CONTRIBUTED BY CECELIA BERNUY HANEY

EtonHouse Korea offers international education for expatriate and Korean children at three campuses. One in Hannam-dong near Yongsan, one in Bundang near K16 and one in Dongtan near Osan Air Base. This school practices a hands on, child-led, inquiry based curriculum, modeled after the Reggio Emilia approach. All classes are taught in English. They have small classes with one native English speaker teacher and one bilingual teacher per classroom. All 3 campuses have comfortable and wonderful facilities. They offer specialty classes such as gym, art, science, Mandarin Chinese, computer classes, etc Hours are from 9am to 2:30pm or 9am to 3:30pm depending on the age of the child.

Parent Take

PROS: My daughter loves her school and she is learning so much. They involve parents in a lot of assemblies and celebrations such as Halloween.

CONS: They wear uniforms Monday-Thursday and Fridays are wear whatever you want day. My daughter is in the stage when she only wants to wear pink dresses so sometimes convincing her to wear her uniform is a challenge.

Cost: Varies per campus and age of the child but generous military discounts are given which makes the school affordable. Contact the school directly for specific information.

Eton House Prep in Seoul
#68-3, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Phone: 02-749 8011/3

Email: admissions@etonhouseprep.com

Website: http://etonhouseprep.com/

Age 20 months to age 11 years old

Eton House Bundang close to K16

Michelan Chereville Arcade Suite 402
180 Jeongja 1 Dong, Bundang-Gu, Seongnam -si

Phone: 031-782-1004

Email: jinny@etonhouse.co.kr

Website: http://www.etonhouse.com.sg/schools/korea/bundang.html

Age 20 months to age 5

Eton House Dongtan close to Osan Air Base

Hyperion Bldg. 2^nd. Floor
93-9 Bansong-Dong, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea

Phone: 031-613-9963 or 031-613-9953

Email: lin@etonhouse.co.kr

Website: http://www.etonhouse.com.sg/schools/korea/dongtan.html

Age: 20 months to age 5

For all you parents looking for a preschool that suits your kids, we’re hoping to add a little something to aid in your search. Parents of children who attend various preschools here in Korea have filled out a series of questions about the schools for the benefit of the rest of us. We welcome more than one voice on each school since everyone has a different experience, so please feel free to add in your two cents in the comments.

If your child attends a school that has not been reviewed on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

Editor’s Note: Sibo wrote a review of her experience with routine dental care at the Soo Dental Clinic in Songtan, but after her experience with a more extensive procedure, she decided to let us know how that went… because while we all want to hope that going in for our semi-annual cleaning is all we will ever need, sometimes root canals happen.

CONTRIBUTED BY SIBO LUNGU

I think I jinxed myself when I said my last dentist visit was quick and easy, because three months later I found myself in the dentist’s chair for a root canal. That treatment ended up failing because I had a pretty bad infection by the time I went to him. (I thought my tooth hurt because of hanging out the cold wind). After about four check-up visits he recommended that I get the tooth extracted. A week later, I am no longer in pain and feel great! Therefore, I still recommend Soo Dental Clinic to anyone looking for a dentist in the area. They took great care of me for a very affordable price and even signed off on my overseas dental clearance.

For my root canal, I was given as many shots as I needed until I couldn’t feel the pain. Unfortunately, because of the severity of the infection, the shots didn’t numb me much so he had to be fast and precise before I woke up the whole neighborhood from screaming. The dental assistant must see a lot of squirming patients because as soon as I started to squirm, she brought me two stress balls from the back for me to squeeze. Before that she had been holding my hand, and I may have come a bit too close to clawing her skin off! I can’t lie, the procedure was no fun, but I was in and out within the hour. The root canal took about 20 minutes. I appreciated this because I hadn’t even had an appointment in the first place. I had called Dr. Kim at 10 am saying that I was in pain, and he told me to come to the office immediately.

The events leading to the extraction and the extraction itself went just as well as the root canal. At each FREE weekly checkup after the root canal, he’d take an x-ray of the tooth to check the status of the infection with me. So when after a month of two rounds of antibiotics, I was still in pain, and there was little progress, I completely understood when he recommended that I needed to have the tooth extracted.

I managed to make my escape the day he said I needed one, but I reluctantly showed up the next day. I still have all my wisdom teeth so the idea of losing a tooth, not to mention the terrifying metal tools used to do this, freaked me out. But I went through with it. Again, I was numbed up very well. I only felt a slight pressure when he pulled it out. He quickly put in stitches and I was good to go. I got them removed a week later.

The only negative I have to say about this dentist visit (and many in Korea as I have heard), is the reluctance or inability to prescribe strong pain medication. I only received Advil – regular headache Advil. I am no druggie, but that just wouldn’t do. My head felt like it was going to explode! He recommended that I go on-base to get something stronger. My friend encouraged me to do so as well, so I went into the ER at Osan AB. I was seen and prescribed some proper pain medication that helped me get through the first few days. After that, the pain subsided and I didn’t need anything, not even Advil.

