Moving to Camp Humphreys? A Comprehensive Guide to Get You Started
As I was going about my usual grocery shopping in North Carolina, I was caught off guard by a text that would change our lives. "Sooooo, Korea?!" It read. I dismissed it as a joke and tossed my phone back into my purse. But when it started ringing two minutes later, I knew our fate had been sealed. We had hoped for Germany or to stay in North Carolina, but we were handed two-year orders to Korea. I was two months pregnant with our second child and had a thriving photography business in our small coastal town. Our beautiful home, conveniently located on the same street as my sister, was a place we loved. I called my mom, tears streaming down my face. This was not what we had hoped for, but we were determined to keep our growing family together.
Our move to Korea was a massive change, but we chose to embrace it fully and make the most of our time here. If you're feeling overwhelmed with the thought of moving overseas, trust me, I've been there too. Despite my husband's previous overseas tours, this was his first accompanied by a family, so it was a new experience for both of us. I've compiled this list based on our personal experience, hoping it may alleviate some of your anxiety about moving overseas.
This list is a comprehensive guide and a good starting point for your move planning. It's based on my experience relocating from North Carolina with an active duty husband in the Marine Corps and our son, and from the frequently asked questions I've encountered. And just to be clear, this post is not endorsed by the DOD or USFK, it's purely based on my personal insights.
Recent image in Bhutan (2024) of our family before we move from Asia to Europe-there is another toddler back there peeking.
Before You Move
If this is not your first overseas move, then some of this will be old hat to you. If not, here are just a few things to do before you relocate to Korea (aside from the required standard medical clearances you will need to obtain and schedule your household goods pick-up).
Change your security requirements on any accounts (bank, Amazon, credit card, social accounts, etc.) to an email address instead of your phone number. You will need a Korean phone number when you arrive, so if you change your SIM or get a phone here in Korea, you may not have access to receive SMS text messages on your US number. Don't get locked out of your accounts!
Most people acquire a Korean SIM upon arrival or purchase a Korean cell phone with a KT or LG mobile plan.
Book your lodging on post as soon as you know your report window; it fills up quickly.
Obtain your no-fee passport. Though a memo was issued on September 26, 2022, stating you no longer need a no-fee passport to PCS to Japan or Korea, you should still apply for this at your home base if time allows. Again, it is no longer required, but it's preferable if you travel overseas on military orders. You must have your tourist and no-fee passport to travel outside Korea for leisure while stationed here. If you don't have a tourist passport before arriving in Korea, you can obtain it from the Embassy in Seoul.
Purchase air purifiers & dehumidifier (s). Whether you live on or off post, you will want to invest in air purifiers and dehumidifiers for your home. These can be purchased at the PX at Camp Humphreys when you arrive. Still, you will likely have better and cheaper options in the States, so buy early and send them in your household goods or unaccompanied goods.
Understand that you will only know if you live on or off-post once you arrive and check in with housing. More on this later, but this question is always asked and the answer is always the same, you just won't know until you get here.
Know the requirements and obtain all necessary paperwork to ship your pet over. Requirements such as the FVAN blood test take time to come back, and the time of year will also depend on whether or not your pet can fly. I recommend joining groups like Flying Pets Korea to ask questions or talk to colleagues who have shipped pets over. It can get pricey and stressful, especially for larger-breed dog owners. Just something to keep in mind!
Invest in a few converters/adapters before you move. The standard voltage in Korea is 220 volts versus the standard 110-120 volts in the United States. The plug style in Korea is Type C & F, so you will be set if you are coming from Europe. Our home off-post came with American and Korean outlets, but do be aware there is still a voltage difference. You will also find both outlet styles on post.
Know the requirements to ship your vehicle. If authorized to ship a car with your orders, the vehicle must be empty and spotless. If you have pet hair in the car, you must have it detailed and remove all of it. They will inspect it, and a dirty vehicle will delay the shipment of your car. You can find all the required documents and instructions on scheduling your appointment here. If you drive a larger SUV, such as a Tahoe or Suburban, know that parking in underground parking garages in Korea will be challenging and extremely tight. Also, something random to note is that Koreans back their cars into parking spaces instead of pulling straight in.
