroksaerok (Outdoor Gallery), Deulnaebomnae (Lawn Yard), Nuribang (Cafe), Yongsan Park Research Institute, Osundosun (Open House), Duruduru (Pavilion), Yongsan’s Fence (Symbolic Zone), and Yongsan Park Exhibition Space.

The interpretation is conducted by six guides affiliated with the Yongsan Cultural Center and current or graduated students from the Department of History and Culture at Sookmyung Women’s University. They will provide detailed explanations about the history, culture, geographical background of key facilities and spaces within the site, as well as future plans for Yongsan Park development.

Fun events such as wearing US military officers’ ceremonial uniforms and experiencing music from the US Eighth Army Club are also prepared.

The walking interpretation tour is jointly developed and implemented by the Yongsan Cultural Center and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The two organizations signed a business agreement in September to revitalize the historical and cultural aspects of Yongsan Park and have been developing related programs since then.

A Cultural Center official said, “We have been running a guide training course for this tour program, and professionally trained guides will take turns welcoming visitors.”

Additionally, “The facilities are closed every Sunday and Monday. Parking is not allowed except for vehicles for the disabled, so please use public transportation,” they added.

The former US military officers’ quarters Complex 5 site, adjacent to the Han River in the past, was the location of ‘Seobinggo (West Ice Storage)’ where ice was stored during the Joseon Dynasty. After liberation, the US military occupied this area, calling it ‘Camp Seobinggo.’

After the armistice in 1953, the US Eighth Army Headquarters moved to Yongsan, making this part of the Yongsan base. In the 1970s, it was used as a US military helicopter landing zone. When the site was returned to Korea in 1986, the Korea Housing Corporation (now LH) built quarters and leased them to US military officers until 2019.

Field-grade officers and their families, totaling 129 households (16 buildings), lived here. The buildings are characterized by low heights of 2 to 3 floors and abundant green spaces. The total area is about 50,000 square meters.

The government remodeled some facilities and opened the site to the public for the first time last August. Yongsan-gu held the 27th Residents’ Day event here last month.

Seongjanghyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “The former US military officers’ quarters site at Yongsan base is becoming a unique tourist course in Yongsan. Visitors will gain new understanding of many aspects, from the US military lifestyle to the current status of the Yongsan Park development project.”

Meanwhile, the Yongsan Cultural Center and Sookmyung Women’s University Humanities Research Institute will operate a five-session citizen lecture series titled ‘Yongsan US Eighth Army Show and Korean Popular Music’ at the cafe (Nuribang) within the partially opened Yongsan Park site from November 7 to December 12. The lecturer is Professor Junhee Lee, adjunct professor at Sungkonghoe University.

The education sessions cover ▲ The protagonists of Musical Dream, the Kim Sisters ▲ Korea’s Patty Page ▲ The godfather of the Eighth Army Show, Benny Kim, and his musical family ▲ The Eighth Army Show guitarist who became the godfather of Korean rock ▲ Pop cover songs recorded on SP records, held every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. for two hours.

Admission is limited to the first 10 participants. Lunch sandwiches are provided free of charge to attendees.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.