Total cost out of pocket for all this: root canal, 7 visits, temporary fillings, rinsing canals, x-rays, and the tooth extraction as Non-Command Sponsored on MetLife/Tricare: $190!! Medication at the pharmacy across the street: $10 (antibiotics, pain meds and anti-inflammatory pills). Over the month I had 3 rounds of medication so the total was $30. Incredible!

Lastly, he filled out my overseas clearance form in about 3 minutes. Dentist visits are rarely pleasant, but they did their best to make me comfortable. The place is still clean like last time, and the staff is pleasant and very professional. And best of all is the sense of humor. When I walked in a week after the extraction to get my stitches removed, I was smiling again and Dr. Kim’s first comment when he happily came to greet me in the waiting room was, “You are alive!” Everyone chuckled because it had certainly been quite the month.

Contact information:

Soo Dental Clinic

Dr. Kim, Young-Soo

Phone: 031-662-6436(English) 031-664-6436 (Korean)  Fax: 031-611-3760

Address: 818-38 Seojeong-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

Google Coordinates: 37.067983, 127.061522

Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been featured on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager  for the template.

CONTRIBUTED BY LINDSEY BARROW

What military base is your home located on? Osan Air base 

What area of the country is your home located in? South Korea

What is the name of your neighborhood in which your home is located? Seoraksan Tower

Generally speaking, most on-base homes are approved for occupancy based on military or government rank.  If you would like, please provide the range of ranks that your home is approved for? JNCO, but there is usually a mix of all ranks due to the availability or lack thereof.

What DoDDS school district is your home attached to?  Is there a school bus system available? Kids go to school on base; there is no bus system because the schools are all right across the street.

Elementary: Osan American Elementary/ no bus

Middle: Osan Middle School/ no bus

High: Osan High School/no bus

Please provide general information about your home such as square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, number of stories/levels, special amenities, etc. We live in a 4 bedroom/2 bath unit in Seoraksan tower. There are 2, 3, and 4 bedroom units in our building. There are 9 floors in the tower and each floor has a mix of all size apartments. Each floor has 2 garbage rooms with chutes; the kids think it is awesome so the trash is always empty. Win!

Two of our bedrooms are the same size and are big enough for a twin bed, dresser, nightstand, and toy box. They are a pretty good size. The other kid’s room is a little bit bigger, but not by much.

The master bedroom is a very tight squeeze with our king size bed. I would go so far as to say it is a little uncomfortable. I have to turn sideways to squeeze between our dresser and our bed.

Our dining room is very spacious and gives us enough room for our 6-seater table and a computer desk. The living room is also very large; in fact, we are still trying to decide what to do with the extra room in there.

How is parking provided for your home? There are two parking lots- one on either side of the tower along with an overflow parking close to the playground. We have never had any trouble getting a parking spot.

Is there any yard space or outdoor spaces provided for your home? There is a spacious field area in front of the building complete with 2 playgrounds, a basketball court, and a small dog park. There is one nice sized playground out in the field in front of our tower, along with a smaller playground on the side of the building.

Are there any expenses or fees associated with on-base housing?  Are you satisfied with the maintenance services provided by your on-base housing organization? Housing maintenance handles all repairs on the building and in the apartments. It is an older building so things do pop up.

We pay for internet service (through LG, the only provider on base) and speeds are pretty average. We pay around $75 a month for the highest package and we do not have cable because we use Hulu and Netflix. We don’t have to worry about any other bills except our cell phone bills. I would also suggest renter’s insurance since we are in apartments!

Finally, what advantages and disadvantages do you feel have been your experience living on a military base here on Korea? The main advantage of living on base is the location. Since cars are limited, being close to the BX, Commissary, Gym and Shoppette is awesome. Public transportation is fantastic off base, though, and taxis are scattered around the base.

The photos are prior to our furniture arriving; the furniture pictured is the standard Govt. furniture that is given before our HHG arrived.

Front Entry

Kitchen

Laundry room

Hallway

Hallway bath

Master bath

CONTRIBUTED BY SIBO LUNGU

With a name like that includes the word “dessert”, noticing and wanting to try out this café wasn’t a hard sell. However, I have only come to really enjoy it in the last month. Enjoy to the point of addiction.

As much as I love to try new foods, when I first saw this place some of the menu items just seemed “undessert–like”. Each time I walked by the café, the sign outside had a picture of two slices of bread and powdery stuff heaped on top of it, all in a bowl. On top of that, everything on the menu except tea was completely unpronounceable to me.

Then, in late November or so, I noticed that the sign outside the café had changed. With November came strawberries! And thus, strawberry inspired desserts made an appearance. Still, the same curious volcano-shaped mound was displayed, but this time it had strawberries on top; a substance I could identify and pronounce! I was sold. And then in February, perhaps due to Valentine’s Day, chocolate made its appearance. Again, the same volcanic bowl was displayed, but this time dark chocolate covered the mound. I didn’t care if I wasn’t able to pronounce it, I would just point and grunt if it came to it!