Take your USFK driver's test online. Your spouse or someone who has a JKO account should be able to create an account for you to log in and take the training, followed by the test. You can find the information about getting your USFK license here. Of note, if you find yourself needing to rent a car outside of the base, most rental companies will still require an international driver's permit (you can obtain it from AAA in the States). Lotte Car Rental will accept USFK licenses if you plan to visit Jeju Island.
Prepare for cold, wet winters in Korea. We came from North Carolina, which has relatively mild winters; the winters in Korea are much colder, damper, and windier. This winter brought more snow than last (though it's usually not more than a few inches), so it's best to prepare with warm weather attire.
APO box set up. If you have a sponsor (who is responsive), ask if they can assist in getting your APO box set up before your arrival. This will allow you to update your address on any accounts you would like and have your mail forwarded. Your APO address will allow family/friends to ship items to you here in Korea simply from USPS (no overseas costs); they must fill out a customs form when they ship. If you are new to APO's, example below on how to fill out an address with an APO, the country is still the United States, not Korea:
Erin Henderson
PSC ——, Box—— (whatever address/ box is assigned to you)
APO, AP 96273 (or whatever zip is assigned to you)
Amazon ships to APO, though you will find some items that will not ship here. Once you update your default address to your APO, it will alert you if the item you are trying to purchase will ship here or not.
If you order things from places that use UPS or Fed Ex (Pottery Barn, H&M, Ulta, etc.), they will go on what's known as the slow boat and could take several months to arrive here. If you need it quickly, best to have it shipped to a family member who can then send it via USPS to your APO address here. Places like Target and Old Navy ship via USPS, so those items usually arrive quickly.
Keep all important documents with you when you move, do not send with the movers. Documents like birth certificates, SSN cards, orders and marriage licenses. It’s also advisable to have copies made of any important documents and certified copies made of birth certificates and your marriage license just in case.
Gakwonsa Temple in Cheonan after a light snowfall
Arriving in Korea
Changing of the guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul
You finally made it it Korea, now the fun begins!
Locate the USFK Joint Reception Desk at Seoul/Incheon International
If you are arriving through Seoul/Incheon International and did not take the Patriot Express, you will want to locate the USFK Joint Reception Desk at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 depending on where you arrive. In Terminal 2 (Delta and Korean Airlines fly into Terminal 2), that desk is located just outside of baggage claim near exit 4 (in front of Paris Baguette); you can't miss the soldiers in uniforms staffing the desk. At Terminal 1, the desk is outside the baggage claim area near exit 1. They will get you checked in for the shuttle bus that will take you to base. Policy states that all PCS personnel must take the shuttle bus unless prior arrangements have been made. The shuttle bus from the airport will drop you at Maude Hall, so if you are continuing on to lodging, it's best to have a sponsor/colleague meet you there and drive you to the lodge. If that is not an option, you can grab a taxi to drive you to your lodging. If you arrive via the Patriot Express at Osan, they will shuttle you to Humphreys.
Food On Post
Sentry Village is located directly in front of the lodging (well, around a building, then in front). Sentry has Starbucks (there are three Starbucks locations around the base), a shoppette, Subway, Anthony's Pizza, Freshens, Taco Bell, and more. You can find the complete list of vendors and food options on base here. Freshens offers rice bowls, and another excellent bowl option on post is Bun D, located in the 24-hour fuel mart food court.
Starbucks patrons cannot use US gift cards or the app here in Korea. They also don't offer the typical holiday beverages as they do in the States. Several lovely local coffee places right off post offer holiday favorites and other specialties.
The Cottage. Located 1/2 mile outside of Millet Gate
Fitness Centers and Places to Sweat on Post
Camp Humphreys has several fantastic fitness centers on post. Whether you want to dive into intramural sports, group fitness classes or work out on your own, there are plenty of options to choose from. I recommend joining the MWR Facebook group to stay up to date with the class schedules, special events and competitions.
Collier (aka the Super Gym) Fitness Center is the closest walkable full gym to lodging (roughly a half a mile walk). It has the indoor pool and track upstairs that strollers are allowed on. Sadly, the outdoor pool on base will not repaired or accessible until 2026 but there is an outdoor splash pad that is open during the summer located at the Main Exchange. You can find the pool hours here for Collier.
