Could this be the beginning of the end of the Dragon Hill Lodge? I hope not:
The Dragon Hill Lodge on Yongsan Garrison
The Ministry of National Defense plans to discuss demolishing the Dragon Hill Hotel, a lodging facility for U.S. soldiers inside the Yongsan garrison with the United States Forces Korea (USFK).
This is in line with the relocation of USFK headquarters from Yongsan to Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province by the end of this year. The USFK initially planned to keep the hotel in Yongsan.
However, there have been complaints from locals that the existence of the hotel is not helpful for a plan to redevelop the Yongsan base.
“We will take enough time with the USFK to discuss the details for the demolition of the facility,” defense ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said in a media briefing, Tuesday. [Korea Times via a reader tip]
You can read more at the link, but the Dragon Hill Lodge is a great facility and it seems like a waste to destroy it. Plus there is a huge number of Korean national that are employed there that would lose their jobs. Hopefully something can be worked out.
Why would it be needed once everyone moves to Pyongtaek? If they destroy before everyone moves, that would be Ok too. Especially since most are already gone.
I thought the Koreans’ idea for South Post was to turn it into a park. The hotel could be an asset to that plan. I guess now they just want the land back so they can throw up more of those disgusting high rise apartments that litter the landscape of Seoul.
flyingsword
6 years ago
the dragon was suppose to be similiar to the New Sano in Tokyo, any way will be a while before…if ever before the US is out of Seoul. Koreans are talking about replacing it with anothe hotel facility to replace it. if that us a new facity, taking over an exsiting hotel, or making an arrangement with a hotel remains to be seen. Also location is not decided.
J6Junkie
6 years ago
DHL ain’t the finest hotel in Seoul but the rates are cheap and the location was good too. I just love the hotel grounds. Beautiful grass lawns and the Asian garden out back. Sad to see it become a fancy pants Korean apartment complex. Boooooo.
Flyingsword
6 years ago
I gotta stop typing on my phone….
RockMarne
6 years ago
The Dragon has survived for years in part due to the TDY guests and service member & their families on PCS in/out paying the full per diem rate for Seoul. It is unlike the New Sanno which has kept its room rates low because the Japanese government pays the salaries of many hotel employees.
J6Junkie
6 years ago
And it could continue to survive that way for many more years if not for those pesky Commies.
setnaffa
6 years ago
Koreans are Koreans. They resent anything foreign. Especially stuff that reminds them of Japan. And even when it’s something that reminds them foreigners saved them from being vassals of Stalin or Mao.
Ole Tanker
6 years ago
I think we all have fond memories of our times at the Dragon Hill Lodge, I’m a sap for nastalgia.
Flyingsword
6 years ago
ROKMarine, Don’t know about the rate structure, just the concept of having an Armed Forces Rec Center in the bright lights and big city of Seoul, like the Navy run New Sanno in Tokyo.
I’m with you on that. They already closed the one on Jeju years ago and hotel Naija. Putting a new DHL at Humphreys isn’t going to do much for people wanting to visit Seoul.
Rascal1212
6 years ago
No surprise here. Back in the day we had not well jelled plans to use DHL as a multi-use facility and keeping the 1st Rpl building and J2 facility behind it. Moving CFC HQ to MND complex(ROK JCS bldg) has been an option from the start.
Anyway sure would like DHL to remain, but we don’t have the will to even mount a weak protest. Great location for US guests, but ROKs would close it for that reason and dreams of averice.
guitard
6 years ago
First things first – the plan to move any CFC personnel from the US side over to MND was basically someone on the ROK side thinking out loud. It isn’t fleshed out at all, isn’t funded, the ROKs have no idea where in the MND facilities they will be able to fit all these people. So the Dragon very likely won’t be going anywhere for a long time to come – if it goes at all.
J6Junkie
6 years ago
Moon’s cronies have made it their priority for it to go away. It’s gonna go away. Koreans are very diligent when it comes to getting rid of things they don’t like.
Rascal1212
6 years ago
Regardless of my and probably many others wishes to see the DHL remain as is, the seed is planted. The unknown is not “if” but “when”. The big “why” is it takes money out of ROK pockets. From my worthless US point of view on the subject it is a sad end.
If CFC remains as is, a facility(s) are needed. There is a significant number of US personnel on the “C” staff. There will also be a logistics tail to accommodate. At OPCON Transfer (a long term fairy tail gaining momentum) there will no longer be any need for US personnel at Yongsan. The DHL dies for sure.
I think CFC will die.
RockMarne
6 years ago
I spoke to the manager of the DHL a few years ago and one of his big concerns was keeping the place afloat once the Army garrison was closed and everyone was moved to Humphreys. Without the travelers on official business paying high rates, it would be difficult to keep operating with guests on leave and retirees on leisure travel. As I mentioned earlier, the New Sanno has a lot of its labor costs paid for by the Japanese taxpayers, so it can keep its rates low. Since I spoke to the manager, the decision was made to keep some US presence in Yongsan and a FA brigade at Casey, so that should help keep some guests paying the full per diem rates.
ChickenHead
6 years ago
Trump’s a wuss. He won’t close the Dragon Hill Lodge.
JoeC
6 years ago
I have general Transformation Relocation questions.
When it’s done, will there be anything left in what is now Areas I and II? Will Areas I and II even be a thing, or will all the areas be re-designated and what is now Area III will become the new Area I?