So as soon as my tooth was healed (as if to torture me further, I had tooth trouble for a month), I headed to the café with some friends. We gobbled down enough dessert for six. There were three of us. These deserts, like much of Korean food, are meant to be shared. We shared alright, and in the process sampled half the menu items!

While it is a café that serves hot and cold teas, their specialty is Sulbing, or “snow ice” as it is directly translated. I just have to let the pictures do the talking on this one because it is DIVINE!

But if you are curious as to what sulbing is exactly, here goes: Ice flakes make the mound. Then whatever topping you choose and a dollop of whipped cream is placed on top. Lastly, they serve condensed milk on the side which you can pour over the dessert as if it wasn’t delicious enough already. Now you may be thinking that you’ve had bingsoo (ice flakes topped with fruit or beans) before, but oh no. These ice flakes are so powdery you can actually blow them off your spoon! This is no snow cone! I have no idea what machine makes ice turn to that consistency, but what it makes is a snowy, fluffy, airy dream in a bowl!

They have many toppings from which to choose. I can’t get over the chocolate. It is Godiva or Lindt-quality dark chocolate; at least 50% cacao. The topping on the snowy mound includes brownie pieces, chocolate shavings, cacao powder, and of course whipped cream. It is chocolate heaven. The strawberry and blueberry and cheesecake sulbing is also delicious. It includes cheesecake and real blueberries; not the syrupy canned berries, but natural freshly thawed berries in their plump glory.

The other dish they are known for is the toast. The best way I can describe this is to say it is like a grilled cheese sandwich, except the cheese is melted rice cake which when melted has the consistency of melted cheese. If you have ever had rice cake, you’ll know it is chewy, so that’s a bit different. But what makes it delicious are once again are the variety of toppings. My favorite in this case is actually the original version –Injeolmi toast, not the chocolate. It has the powder on top which turns out is just bean powder and doesn’t really have a strong flavor to me. The whole “sandwhich” thing is served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Yummy!

In one of my numerous trips there this month, I tried a new dish for which I still have to get the Korean name and find out what exactly what it’s made from. This is something I‘d recommend for those without much of a sweet tooth of looking for something a bit more savory. Basically, it is a tube of rice cake on a stick. But hold on; inside is cheese, and then on top is more cheese. And not just cheese, but a blend of cheeses that result in a delightful flavor that make your taste buds scream. I think it’s mostly mozzarella, but there are other herbs and cheeses like parmesan as well.

This dish is served in a small skillet. The ingredients at the bottom of the pan under the rice cakes are a mystery. My students say that it is sweet potato, my husband says it tastes like pumpkin, and to me, it looks like rice pudding face mask I use. Who knows. It looks like tapioca and it tastes slightly sweet, which sounds weird to eat with a savory cheesy rice cake, but not so. The cheese isn’t very salty, so it actually a balances out really well. I’d say it like that balance of sweet and salty many Korean snacks have.

The café is a chain, so you’ll see it all over Korea. Prices are reasonable for what you get. $10 gets you a large dessert for two. Wash it down with some tea, and that’s a great way to end a date night. They also do take out. I was very skeptical about these icy delights arriving home in one piece, but they pack it in thick insulated foil that I assure you will survive even the bumpiest Korean cab ride home. Yes, even the whipped cream.

The Korean Dessert café in Songtan is outside Osan main gate, down the main strip and on your right. There is another one near Songtan city hall area ( Seojong-dong), but it was closed a week ago when I wanted to grab something. I am one of those people who can eat dessert all year long, but with the weather heating up, I am sure many can enjoy the icy deliciousness of sulbing or “snow ice”.

Website: http://sulbing.com

Address: 310-38 Sinjang 1(il)-dong, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do

GPS Coordinates: 37.0816367, 127.0509548

CONTRIBUTED BY ZOE V.

Living in Korea has introduced me to a whole host of weird, wonderful, and ultimately delicious food. I love exploring the variety Korean cuisine has to offer but there are also the days when all I really want is a good sandwich and a side of fries! Today was one of those days and luckily, it being Children’s Day in Korea, I had the day off and was able to mooch around Songtan with a friend looking for something to satisfy my Western craving. My friend said she’d heard of a new place serving sandwiches so we decided to check it out.

A relatively new addition to the strip, Philadelphia serves a great selection of sandwiches at a fair price. After staring at the menu trying to decide what we wanted, the owner, a lovely Korean man, informed us of the lunch special which included a regular cheesesteak with free fries and drink (10,000won). I was sold! My friend opted for the turkey sandwich (7000won). Oh sweet sandwich goodness! This was exactly what we were looking for and really hit the spot! The bread is home baked, the meat is full of flavor and the salad toppings were crisp and fresh! Unfortunately, we were too excited to dig in to our food I only remembered to take photos halfway through our meal!