Family Gym-located in the building directly in front of lodging is a small family gym where you can bring your littles with you, this is the only place on post you can do so other than Collier for swim/track. The equipment is very limited but it’s available if you just want to get some movement in.
Sitman Fitness Center (24 hour access). You will need to get set up with 24/7 access with your id card at any of the front gym desks once you arrive.
Turner Fitness Center (24 hour access). Turner is the “CrossFit” gym on post. It’s incredibly equipped so if you are looking for this style of equipment and gym, Turner is it. Sadly their Human Performance “CrossFit” style classes are very limited and only offered a few days a week at 5:10 AM and Saturday mornings.
Of note, Osan Air Base has a CrossFit affiliate on base, CrossFit Osan. This is a thirty to forty minute commute from Camp Humphreys.
Zoeckler Fitness Center (24 hour access)
Balboni Field-If you want to run on an outdoor track, Balboni field has an outdoor track along with the intramural softball fields and a turf soccer field. MWR also hosts special fitness events there from Murph to Strongman competitions.
Burke CYS Skies Center (for kids)- this is where you will find many of the Children and Youth Services (CYS) programs held such as gymnastics, dance, rock-climbing and more. You can find more information on programs offered here.
Below: The MWR offers several fitness competitions throughout the year, jump in and get involved!
Apps to Download (to get you started):
Naver (doesn't work on post but is the main navigation method in Korea) & Waze (works on post) for transportation. Google Maps does not work here.
Papago to translate
Kakao Talk, Kakao Taxi, Kakao Maps
Coupang (Korean Amazon, just allowed use of foreign credit cards)
Gmarket Global (Clothing, Household Supplies, Home/Kitchen, Sports/Health etc)
Shuttle (food delivery)
Exchange Taxi if you know you will need taxis frequently on post
My Army Post App
IQAir AirVisual or your preferred AQI app
Get your SOFA stamp (if this applies to your family)
All family members, civilians, and even newborns must obtain an A-3 visa, which allows for multiple entries into Korea, and a Standard of Forces Agreement (SOFA) stamp within 30 days upon arrival. The SOFA stamp registers the person, defines the legal rights and obligations of SOFA-status personnel, and identifies them as having protections and rights under the SOFA agreement. Having a SOFA stamp exempts personnel from the Korean Immigration laws relating to alien registration but does not exempt any person from abiding by the host nation’s laws. Not all U.S. family members in Korea will have an A3 Visa and SOFA stamp. Family members who are Korean citizens do not require a Visa or stamp.
Documents Required for SOFA Verification Stamp for EACH Passport to be Processed
ROK Ministry of Justice Form 34 (available at A-3 Visa Office, client legal services or USFK Regulation)
Valid passport(s) for anyone requiring the stamp (not the active-duty member) and photocopies of the passport(s) that includes the signature and date pages.
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of sponsor’s identification card (front and back on the same page)
Photocopy of dependent’s identification card (front and back on the same page). Only applies to dependents 10 years and older.
One of the following:
Original Military Assignment Certification memorandum (for military dependents)
Original Civilian Employment Certification memorandum (DoD civilian employees and dependents)
Copy of UFSK Form 700-19-E (invited Contractors and dependents)
For newborns: photocopy of Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
Where to Go
USAG Humphreys: Maude Hall (One Stop)-Room 1-201,
usarmy.Humphreys.403-afsb-lrc.mbx.passport@mail.mil
Osan Air Base AMC Passenger Terminal: MWF 9-13:00, TR 11-13:00.
Area IV Legal Offices: Phone: DSN: (315) 763-4423. Location: Camp Henry, Bldg. 1805
Housing
Once you arrive and check in with housing, you will know whether you will live on or off-post. If housing at your rank is 95% full (the list changes daily), they will send you off-post. If your preference is to live on base, you can be put on the waiting list, but there is no guarantee something will open before you have to relocate from lodging. If you are going off-post, here are some things to consider:
Schedule showings through several realtors; not all offer the same listings. Housing will supply you with a listing of all approved realtors to look through; they must be on that list for your lease to get approved.
Try to get a home with solar panels and/or city gas. This will save you a lot of money on utilities, especially if you can get both.
