Yongsan Garrison

Yongsan Garrison

United States Army Garrison Yongsan (USAGY) is located in Seoul, South Korea, and is home to the headquarters for the U.S. military presence in Korea, known as United States Forces Korea (USFK), as well as the headquarters for the Eighth United States Army and Installation Management Command Pacific Region. The garrison previously served as headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army from 1910 to 1945.

The garrison comprises 2.5 square kilometres (620 acres) is located within Yongsan-gu district of Seoul, Korea's capital. Garrison facilities include multiple family housing areas, a large commissary and Post Exchange, numerous Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities, restaurants, indoor and outdoor sports complexes, a library, a bowling alley, a skateboard park, a miniature golf complex, a hospital, a dental clinic, three Department of Defense Dependent Schools, a United Service Organization (USO), multiple child development centers, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an automotive care center, and a self-service gas station. The garrison is also home to the Dragon Hill Lodge, a hotel which is operated as an Armed Forces Recreation Center by the U.S. Army in support of personnel assigned or employed by the U.S. Forces Korea, their family members, and guests.

The garrison consists of two main parts, Main Post (North Post) and South Post, which are physically divided by a four-lane city boulevard. In 2003, a two-lane overpass bridge was constructed over this boulevard to solve traffic congestion problems.

The garrison also provides installation support for an outlying U.S. Army housing area called Hannam Village (located in Hannam-dong, Seoul), K-16 Air Base, Camp Kim, Sungnam Golf Course, and Camp Coiner. Camp Coiner, covering approximately 50 acres (200,000 m2) on Yongsan Garrison's northern edge, is named after 2nd Lt. Randall Coiner, a Korean War Silver Star recipient. After the Korean War it served as Korea's primary inprocessing facility for Army troops. (As of 2008, the 1st Replacement Company (1RC), a part of the Yongsan Readiness Center, serves as the central inprocessing and orientation center for U.S. servicemembers and their families arriving to Korea.) There was an Officers' Club, NCO Club and Enlisted Club within the camp.

Collier Field House serves as the garrison's primary fitness center. Named in honor of Corporal John Collier, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War, this sports complex is located on Yongsan South Post and features basketball, racquetball, volleyball, baseball, softball, aerobic, and weight training facilities, and also offers authorized patrons a variety of instructor-lead fitness training programs. The Collier Field House is also used for community events and town hall meetings.

East of the garrison is the commercial district of Itaewon, with westernized shopping and nightlife. To the west of Yongsan is the Samgakji subway station and Yongsan Electronics Market.