This was a great little find with only a few tables inside as well as a picnic bench and small seating bar outside. So if you’re wanting a quick and cheap taste of home in Songtan, you can’t do much better than this place!

Philadelphia Hoagies

Hours: There were no times stated anywhere inside which I think might be due to the newness of the place. We were there at 11.30 and my friend said she has come before around 2.

Payment: Won or Dollars are accepted. Exchange rate is 1:1.

Directions: Coming out of Osan main gate, walk down the strip until you hit Blue Opera on your left hand side. Take the street to your right and Philadelphia is a few stores down on your left side.

CONTRIBUTED BY SIBO LUNGU

One of the first things you’ll notice while taking a stroll outside the main gate of Osan AB, or “the ville” as it is called, is the abundance of sports jerseys on display. NFL jerseys and NBA jerseys from just about every team decorate the shop entrances and cause even non-sports fans like me to take a second look.

I always keep my eyes open for teams my family and friends back home like because they make great gifts. The prices start at $30 depending on the design. From many of the stores that I’ve asked, for $30 you can get a shirt with custom embroidery like your name and a number sewn on the back.

Children’s shirts are priced the same. One of the tailors said that children’s shirts are actually harder to make because sewing details on very small sizes takes more time and skill so you may find them higher priced depending on the design. But like much of the shopping in Songtan, prices are negotiable. Also, the more you buy, the more the discount.

There are several stores and they all seem to have similar pricing. Some jerseys look more meticulously made than others so do inspect their already–made merchandise to make your decision on a shop.

Some shops also make team custom team uniforms, with a name and number. The cost for this set was about $60.

You don’t only have to use existing sports team logos for your design. I have seen people ask for their own designs of dragons, tigers, or whatever animal speaks to you. There is a shop that sells a variety of patches that can help inspire you. Flags, letters, Disney characters, or symbols are all very popular. These shop owners will do anything to make you happy. Their confidence in creating your masterpiece runs high! In additional to jerseys, you get custom leather jackets, caps, beanies, and even socks to complete your full look. Happy shopping!

CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH BECK

Getting our newborn legal documents took some effort… much more so than with our older children in the US. I’m hoping that this post can be helpful to new parents. We were lucky enough to have other new parents point us in the right direction at Osan. This process applies to Osan AB and Camp Humphreys. There is a different office at Yongsan.

The following are the directions verbatim that I received from the Camp Humphreys Passport office. The italicized portions are my own notes to help.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEWBORN (Tourist)

1. Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a citizen of the U.S.A.

a) Go to the Department of State web page at: http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/c21447.htm

b) Keyword page: type in (DS 2029)

***This form asks how much time you’ve spent in and out of the US. Blocks 24-27. This took some digging for us to remember where all we’ve been. My husband actually referred to some old security clearance paper work to ensure he had his dates right. In the last five years, he’s been to more than 10 countries for work. It took some time to dig all that information up.***

2. Application for Social Security Card, FORM SS-5-FS

a) Go to the Social security administration web page at: http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5.htm

b) Click Application for Social Security Card, Form SS-5-FS (for people outside the United States)

***There are blocks 1-3. Click on each of those to get more information.***

3. Application for U.S Passport – Go to the Department of the State Webpage at: https://pptform.state.gov/

a)  Online application

1) Type your Full name with suffix (ex.: Jr. Sr. II, III)

2) Type 000-00-0000 as Newborn Social Security Number

3) Type in your email address and phone number

4) Mailing Address – Type in your APO, AP address as State and City

5) Permanent Address – Type in your US address (ex. Home of record or Next of kin)

6) Type in full emergency contact (Person who will not travel with applicant)

7) Parents’ information

A) Date of Birth and Place of Birth (City, State) for parents are required

B) Type your father’s name as appear on your birth certificate.

C) Type your mother’s last name with maiden name.

4. Print out the form after completing online application properly.  *DO NOT SIGN ON THE APPLICATIONS*

5. Call DSN: 753-6628 for an appointment

Additional Requirement documents

1. Evidence of Citizenship of both father and mother (original passport, US birth certificate with certified seal, consular report of birth abroad, naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship)
2. Evidence of parents’/guardians relationship to the applicant (original U.S. military hospital report of birth, Korean Birth Abroad) ***We received a “Record of Live Birth” from Yongsan when our baby was born***
3. Parents’/Guardians’ Marriage and marriage termination documents (original marriage certificate, divorce decrees from previous marriage)
4. Passport photo (passport photos have to be within 6 months of taken).
   ***We took our baby’s at the Osan BX. There is a photo shop concessionaire right across from the Starbucks. It costs $15***
5. $ 205 dollars MONEY ORDER (payable to “US EMBASSY”).
6. Both parents and the applicant have to be present for the appointment.

If you have any questions, call. They should be able to explain all the forms and help you. It is really important that you don’t sign anything because some of the documents need to be notarized. The legal office is close to the passport office (just a few buildings away at Humphreys) if you need it.