Ole Tanker
6 years ago
JOEC, There will always be an Area I. It’s human nature. They always need someplace to send the unfortunate. The haves and the have not’s, accompanied not unaccompanied, LQA’er and non-LQA’ers. It’s built into the system and will never go away. “Off to the Eastern Front!”
Flyingsword
6 years ago
JOEC, first Area I and II are becoming Area North, this year. And, for the foreseeable future there will be units at CP Casey and a presences in Seoul (probably C-Staff personnel). Also remember, Humphreys has almost zero training area so any “field” training, such that is has to be done up at ROD Range. So units have to rail from Hump to Casey then HET to rod range.
RockMarne
6 years ago
Have they worked out the Hardship Duty Pay for Area North, Flyingsword? Right now I think troops in Area 1 get $150 per month and Area II only gets $50 per month.
Why would it be needed once everyone moves to Pyongtaek? If they destroy before everyone moves, that would be Ok too. Especially since most are already gone.
I thought the Koreans’ idea for South Post was to turn it into a park. The hotel could be an asset to that plan. I guess now they just want the land back so they can throw up more of those disgusting high rise apartments that litter the landscape of Seoul.
the dragon was suppose to be similiar to the New Sano in Tokyo, any way will be a while before…if ever before the US is out of Seoul. Koreans are talking about replacing it with anothe hotel facility to replace it. if that us a new facity, taking over an exsiting hotel, or making an arrangement with a hotel remains to be seen. Also location is not decided.
DHL ain’t the finest hotel in Seoul but the rates are cheap and the location was good too. I just love the hotel grounds. Beautiful grass lawns and the Asian garden out back. Sad to see it become a fancy pants Korean apartment complex. Boooooo.
I gotta stop typing on my phone….
The Dragon has survived for years in part due to the TDY guests and service member & their families on PCS in/out paying the full per diem rate for Seoul. It is unlike the New Sanno which has kept its room rates low because the Japanese government pays the salaries of many hotel employees.
And it could continue to survive that way for many more years if not for those pesky Commies.
Koreans are Koreans. They resent anything foreign. Especially stuff that reminds them of Japan. And even when it’s something that reminds them foreigners saved them from being vassals of Stalin or Mao.
I think we all have fond memories of our times at the Dragon Hill Lodge, I’m a sap for nastalgia.
ROKMarine, Don’t know about the rate structure, just the concept of having an Armed Forces Rec Center in the bright lights and big city of Seoul, like the Navy run New Sanno in Tokyo.
@Flyingsword
I’m with you on that. They already closed the one on Jeju years ago and hotel Naija. Putting a new DHL at Humphreys isn’t going to do much for people wanting to visit Seoul.
No surprise here. Back in the day we had not well jelled plans to use DHL as a multi-use facility and keeping the 1st Rpl building and J2 facility behind it. Moving CFC HQ to MND complex(ROK JCS bldg) has been an option from the start.
Anyway sure would like DHL to remain, but we don’t have the will to even mount a weak protest. Great location for US guests, but ROKs would close it for that reason and dreams of averice.
First things first – the plan to move any CFC personnel from the US side over to MND was basically someone on the ROK side thinking out loud. It isn’t fleshed out at all, isn’t funded, the ROKs have no idea where in the MND facilities they will be able to fit all these people. So the Dragon very likely won’t be going anywhere for a long time to come – if it goes at all.
Moon’s cronies have made it their priority for it to go away. It’s gonna go away. Koreans are very diligent when it comes to getting rid of things they don’t like.
Regardless of my and probably many others wishes to see the DHL remain as is, the seed is planted. The unknown is not “if” but “when”. The big “why” is it takes money out of ROK pockets. From my worthless US point of view on the subject it is a sad end.
If CFC remains as is, a facility(s) are needed. There is a significant number of US personnel on the “C” staff. There will also be a logistics tail to accommodate. At OPCON Transfer (a long term fairy tail gaining momentum) there will no longer be any need for US personnel at Yongsan. The DHL dies for sure.
I think CFC will die.
I spoke to the manager of the DHL a few years ago and one of his big concerns was keeping the place afloat once the Army garrison was closed and everyone was moved to Humphreys. Without the travelers on official business paying high rates, it would be difficult to keep operating with guests on leave and retirees on leisure travel. As I mentioned earlier, the New Sanno has a lot of its labor costs paid for by the Japanese taxpayers, so it can keep its rates low. Since I spoke to the manager, the decision was made to keep some US presence in Yongsan and a FA brigade at Casey, so that should help keep some guests paying the full per diem rates.
Trump’s a wuss. He won’t close the Dragon Hill Lodge.
I have general Transformation Relocation questions.
When it’s done, will there be anything left in what is now Areas I and II? Will Areas I and II even be a thing, or will all the areas be re-designated and what is now Area III will become the new Area I?
JOEC, There will always be an Area I. It’s human nature. They always need someplace to send the unfortunate. The haves and the have not’s, accompanied not unaccompanied, LQA’er and non-LQA’ers. It’s built into the system and will never go away. “Off to the Eastern Front!”
JOEC, first Area I and II are becoming Area North, this year. And, for the foreseeable future there will be units at CP Casey and a presences in Seoul (probably C-Staff personnel). Also remember, Humphreys has almost zero training area so any “field” training, such that is has to be done up at ROD Range. So units have to rail from Hump to Casey then HET to rod range.
Have they worked out the Hardship Duty Pay for Area North, Flyingsword? Right now I think troops in Area 1 get $150 per month and Area II only gets $50 per month.