By Here is everyone’s opportunity to sound off on the curfew policy:
It could soon be last call for the curfew U.S. servicemembers live under in South Korea.U.S. Forces Korea officials have scheduled a daylong Facebook discussion Wednesday to solicit opinions from servicemembers about the requirement that they not be out in public between 1 and 5 a.m. on weeknights, and between 3 and 5 a.m. on weekends and holidays.
“We are reviewing the policy again and we want your thoughts on the current policy and what your suggestions are for the future,” a post on USFK’s Facebook page says in inviting servicemembers to participate in the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. discussion.
USFK spokesman David Oten said no decisions have been made, and it would only be “speculation” at this point whether eliminating the curfew is under consideration. [Stars & Stripes]
You can read more at the link, but the curfew policy has been debated plenty here at the ROK Drop so here is another opportunity to debate straight with the USFK leadership.
By the way here is the link to the USFK Facebook page.
10:09 pm on March 27th, 2010 1
I constantly hear complaints from local bar workers about the curfew. Contrary to what might be assumed, most of them wish the curfew had remained one o'clock. They hate having to work till three o'clock.
I say 'having to work' because the curfew was driving the bar hours. Ironically, lifting the curfew might be beneficial for them. There are only a few bars that choose to stay open indefinitely; when the last customers decide to leave. Most of the others fix their closing time to the curfew. Without a curfew, they will have more discretion to choose a closing time more according to what they feel is right for their employees and their regular customers.
I predict that if the curfew were lifted, most bars would revert to closing at 1 AM. And, for those GI's that choose to stay out later, there will still be a few early morning bars available to them.
Now for the practical problems.
Town Patrol should not be expected to stay out all night long baby sitting. The bar owners have their number and can call them as needed.
I do believe the military could do more to enforce individual accountability. Supervisors should understand that they must stop excusing or denying noticeable issues with their people. A person who shows signs of "wilding out" when they drink should be kept on a short leash. A supervisor who recognizes one of their people is a potential problem and doesn't confront them on it, should be standing with them before commander when they screw up and explain why.
It seems every time someone goes up for Court Martial, supervisors come forward and testify that he was a model soldier who was great at his job. Maybe with a little more interest the supervisor would have learned his guy was a complete a$$hole or thug downtown when he drank.
Persons or units with chronic, non-criminal problems might have to go through probationary periods where they have to earn liberty passes.
Since I am no longer active duty, I have nothing to say on anybody's Facebook. Just sharing some thoughts on old and proven methods of targeted and individual discipline that seem to have been forgotten.
10:57 pm on March 27th, 2010 2
JoeC, you've got to be F'ing kidding me. Maybe the bar "workers" complain about the curfew but it's the bar "owners"(aka HUMAN TRAFFICKERS)that keep it open as late as possible. This so they can get their greedy inhumane paws on the American guy's won he's willing to give up. Heck, just the other night my friend told me how sleaze hole Lion's Den stayed open after curfew just so they could milk two dumbassed ham faced middle aged contractors for a few more juicy's. Don't forget the bottom line here JoeC.
So, if the curfew is lifted. Wait a second. They're not going to lift the curfew-there's too many stupid GI's(or contractors, whatever) that can't control themselves in the seedy, sleazy Villes of Korea. Alright for the sake of argument that they do lift the curfew, JoeC says the bar owners may WILLINGLY revert to closing their slime holes at 0100? GOD THAT'S SO FREAKING HIARIOUS HAHAHAHA!!!!! Please, Please, Please someone tell me when that happens!! That would signify the end of the universe!!! God JoeC, you crack me up my man!!!
12:52 am on March 28th, 2010 3
It’s an all too familiar game. They lift the curfew and then some back water thug manages to screw it up for the few that actually enjoy having a good time well in to the sun rise. That’s why I always traveled to a big city where idiots where not around. But even in cities you will find the most inbreed of people acting a fool. Keep the curfew as it is that way some control is established.
9:55 am on March 28th, 2010 4
who cares? get out of the ville and who is there to enforce curfew? most of those who do go out, go out to real korean bars, nightclubs, and norebangs anyway and stumble back at 6am on the train, bus, taxi, whathaveyou. curfew doesn't effect anyone but the dumbass juicy lovers
11:38 am on March 28th, 2010 5
That might be true for some locations but it is not true in I will admit somewhat limited expericence. Several times over the past years I have been in clubs that were packed when I had to leave due to curfew. I assumed they remained packed for sometime following since I appeared to be the only one leaving.
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I also have been in a few that told me it was last call well before curfew since there were too few customers that closded up early. The businesses stay with the money, it is not related to curfew.
1:48 pm on March 28th, 2010 6
Unless the supervisor lives in a cave 24/7 and is never around the troops in his/her unit – then he/she already knows all about the soldier and his/her antics downtown. That sort of thing just doesn't stay under wraps – the rest of the troops know about it and enjoy talking about it.
2:02 pm on March 28th, 2010 7
Bryan is 100% correct. Curfew is only there if its enforceable, this means MP / CP's must catch someone. They patrol the "regular" area's where GI's clump together. Want to get away from curfew… then just go where they are no military members.
It sucks for the guys in 2ID land, but their under lock and key anyway with their 24/7 restrictions.
Example, when I was in the service I would travel to Busan if I wanted to party. It was a one hour KTX ride, and absolutely ZERO worry about curfew, just party with everyone else.
6:51 pm on March 28th, 2010 8
Guitard, in the old Army you could yank back on the thug element, but not anymore. If all you have to go on is a rumor, just try to restrict him to base, if you are lucky you will only get hit by an IG complaint that will direct you to let bozo go and that you receive a reprimand, that is if you are lucky. Even if you have a documented troublemaker, you have a better chance with a chapter than keeping him on post when his extra duty is over.
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As for no "model" soldier ever going on an unexplained soju bender I beg to differ. I watched a C Co 2-72 AR SGT go on a drive smashing up cars in Seoul a week before his PCS in 1996. He couldn't explain his actions any better than his chain of command could.
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In a less serious incident the MPs delivered the best gunner in my company after taking a dip in the Camp Casey swimming pool in November. Only the pool was only filled with some ice in the bottom and the contents of his stomach and intestine. He took complete responsibility, did not ask for leniency and quit drinking for at least as long as I was there.
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Young men and women far from home drinking way too much will result in incidents just like at every major University in the US, but surprisingly in lower demographics.
12:39 pm on March 11th, 2012 9
I was stationed in Korea back in 2000 til 2001 before 9-11. I remembered having a curfew for only 2id and if you were stationed at Yonson or further south curfew did not exist but the curfew for 2id well depend on where you were at, also there was a warrior pass for 2id that let you stay out pass curfew. I am going to make it simple they should punish they soldier that did this and not make everyone else there sufer cause this foolish action. They can blame it on boose, drinkie clubs, or even the girls that work there but fact of the matter is this they choose that action not anything else.