The passport office emailed me when the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (birth certificate) and passport were ready for pick up. The Social Security Card was mailed to us.  We did our appointments in January, and received all three back in April. Be prepared to surrender your passport, US birth certificate with certified seal, consular report of birth abroad, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship; they are sent as supporting documents. We sent in our passports, which meant I had to wait to book a plane ticket to the states until it came back in the mail… probably not the best planning on my part.

Here’s the information for the Passport Office:

Phone: 753-6628

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 0900-1600, Wednesday: CLOSED, Thursday: 1300-1600, Lunch 1130-1300

The Passport office is located in Bldg S 544 on Camp Humphreys. When looking at the clinic, there is a building to the right. It is the third building back. Parking is limited, so be prepared to walk. The office is on the second floor right at the top of the stairs.

For those of you out there reading this that just need Tourist Passports, the Passport office at Humphreys does that as well. Call for additional information.

Anyone from Yongsan or other bases please chime in about your process! I hope this post will be helpful to new parents! Good luck!

CONTRIBUTED BY ZOE V.

I still remember the feeling of getting off that plane at Incheon Airport. The exhaustion of an 18 hour, 2 leg flight; the fear of the language barrier; and just the overall anxiety of stepping foot in a new country alone with no idea of what to expect.

This post is for those of you who are then tasked with finding your way from Incheon Airport to you new home at Osan Air Base.

The Military Shuttle Bus

It runs 3 times a day at 09.00, 18.30 and 22.30. A one way ticket costs $15 for civilian travel and $35 for official travel. You can purchase this at the USO counter at gate 1. It takes around 90 minutes and takes you directly to Turumi Lodge on base. Unfortunately, if your arrival time doesn’t coincide with the USO shuttle you could be waiting a long time.

Korean Civilian Bus

This bus leaves on average every 40 minutes and takes approximately 90 minutes to reach Songtan bus terminal. After exiting customs, find desk #20 to buy a bus ticket. A one way ticket costs 11,400 won. Tell the people behind the desk you want to go to Songtan Bus Terminal. Then go out through the nearest glass doors and the bus will depart from either gate 8A or 8B. If there is no-one at desk #20 there is also a ticket desk outside, opposite gate 8A where you can buy tickets.

The bus is large and comfortable with A/C and reclining chairs. They will announce on the overhead speaker when you arrive in Songtan. From there you can take an off-base taxi. There is a taxi stand right outside the bus station. Simply say ‘main gate’ and they will know where to go. It will cost around 3000 won. Unfortunately, these taxis cannot enter base so you will have to get out and go through ID before grabbing another taxi on the other side to your final destination. This is the method I took and it was incredibly easy and stress-free.

Taxi from the Airport to Osan Main Gate

click photo for source

I’ve heard people pay anywhere from $150-$250 so you can definitely haggle with the driver. However, the journey time is the same and I personally don’t see the advantage of taking one. But to each their own!

Transport With Pets

This can be more difficult to finagle. Almost all taxis will refuse to take a pet (although I imagine if you have a small pet with a cage and you quote them the right price they might be flexible!) The other popular option is to hire a private mini-van to pick you up from the airport and drop you off on base. ITT currently quotes $250 for a one-way trip, which includes a driver. This is by far the most expensive option but also perhaps the easiest.

Subway

The cheapest and but also most laborious option is to take the subway. I would never suggest doing this for any other reason other than if you had a small pet or were seriously trying to save some money. One way will cost around 2000 won and will take 2 hours and 20 minutes with 2 line changes. While easy enough to navigate, it is a loooong journey and after arriving at Songtan train station you will then have to grab a taxi from the line outside to the main gate (a 3 minute/4000 won ride or walk (10 minutes maximum). Technically, small animals are allowed on public transport in Korea if they ‘are kept inside a pet carrier or bag at all times, and do not make other passengers feel uncomfortable’. As long as you are discreet and your pet is well-behaved, I really can’t see it being a problem and for some the hassle of the journey is worth saving the $250!

If you know of any options I’ve missed please drop a comment! It’s a question I hear a lot of people and I hope this can help some people with their planning!

CONTRIBUTED BY SIBO LUNGU

For most of us, South Korea is a foreign place, and when we find out we are heading there we quickly hit Google Search or Google Maps to get an image, a blog, a website, basically anything that can tell us about this place called “Osan”. I’d heard of Seoul of course, but Osan? Where the heck was that?!

Here’s a quick post to put your mind at ease and give you a head start to the inevitable questions from your family and friends about where you are going and how close or far it is from North Korea.

Korea has nine provinces and Osan Air Force Base is in Gyeonggi province (Gyeonggi-do), the same province as Seoul. It’s located about an hour drive south of the center of Seoul, and only about a 40 minute drive from the southern parts of Seoul like Gangnam district.

