Do they allow the families of soldiers stationed in Korea to join them?

Question

My boyfriend just returned from his 3rd tour in Iraq and we just found out that he will be stationed in Korea for 17 months...we are planning a future together..i told him i would go anywhere with him as long as i could...i just need to know if they allow that at the camps in korea....please help i woukd miss my soldier so much

Answer 1

Currently Korea is considered to be a 'hardship' tour and families are not allowed. The Army is considering making it a standard tour and allowing families to accompany the servicemember (the tours will be three years).

Answer 2

Korea is an unaccompanied tour. No dependents.

In practice however, there are ways around that. One common way is to find employment as an English teacher off-post and get a work visa from the ROK government. The standards for that line of work are incredibly low. All you have to do then is find off-post housing that is close enough to his installation where he can spend the weekends with you.

If you're married to him, then family separation allowance and BAH should pay for the rent, while your work income should provide a modest nest egg.

Most of Korea has shut down over the years. I know Camp Greaves (right on the DMZ) got shut down a few years back. You didn't say what branch your boyfriend is in, so I can't give you the skinny on any particular area.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Your one question brings up all sorts of other questions.

But, reading your question, you state your boyfriend, not husband.

So simply, yes you can come to South Korea, but not being married, you will need to obtain a Visa from the South Korean Government to remain in the country.

Since you are not married, you definitely don't qualify for the SOFA Stamp (Status of Forces Agreement).

A place to live with a girlfriend off-post would be very expensive for a single Soldier to handle.

Which brings up still another question - how do you know your boyfriend would be permitted to remain off-post overnight? Many single Soldiers MUST return to post at a certain time. This effectively would have you being by yourself for countless hours of the night, then during the daytime.

Since, basically, you would be coming as a tourist, you would not qualify for getting a job with the military, working on post.

Then, since you are a tourist and not a dependent of a Soldier, you probably wouldn't be considered for the NEO program (Non-Combatant Evacuation).

If war should ever start, how or who would assure your safety?

Before I forget, did you ever consider your health care? You would not be eligible for military health care since you're not a dependent, so can your boyfriend afford the expensive medical expenses out of his pocket? Or, yours?

Since you plan on coming, be prepared to live an almost totally different lifestyle than what you're used to. That, and spending time by yourself.

You definitely opened a whole-lot of unappealing possibilities for yourself.

Answer 4

I am a little confused. I was stationed in Korea back in the early 1990's, at that time only officers were allowed to have family members over there. And that was at their own expense and they had to live off post. I thought I had heard that in the last 5 years families were allowed to go to Korea. I may be wrong though.
Here's a website to check out:

http://www.usfk.mil/USFK/index.html

Good Luck!

Answer 5

in most cases.. NO. Command sponsorship is not typcially granted. Exceptions include senior enlisted personnel and a few specific billets.

but a lot of families go over anyway. It's just a lot of paperwork and you do stand to lose out on some things, such as easy access to medical, or getting the move paid for.

If he is going to the DMZ.. no way in heck, you will NOT be allowed anywhere near th ebase, let alone be allowed to stay.

Answer 6

Get a visa and go and visit him. Get a long stay visa, and you can stay a long time. You will have to pay your own way. Normally the military does not pay for dependents or girl friends to be stationed in Korea. Now there are some jobs that allow families to come. But you have to stay longer if he gets one of them.

Answer 7

No families are allowed in Korea. Korea is considered a hardship tour. They do allow you to visit though. At your expense of course.

Answer 8

I am sorry but no. South Korea is considered to be a "Forward Area" and unless you join, you can not be there. My best friends family Wife and 3 kids couldn't be there.

Answer 9

No problems...Korea is Great! You can go but you'll need a visa if staying more than 90 days and a passport. Good luck & have fun!

Answer 10

Yes. My friend's dad was stationed there a while ago, and he brought the whole family with him.