Your Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) is set based on your rank; if you find a home less than your OHA, you cannot bank the difference. It's use or lose. You can possibly bank some extra money from your utility allowance. If you find a home over your OHA, you can still lease it; you will just come out of pocket for the difference. Some people use the leftover money from their utility allowance to fund the difference in rent.
If you have school-age children, you will also want to request to view homes along the bus line route.
You can get loaner furniture and smaller kitchen items until your household goods arrive (or beyond). You are allowed two pick-ups; one for when your furniture arrives and the other when you move. We have the loaner kitchen table and chairs and a washer and dryer. It's not the most stylish, but it gets the job done with two messy toddlers.
Lanterns at Mangisa Temple in celebration of Buddha’s birthday
Vehicle Info
If you plan on purchasing a vehicle when you arrive, check the local buy/sell groups to see what is available. I would advise that you take the car to the Automotive Skills Center so they can do a quick inspection of the vehicle before you buy. There are used car dealers off-post; we purchased two vehicles from CarMax (ha, yes, but different from the one in the States). Negotiate the price and double-check the Korean book value before you purchase.
Once you purchase a car or your car arrives in Korea next steps:
Get a ROK Temporary Plate and USFK application for Registration of USFK POV at the Korean DMV located in the One Stop Building, cost is 2,000 WON. Temporary license plates will be valid for no more than 10 days.
Pick up your vehicle at the VPC.
Obtain a USFK vehicle safety inspection at the USAG Humphreys Auto Skills Center if your vehicle is more than 2 years old.
Return to the Korean DMV window with your safety inspection and other documents needed above to receive your permanent plates. Cost is 14,000 WON.
Go to the Vehicle Registration Window to finalize your vehicle registration. You must have your vehicle with you, as they place the permanent decal on your windshield that allows your vehicle to enter any installation on the Peninsula.
Once you get your permanent license plate, you will need to go to guy who is set up behind Maude Hall by Navy Federal who will install it on your car for 10,000 WON, cash only. I don’t have a phone number that I could find, he is simply known as the license plate guy behind Maude Hall, ha!
I would highly recommend getting cameras installed on your vehicle (pretty standard here because of the high accident rate). Running red lights is commonplace and driving here can sometimes be nerve wracking, protect yourself and have the camera installed in case you should ever find yourself in an accident and need proof of fault.
If you are in accident off-post, you will need to immediately call the MP’s at 0503-355-9917.
Do not leave the scene until the MP’s have cleared you to do so.
The phone number for the Korean National Police is 112. Should you need an ambulance, the number is 119.
Take photos and document everything, do not move your car until everything is documented.
3/8 Market in Pyeongtaek. Held any day of the month that ends in a 3 or an 8.
Groceries
Groceries in Korea are more expensive than in the States. As you get settled, I encourage you to shop off-post at the local markets for items like produce to save yourself money. Currently, broccoli at the Commissary is $7.50/lb, or you can purchase it for $1.25 at JoyMart. Because items are imported here to the Commissary, you will find out-of-stock items fairly often or things that have expired. It's frustrating but understandable. We use the Commissary for American staples and meat and then shop at the local market for everything else. Some places to check out for shopping/groceries:
JoyMart
PandaMart (I equate this place to a Korean Big Lots)
Daiso
3/8 & 4/9 markets
E-Mart
Costco
Strawberries at the Songtan 4/9 market
Healthcare
I arrived in Korea at almost 33 weeks pregnant and went into labor just over 37 weeks. I had one appointment at the hospital with the nurse who did my intake paperwork and one more with the Nurse Practitioner before I went into labor early on a rainy Sunday. I never met any of the OBGYNs before having my daughter, so I can’t speak to the level of care from them. Of note, if you go into labor before 37 weeks, the hospital will not accept you and will send you off-post; they do not have a NICU for babies born before 37 weeks.
We didn’t know anyone other than my husband’s colleagues when I went into labor, but luckily, we had established daycare for our toddler. I went into labor on a Sunday afternoon, and we came to the ER with our son. We were immediately taken upstairs to Labor and Delivery and given a room. My husband and son were with me for a while before a colleague graciously offered to stay overnight at our home so my husband could be with me at the hospital while I was in labor.