The Air Force base itself is called Osan, but isn’t actually in the city of Osan which is 15 minutes or so from base. I hear they named it Osan because it was easy to pronounce. (Nevermind the confusion, right?). Anyway, Osan AB is in Songtan, a district in the city of Pyeongtaek, which is a decent sized city, though by Korean standards and trendy Seoulites’ views, it’s a village-like place with nothing to do.

With a population of close to 500,000 people, I’d hardly call Pyeongtaek small, but hey – when in Korea, it’s all about Seoul, and if you need a getaway, then Busan or Jeju are candidates. Other than that, everything else is blah. And it is also relative. Seoul has 10 million people, so in comparison, 500,000 is a village.

With that said, Pyeongtaek has everything a city has: a city hall, police department, schools, hospitals, banks, a transportation system, government buildings, etc. And in terms of the more fun things, it has malls, restaurants, movie theatres, shopping centers, music and art events, supermarkets, outdoor traditional markets, historical sites, parks, a river, a lake, trails, and a lot more to do if you are willing to dig a little or use this website to search for activities.

The main city is Pyeongtaek but it’s made up of several communities, districts or neighborhoods. I am not really sure what to call them actually. It seems they may at some point have been stand alone towns (Songtan, Seojeong-ri, Jinwi, Jije specifically), but got swallowed by the growing city of Pyeongtaek and thus all exist under it today. Some of these places are so close together, for example, you can walk from Songtan station to Seojeong-ri station in a few minutes.

Osan AB is in Songtan. If you are trying to live close to base, this is likely where you will choose to live. Within Songtan there are a handful of neighborhoods. Some have high-rise apartments, coffee shops and restaurants to give you that urban-living feel; and other neighborhoods are in the “country” with only two convenience stores nearby and cows for neighbors. (Literally. I am not kidding. They moo’d all winter long, the poor things!)

Songtan is known for its shopping street right outside the main gate where you can get clothes and accessories made from scratch or customized for good prices (with some negotiation).

Songtan also has an intercity bus terminal and a subway station so you don’t have to go 20 minutes into Pyeongtaek to catch a ride unless on the long distance KTX high speed train. However, if you needed to, the taxis and local buses run city-wide.

Another important thing you may be wondering about is safety. Trust me: you will be hard pressed to find a safer place than Korea. Kids walk around freely all alone here. I get off work after dark and have never felt unsafe. Not to be naïve, crime does happen, but (sadly) it’s usually domestic violence, or between parties who know each other, or by those who had a little too much to drink (beware of soju) in the club.

As for our neighbors to the north, yes we are close (35 miles away), but not exactly in their backyard so feel free to explore the country, and go hiking and biking in the beautiful parks and even the local Buraksan mountain. Not that you should forget, but unless you travel to the DMZ or follow the local news daily you probably will forget how close you really are to DPRK.

So there you have it. I hope this gives you the general scoop about Songtan/Osan Air Force Base surrounding area. And if nothing else was helpful, at least now you can point out Songtan on a map when people ask you where you are going!

(Note: Camp Humphries Army Base is also in Pyeongtaek (Anjeong-ri area), but about 20 minutes from Songtan).

Read more about Songtan area attractions and restaurants here!

CONTRIBUTED BY SIBO LUNGU

I must be the last to jump on the list of fans, because Mrs. Yi says the salon has been around for over 10 years! Regardless, I feel I need to write this post to help the newbies to the area. Humidity is rising as we speak and that calls for hair reinforcements. Enter Mrs. Yi.

Right outside the Osan main gate, to the right of the 7/11, is the salon that has been taming my tresses for a month or two now.

I wear my hair natural, but sometimes I’d like a deep condition, a trim, a blow-dry, or simply having a professional’s hands work some magic. Unfortunately, with curly Afro hair finding a hairdresser  here (or near Camp Humphries) is hard, so finding her was like finding gold.

When my friend who has hair twice as long and twice as thick as mine sent me pics of how Mrs. Yi managed to flat iron her hair, I was sold. Within a minute of getting her number I Kakao’d Mrs. Yi and I had my appointment.

I’ll keep this post short and let the pics do the talking.

I went from this wash-and-go look:

To this:

I love my curls, but the magic this woman works rivals many afro hair specialists I have seen stateside. First, she washes your hair ever so gently, and then she conditions it. I brought in my own conditioner the first time. She slowly finger-detangles small sections with gentleness and care. I didn’t lose any hair. Next is the blow dry. My curly mass and blow dryers have been enemies since my curly haired toddler days. But this woman was again ever so gentle combing from the tip to the root ever so delicately. I didn’t see a mass of curls on the floor so I know for a fact that I lost no hair. Last up was a flat iron. I actually loved the feel and the volume after the blow-dry, but wanted to see if my hair was actually capable of being straight so she continued to flat iron it. WOW! My hair has never been that straight without chemicals. She trimmed my hair, which was another benefit of straightening it. Lastly, she styled it, added some finishing spray and that was that.

