In recent months Google Earth has updated their software to now include high resolution footage of the Uijongbu area to the delight of Korea watchers such as myself that have spent time living in this great city. The purpose of this posting is to give readers an overview of Uijongbu that only the high resolution imagery from Google Earth can provide.

Uijongbu (also spelled Uijeongbu) is a city of just over 400,000 people that is located about 20 kilometers north of Seoul in a valley with Mt. Dobongsan one side to the west and Mt. Suraksan to the east. To the north Mt. Cheonbosan provides another natural geographic barrier to the city:

This topography means that from the north Uijongbu has only two means of approach. The first being directly north from Dongducheon down Highway 1 and the second approach being down the wider Highway 43 approach from Pocheon. Both of these valleys meet at Uijongbu to form one valley that leads directly to Seoul. Due to this topography Uijongbu is considered one of the gateways to Seoul and it should come as no surprise that the seizure of Uijoengbu was one of the first key objectives of the North Korean army when they invaded South Korea at the start of the Korean War.

Due to its strategic location a number of United States Force Korea (USFK) facilities have been located either in or around the city since the end of the Korean War. Uijongbu is the current home of the US Army’s 2nd Infantry Division headquarters at Camp Red Cloud, the division’s logistical base at Camp Stanley, and its Noncommissioned Officer’s Academy at Camp Jackson. The city was also home to other USFK camps that closed in 2005 as part of the USFK transformation plan to reduce US military units on the peninsula and consolidate what remained on the expanded Camp Humphreys garrison south of Seoul. I full posting about all these camps can be read here.

Camp Red Cloud is located on the northwest side of town adjacent to a large ridge of mountains to the west of the camp and with the now sprawling city of Uijongbu surrounding it on all other sides:

The camp is actually not that big compared to other larger installations in Korea like Camp Casey or Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. Despite being small the camp is actually quite nice since it is the headquarters of the 2nd Infantry Division and everything is within easy walking distance:

Just outside the back gate of Camp Red Cloud is a huge sports complex and an entirely new neighborhood that has been constructed in the last 5-8 years:

Also outside the back gate of CRC is some really nice hills and woodlands that are a good place to go for run or hike in:

There is even a lake up on top of the mountain to hang out at:

Across from the front gate of CRC opens up the sprawling city of Uijongbu:

A short walk down the road from CRC to the Uijongbu train station is Camp LaGuardia which used to be an airfield many years ago before becoming a place to house a 2nd Infantry Division bridging unit. The camp was closed in 2005.

In the middle of Uijongbu is the train station which stands adjacent to the now closed out Camp Falling Water:

Just like any train station in Korea the Uijongbu train station has its own red light district nearby that is strictly for Koreans. To the west side of the train station is the newer area of town that features a number of high rise buildings, shopping areas, nicer restaurants, and hotels. To the east of the station is the older shopping are and the main Uijongbu market where of course one can find the local blackmarket.

To the east side of Uijongbu is the Komo-dong suburb which like the western portion of town is largely constructed of newer buildings and the neighborhood is dominated by Mt. Cheonbosan:

This area of town is where the city’s Home Plus is located and its very own Outback Steakhouse:

The area is also where the now closed out USFK facilities of Camp Kyle and Camp Sears are located. ROK Drop readers may remember Camp Kyle being the camp that Korean environmentalists say is to polluted for human habitation.

To the south of Komo-dong is a hill mass with a number of walking trails that provides some great views of Uijongbu along with views of Camp Stanley to the southeast:

Camp Stanley is the biggest USFK installation in Uijongbu and has a new large PX that opened in 2005:

The city is surrounded by rice paddies that are worked by prisoners from the Uijongbu Correctional Facility located adjacent to the north side of the camp. To the southeast side of the camp is the infamous Stanleyville that caters to the whims of the GI’s that live on the base. You can see video of what Stanleyville is like by clicking here.

As evident by these Google Earth images the city of Uijongbu that served as the location of the TV series M*A*S*H, like most of Korea no longer resembles its Korean War past. The city has become a commuter suburb for people who work in Seoul but want to live outside the city. The town is also home to a number of expats mainly retired US military or contractors working for USFK. For the most part the citizens of the city and USFK get along extremely well. However, the remaining USFK camps in Uijongbu, if things all go as planned, will be closed within a decade finally closing the chapter of the US military’s history in this fine city.

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NOTE: If you load up Google Earth and explore the Uijongbu area, you will see a number of photographs of Uijongbu I have uploaded on Google Earth. Go check them out.