Our daughter arrived shortly after midnight. In the wee hours of the morning, my husband ran back home, got our son ready for daycare, dropped him off, and then spent the day with me at the hospital. That time is still such a blur of crazy, but we did it. The cherry on top was our household goods delivered four days later and a husband who left to go back to the exercise that was going on. Military life, right?
I am just going to highlight some of the information and common issues here that you will encounter:
Information not carrying over. The hospital recently changed to a new system, and the previous history or visits on record did not pull over (I’m not sure if this has been fixed since). We are also Marine Corps and not Army, so when we arrived, we brought all of our records with us, took them to the TriCare office to have them scanned into the system, and brought them with us to our appointments to have the staff make copies if needed for their records. Two years later, we still get asked for paperwork that we have brought to that hospital several times; it’s super frustrating. The moral of the story is to keep your medical records handy.
Appointment wait times at BDAACH on post (especially for pediatrics) are LONG, sometimes over a month out, depending on what you are trying to get an appointment for. If it’s urgent, go to the ER, but know wait times are typically hours to be seen.
For less urgent cases, you can go to the New Seoul clinic in the Ville, wait times are very short, and the cost is very affordable. You can save your receipts to submit for reimbursement from TriCare.
BDAACH does keep a few same day appointments open so if you call the appointment line first thing in the morning when you need an appointment you might luck out and get seen that day.
South Korea itself is having a nationwide issue with physician shortages. Keep this in mind when given referrals for specialties off-post.
Advocate for yourself at appointments (this goes for anywhere you live). I had a knee issue that had been bothering me for two years, and during my appointment, the doctor just kept asking what medicine I would like for it instead of trying to get to the root cause. I pushed her to, at minimum, put in an x-ray referral to rule out anything significant. Two days later, I was called, and the results immediately showed the issue on the x-ray.
Our experience with the healthcare here hasn’t been overwhelmingly superb. Still, I have heard worse stories from other bases, so I am grateful that we are healthy overall and have not had to deal with anything too significant. We had a fantastic pediatrician the first year we were here, and then she moved. Since she left, we have had a different one for every visit. I don’t have any experience with the EFMP program, so I can’t touch on that, but I have linked to it should you need further information.
Other Tidbits
Banks on post: Navy Federal and Community Bank
Exchanging money. The best place at Camp Humphreys is Victory Exchange located right outside of the walk-in gate to the right (blue writing). There are three Community Bank ATM’s located on post before you go out the walk-in gate if you want to withdraw cash there. Note that rent and utilities are usually paid in cash at the beginning of the month.
ARC card. If you decide to place your kids in school or daycare off-post, you may want to consider registering for the “Registration Card” or “ARC” for the education discount. You can find more information on that here. Having this card also allows you to open a Korean bank account if you would like.
Water. The water here is hard, you will want to pick up a water filter for your shower head from Olive Young, Daiso etc.
Hi-Pass. To avoid having to pay cash for tolls each time, you can get a refillable Hi-Pass and preload money on to it. You can pick one up on base inside the Main Exchange at the Hi-Pass Service store front.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found this helpful for your upcoming move. There is so much more I could dive into but hopefully there is enough here to perhaps ease some stress.
Living far away from family can be challenging, especially if you have never lived overseas. My advice is not to isolate yourself and to get involved with a community that speaks to your interests. There are spouse groups, intramural groups, hiking groups, church groups, and so much more, but you must take the first steps and reach out to get involved. Jobs for spouses are also tough to come by, so if you don't have activities to get involved with, it could take a toll on your mental health and your relationship. If your job will allow you to work remotely, hang on to that!
Korea presents a beautiful opportunity to explore (with or without kids), and you shouldn't be afraid to get out there. Whether you choose to stay and explore within Korea or venture out to other Asian countries nearby, the opportunities are endless if you are willing to get outside of your comfort zone and do so. This assignment is what you make of it. Even if it's not your first choice, come here with an open mind, dive into the culture, and embrace the opportunity to live abroad.
You might surprise yourself with what you learn and how you grow from your time here.
Some other resources and groups to check out:
South of Soul Blog
Favorite Camp Humphreys Restaurants