My hair is super porous so it fluffed out a bit after walking around Songtan, but for the most part it stayed straight and best of all super candy-cotton soft for 2 weeks so I could style it very easily. My friend’s hair stays straight even longer. As for fear of heat damage, once I washed my hair at home, my original curl pattern came back so no issues there.

This is the blow dried look. It still felt very soft.

Prices range from $50-80, but like all things Korean, if you are a good customer, you’ll probably get a discount.

Walk out the main gate and cross the street. 7/11 will be directly in front of you so turn right cross the little alley towards the money exchange at the corner. The salon is on the second floor above the money Exchange. There is a staircase you go up. It’s a small salon but as your basic amenities: Wash area, styling area, products shelves, couches, a TV, and magazines. Mrs. Yi and her associate are both great and friendly. They will hook you up!

Mrs. Yi Beauty Salon

Hours: 10am-8pm; closed Tuesday & every second Sunday

Phone: 031-666-2700 or 101-9483-5995

Address: 298-52 Sinjang 2(i)-dong, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do

GPS Coordinates: 37.079762, 127.049938

CONTRIBUTED BY ZOE V.

Every day on my walk home from work, I pass the same Korean restaurant with the same amazing smell wafting out through its doors. Having no idea what they serve, I finally got the opportunity to go this weekend. A group of four of us walked into this traditionally styled Korean restaurant with only a few tables at the back and the rest being on the floor seating.

Having sat down we soon learned two things: there is no menu and none of the workers speak a word of English. Oh well, having been in this situation plenty of times before we simply pointed at the couple on the table next to us and raised 4 fingers to gesture 4 servings. The staff were incredibly friendly and slightly bemused at our appalling attempts to speak Korean but they seemed to understand what we wanted and 5 minutes later came out with a huge metal bowl full of Gamjatang or ‘pork rib soup’.

I’ve since learned that this is the only dish they serve and they simply adjust the number of ribs depending on the number of people eating. It is also accompanied with a savory pancake to share as well as your typical Korean side dishes. Rice is also an added option for 1000 won per serving.

This is honestly one of the most delicious meals I’ve eaten in Korea but a word of warning this is also one of the SPICIEST meals I’ve eaten in Korea. The soup itself is full of spice and so flavorful whilst the pork ribs literally fall off the bone and melt in your mouth. It is absolutely delicious! (I’ve since been back and asked for ‘little spice’ and they seemed to understand as the food was slightly less spicy.)

Songtan Ville ‘Gamjatang’ Rib Restaurant

Cost: cash and credit cards accepted. With drinks and added rice, it normally works out around 12,000-15,000 won per person.

CONTRIBUTED BY ZOE V.

After a blistering hot day in Seoul, walking back from Songtan bus station we passed this unassuming noodle restaurant and decided to give it a try. They only serve two noodle dishes ‘spicy noodle’ and ‘traditional noodle’. However, neither noodles are spicy on any level but the ‘spicy noodle’ has a slightly sweet tang to it which is perhaps why it’s named spicy. It is also a cold noodle dish which made it perfect for such a hot day.

The traditional noodle soup on the other hand is a nice warm and mildly seasoned soup perfect for days when you’re feeling a little under the weather or just fancy a cheap, simple meal. The only other item on the menu are steamed mandu dumplings.

Whilst both noodles dishes are perfectly nice tasting, it is the delicious mandu dumplings that really make me want to return! They also do take-out which make it a perfect healthy go-to meal if you’re in the area.

Mang Hyang Noodle Restaurant

CONTRIBUTED BY LINDSEY BARROW

Coco’s Curry is really good. How good, you ask? It is so good that I will drag my kids 30 minutes on the train to eat there.

Let me give you a quick backstory: I was first introduced to Coco’s when we were stationed in Okinawa. They had everything you could want in a curry house, including naan bread and ginger. They also had make-it-yourself kits that I should have stocked up on, but I didn’t realize how much I would miss the place. Fast forward a year and we are now living in Korea and I am having major pregnancy cravings for Coco’s Curry. Not just any curry: it has to be Coco’s.

The menu is pretty easy to order from. All Coco’s have menus in English or they will have an English translation under the Korean description. You can choose from vegetarian, pork, shrimp, or chicken options. My absolute favorite is the chicken cutlet curry.

Once you pick your main dish, you can customize it from there. The regular portion size comes with 300g of rice. My husband and I used to split this, but now that I am pregnant I demand my own and take the leftovers home so that I can get my fix again later.

After choosing your portion size, you can select the spice level from 0-10. My eleven-year-old gets a mild, or a 0-1 usually. He does NOT appreciate spicy food. My husband gets a four every time, but I go with a three. (When we were in Japan, I would get a four, but the Korean version is spicier than the ones in Okinawa). Unfortunately, the Coco’s here does not offer naan bread, but they do have yummy ginger to use as a topping.

