When Koreans come on to US military bases I always found it interesting how different their expectations are to when they actual meet real US Soldiers:

Yongnam Technology High School students look around Camp Walker’s Commissary during the garrison tour. U.S. Army Photos by Kim, Ayeon

Youngnam Technical High School students visited Camp Henry and Camp Walker on April 10. Forty students and their teachers arrived at Camp Henry at 11 o’clock. The installation tour began with a look around the Headquarters building for USAG-Daegu. Students had time to talk with Command Sgt. Maj. David R. Abbott. Abbott, who answered their questions concerning the U.S. Army and took pictures with them as well.

Jo, Yul-bum, one of students, said “I am impressed with the Headquarter because the U.S. Army’s offices are very different from ours.” Spc. Michael H. Shelton introduced barracks life to the students. Students also looked around the AKO Center where Soldiers can use computers, a laundry room
and recreation space. The students showed interest in the facilities in the barracks.

“Because I could visit here, I am very proud. I hope other students also can visit a U.S. Army Garrison,” said Kim, Jin-ha, a student. Another student, Kim Chul-woo, added, “It was a special and great experience. If I become good at English, I will apply for KATUSA and work here.”

After the barracks tour, the students got to tour Camp Henry, and then went to Camp Walker’s Dining Facility to have lunch. Only Soldiers can use the DFAC, but the visitors were allowed to have lunch there on this occasion.

“There are a lot of interesting things here. I am especially interested in the DFAC. The food at the DFAC was quite different from Korean traditional food which I have all the time. It’s a good chance to eat food from different cultures,” said Jo Il-min, a student on the tour.

They visited Camp Walker’s Commissary and the camp’s Communities Activity Center after having lunch. The CAC provides various recreation facilities, so students could play musical instruments, table tennis,billiards and video games while they visited.

The most popular place of this installation tour was the library. Librarian, Sheri Lewis introduced the library to students.“The library is great. They have many kinds of books, CDs and DVDs,” said Park,Min-gyu, one of the visitors. Lewis said, “I love that Korean students come and visit here. I enjoy meeting people and teaching a little American culture, but mostly learning about Korean culture.”  [USFK.mil]

Here is a perfect example of what I was referring to above:

When the installation tour finished at the CAC most students wanted to stay longer. To strengthen the relationship between U.S.Army Garrison and Daegu city, the Army has sponsors various kinds of programs like this tour as part of the USFK Good Neighbor Program. “I feel like I am in USA. I thought Soldiers were not friendly, but they were very kind. I want to have an opportunity to visit here again,” said student, Kwun, Su-un. Student Lee, Chu-el said, “These programs can let us experience other cultures. It will be helpful to better the relationship between the U.S. Army and us.” Kim Bit-na
added, “U.S. Army Garrison is better than my expectation. I want to live here. I feel the U.S. Army is like my family member. These feelings are good for developing our relationship.”

Many Koreans have never met US servicemember and thus rely on media depictions of the US military in Korea as their frame of reference.  When average Koreans meet real US servicemembers what you see above is usually what happens.