By General Bell has released a new Bell Sends letter that criticizes the Stars and Stripes article about the new installation access policy for Korean civilians that I covered here. Reading the letter it appears General Bell’s main beef with the Stars and Stripes is that he believed it portrayed that an "inquisition" was going to be waged against Korean citizens who hold passes to access USFK facilities.
Also General Bell goes on to say that the policy change was implemented in order to meet Department of Defense ethics standards. The General goes on to explain that the policy change addressed the issue of money changing hands in order to receive access passes in the past. This has been one of the worst kept secrets in USFK that for years money was being paid to people who work in the various US-Korea friendship groups in order to gain access to USFK facilities. It was basically like paying your country club fee because these people were buying passes through the friendship groups to golf and play slot machines on post. Paying off the friendship groups was much cheaper than actually buying a golf membership at a Korean golf course. The rumor mill was that this open secret was allowed to go on for all these years because of the money it was bringing in for the military’s MWR program.
This policy change of Korean nationals getting passes through field grade officers verifying membership in a good neighbor group is supposed to address the policy of buying passes in the past through the friendship groups. Like I have said before, I will have to see this policy change work before I believe it. I fully believe the golf courses and slot machines will still be filled with Koreans, but instead of buying their way into a friendship group they will buy their way into being good neighbors.
that...
8:23 am on August 17th, 2007 1
Or buy a guest pass from a good neighbor.
10:26 am on August 17th, 2007 2
I disagree, an "inquisition" is precisely what is needed. The system is broke, and for all the lip service to security, this is the biggest hole.
1:14 pm on August 17th, 2007 3
Well, if it works, you can count on less money for soldier programs. Those Koreans (and Americans) at the slots are losing a lot of money. Fewer Koreans means fewer dollars for the community to use.
1:42 pm on August 17th, 2007 4
In USFK, you kick the can down the road so the next guy inherits the problem after you DEROS.
6:37 pm on August 17th, 2007 5
There have been some big changes in the policies regarding base access in the past year or so from what I have heard and experienced and the changes have seemed to be a lot more restrictive
a couple of years ago an American citizen I knew could get a base pass by paying a reasonable fee of (I think i remember correctly) a couple of hundred dollers….recently, that changed to around 500 bucks a year and he decided to bag it.
Then, I know a professor in the UMUC program with whom i used to have a semi-regular lunch on base. He had his pass and could bring guests and his car on base with no problem. Earlier this year (or was it the end of last year?) the Korean professors were told: NO guests and restricted hours to afternoon and evening. Effectively killing our luncheons (which I miss because of the cornbread, biscuits and gravy).
Then, I was able to get permission to get on the base to attend church on Sunday with my family. About the middle of July, that was squashed because they stopped allowing us on base with only our ID. We now have to have a Military ID cardholder escort us in and out. Which means we have to arrive for church early and go in and out with the same person. My wife attends Catholic mass and I attend Protestant services and we have two kids…trying to coordinate all that to get there on time to meet someone who has the same church hours is near impossible. So we don't go anymore
When I was put on the church list, the chaplain (a LTC of many years in the military and 3 or more in Korea) gave me the rundown on the amount of money that changes hands to let the 'golfers' have base passes. He said exactly what you have said here and now they are changing that too..
Now, I'm not really complaining because I understand that they need to be careful about security and who they let on base but it and it is the commanders call…it just seems that there have been some drastic changes made recently and I wonder.
And I hate to bring this up because I know that i could get lambasted for it but: I was even told by military people in the know that the presence of the Koreans on base makes possible services for our soldiers that would likely not be available otherwise (GI has even alluded to it here a time or two) but what puzzles me is that so many of them can get on base and they use facilities but an American citizen (albiet with no military background save brother and grandfather's service) has to pay so much for it. Is it that way in bases all over the world?
Whether I get on base or not is really not that important to me, it is nice to get a touch of home from time to time and I like exposing my kids to English and American culture on those occasions (particularly at church) but I have been here for 11 years and have been on base on relatively few occasions…i don't think i'll lose any sleep over it (except what i am losing now typing this at 12:30am)
sorry this was so long so long….nighty-night
9:26 pm on August 17th, 2007 6
fencerider, ever hear of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer?
6:14 pm on August 18th, 2007 7
Fencerider, I'm glad the American posts/bases have given you the opportunity to 'get a break' from Korea and help socialize your children in English/American culture, however I don't believe this was the purpose of establishing them. These posts are there to provide services to active duty, DOD employees, etc who are providing a service to the USA (also, they are current US taxpayers – unlike most ex-pats, foreign nationals, etc)
As for the benefits of extra revenue generated, what about the disadvantages? For example, the long line ups to use these facilities.
BTW – there are some lovely international churches in the Youngsan-gu area. Personally I preferred them then the ones on post any ways.
9:32 pm on August 18th, 2007 8
fencerider,
If you are under 42, join the Army Reserve unit in Korea. Then with CAC card, you have unlimited access to the Yongsan Army Post along with PX and Commissary.
9:04 am on August 20th, 2007 9
Whatever plan they come up with the Koreans will figure out how to cheat it.
8:34 pm on December 30th, 2007 10
I liked General Bells reply, but call it what you may. Of course he couldn't come out and tell everyone its because of the illegal access by Koreans coming on post (that would be bad public relations), but we all know its about keeping the Koreans on post to gamble. Even worse is that a terrorist can still his way on post at any time.
But don't worry these "guest passes and good neighbor passes" is just one way to get on post. What really needs to be checked is the number of "ghost workers". Koreans who have paid to be a so-called employees of the numerous contractors on post. Of course they never even work one day, but they get their pass! Once they get their pass, they then can sign others on post. Too much money to be made bringing Koreans on post to gamble.
I wonder if Mrs. Kim still has her pass, she must as she still is on post. (How many millions in her bank account now?) CNN should air this about how USFK has been allowing this to go on. Of course being politically correct, and to avoid national embarassment to the good people of Korea, they will just act is if they never knew it was going on.
The bill to ban slot machines is also to stop the illegal access of Koreans coming on post. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tennessee, knows that its more than just the gambling.
7:09 am on January 2nd, 2008 11
So Koreans no longer can pay a Korean racketeer running a "friendship association" for base access? Awwww…. now they have to pay a field grade with cash, gifts or hookers, to become a "good neighbor".
Think it doesn't happen? Think again.
The real question, all these months later, is…
…are there fewer Koreans on the golf course, in front of the slots and at the shopping facilities?
No?
Mission accomplished.
4:56 pm on January 4th, 2008 12
[...] to conduct their illegal operations. They would even brag about making $1000 a day doing this. http://rokdrop.com/2007/08/17/genera…policy-change/ How can Mrs. Kim still operate her racketeering operation on Yongsan, even after her arrest in [...]