The closest Coco’s to Osan is in the Lotte Mall in Suwon, about a 25 minute train ride away. There are a few up by Yongsan, too. One close to the COEX mall (the one in Myeongdong closed this summer), and there is one in the Lotte Mall that is attached to IKEA. The Coco’s in Suwon and by IKEA are great but fill up fast on the weekends, just like everything else here in Korea!

Coco’s Curry

Directions:

Coco’s Curry Lotte Mall Suwon: By train, take Line 1 to the Suwon station. Exit the station at exit #2- you will go through a little bit of a parking garage and then take a sidewalk over to the Lotte Mall (there is signage in English so you can make sure you are going in the right direction). Coco’s is up in the food court/restaurant area.

Coco’s Curry by IKEA: By train, take Line 7 to Cheolsan Station, exit No. 1. You can take bus # 3 or 3-1 to the IKEA/Lotte Mall complex. You can also get off at the Gwangmyeongsageori stop and it’s a 5-7 minute walk. You can see the mall complex when you exit the train station.

Coco’s Curry Gangnam (by COEX): We did find this one, but only because I plugged the address into my WAZE app. If you don’t already have this app, download it immediately. It is really fantastic to use here in Korea. The address is: 619-4 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Be warned that there is absolutely NO parking close to this location- my husband drove up the block while I went in to get the curry for take-out.

Editor’s Note: I opened up my inbox to discover I had received information about the “4 & 9 Market” from not one but two Korea Ye Contributors on the same day! I love both of their perspectives, so I’ve combined them here into one post. 

CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH BECK

On days that end in 4 and 9 (4^th, 9^th, 14^th, 19^th, 24^th, 29^th), the Songbook Market transforms from a quiet everyday market in Songtan to a bustling market. Both locals and foreigners (mostly from Osan AB) frequent this market for fresh produce and good deals.

(Photos below in this section by Mr. Ed Neiman)

At the 4 and 9 Market you can find anything from underwear, seafood, rain boots, shoes, toys, produce, meats, eggs, prepared food (kimchi!), and more. In my experience the produce is fresh, and well-priced…in many instances equal to or less than the commissary (think “cheap” watermelons in the summer!!!).

I didn’t find many vendors that spoke a lot of English, but you can get by on basic phrases, hand gestures, and a lot of times they have calculators to show you the price. In most cases prices are negotiable.

It is best to go early, as you will get the best looking produce and goods. It is very busy, and at some points the “aisles” are narrow, so I let the hubby watch the kids and I leave the double BOB stroller at home : ) A lot of people from Osan AB take the pull along bags for ease of carrying back to the base. It’s within walking distance of the main gate. It’s amazing when you leave the “ville” and walk to the “other side of the tracks” (literally) it’s less American and more “Real Korea” (as my friends call it). Happy Shopping!

CONTRIBUTED BY LINDSEY BARROW:

The market, like most others, has a main street with many little alleyways branching off of it. They have live seafood, plants, vegetables, fruit, toys, clothing, Korean style tables, and street food to name a few things. The prices are good and the produce is fresh. At the peak of watermelon season I was able to get a giant watermelon for W10, 000. This was a great deal because watermelons about half of the size were selling on base for $12.00 each. The watermelon comfortably fed 13 people with a full Tupperware of watermelon left over!

While I like going to the market for the good deals on garlic, carrots, and the like, my kids like going for the slushy drinks and live seafood. They will stand at the stalls and watch the clams spit water and the baby octopus move around in their bowls. They absolutely love it when an octopus starts to escape and the stall worker has to pop it back down into the bucket.

Songtan “4 and 9″ Market

Directions to the market from Osan: Walk straight out the main gate until you can go no further. You will see the train tracks ahead. Turn left here. Walk for about 2-3 minutes until you reach the underpass for the train. Cut through the underpass and go straight. In 3-4 minutes you will walk straight into the market. The entire walk from the main gate to the market takes me about 10 minutes without kids, 15-20 minutes with kids.

Parking: There are also a few designated parking areas around the market (garages and lots). The fee is general W3, 000-W5, 000 depending on how long you explore the market.

CONTRIBUTED BY ZOE V.

    

                           

Click on menu images (3) to enlarge

Sasquatch Kitchen, Songtan

CONTRIBUTED BY ZOE V.

Korea has seen a vast influx of medical tourism in recent years, and after having my fair share of medical concerns whilst living here I can certainly see why. This post outlines the options you have off base in Osan in regards to eye care.

Contact Lenses

There are a number of stores around Osan AB that cater to English speaking customers but perhaps the most convenient is Sun Optical straight out of the main gate on the right side. This is where I got my eyes tested (for free!) and purchased my monthly contact lenses. Three months worth, or monthlies, will cost you 40,000 won, while 1 month of dailys will set you back 70,000. The staff are professional and really helpful, and the process was quick and easy. No need to set up an appointment.

Note: Sun Optical also accepts dollars and will convert the won price using the current exchange rate.

Glasses

Lasik Eye Surgery