It appears even USFK is beginning to understand they need to learn to live with COVID by allowing travel to Seoul and indoor dining and movie theaters are also allowed. However, off-post bars, clubs, saunas, spas and karaokes are still off limits:
U.S. Forces Korea updated its COVID-19 policy on Thursday, March 24, 2022, to allow nonessential travel to Seoul, South Korea. (Tyler Wang/Pexels)
The command overseeing U.S. troops in South Korea has lifted its pandemic ban on nonessential travel to Seoul after keeping the city off-limits more than three months.
U.S. Forces Korea did away with the ban on Thursday, according to a news release. The command is responsible for about 28,500 service members, along with civilian employees, contractors and their families.
USFK reminded its population to adhere to all South Korean rules and regulations aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19. “USFK will continue to monitor and assess the COVID environment and will make additional adjustments to protect the force and our mission,” the release said.
It is official now that the Presidential office is moving to Yongsan:
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol uses a visual aid to explain the relocation of Cheong Wa Dae during a press conference at his transition team’s headquarters in Seoul on March 20, 2022. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Sunday announced a decision to move the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae to what is now the defense ministry building several kilometers away, saying he wants his office to move out of a “symbol of imperial” presidency and get closer to the people.
The decision is highly symbolic as Cheong Wa Dae has been used for decades as the presidential office and residence, though its secluded location and the way the president’s work office is located away from those of aides sparked criticism it causes the president to be out of touch with the public.
Yoon said he will move into the defense ministry compound in Seoul’s central district of Yongsan immediately after his inauguration on May 10. On the same day, Cheong Wa Dae will be fully opened to the public, he said.
The defense ministry will move into the Joint Chiefs of Staff building in the compound, he said.
There is going to be some offices dislocated from the Defense Ministry that has the Democrat Party lodging complaints about national security:
Yoon admitted that some of the current occupants, including the defense ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will have to make partial relocations to make room for the presidential office.
He dismissed the notion that moving their offices will create gaps in national defense, a charge that has been leveled by some lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party. Yoon belongs to the main opposition People Power Party.
I find it interesting now that the Democratic Party is now concerned about national security after years of advocating for appeasement of North Korea.
It also appears the closure of Yongsan Garrison also played into this decision:
Above all, he stressed the advantages of its proximity to a planned national park.
“Starting this year, the (land of the) surrounding U.S. military base is expected to be returned in stages, which will allow us to swiftly construct Yongsan Park, use the defense ministry building as an office and commune and communicate with the people,” Yoon said.
You can read more at the link, but this move does now make it more likely Yongsan will be turned into a park instead of just more apartment towers.
Showing the colors of the Ukrainian flag is now the international version of virtue signaling:
N Seoul Tower on Mount Namsan in Seoul displays blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, on Feb. 27, 2022, in support of the Eastern European country after the Russian invasion. (Yonhap)
Iconic landmarks across Seoul were lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag Sunday in support of the Eastern European nation under siege amid the Russian assault.
N Seoul Tower on Mount Namsan, Seoul City Hall, Sebitseom on the Han River and Seoullo Media Canvas glowed blue and yellow Sunday evening.
Gyeongbok Palace in snow Gyeongbok Palace, the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), is covered with overnight snow on Dec. 19, 2021, in downtown Seoul. (Yonhap)
Hopefully no one in the U.S. military had any travel plans to Seoul anytime soon:
U.S. Forces Korea personnel are prohibited from traveling to districts with 50 or more confirmed COVID-19 patients per 100,000 people over a seven-day period. (U.S. Army)
The military command responsible for U.S. troops in South Korea has temporarily restricted troops from traveling to 41 districts following a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
The updated travel guidelines announced by U.S. Forces Korea on Wednesday reflect a recent increase in coronavirus cases around the country, according to a post on the USFK official Facebook page. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Saturday reported 3,271 new cases, a new daily record in the country.
The surge comes days after Chuseok, the nation’s harvest holiday. South Korean health officials previously said they expected a dramatic increase in cases and warned residents to limit their travel plans during the three-day holiday Sept. 20 to 22. Nearly 33 million people traveled during the holiday week, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
USFK has divided the country into roughly 230 districts to reflect changing rates of coronavirus infection. USFK service members, civilian employees, family members and contractors are prohibited from traveling to districts with 50 or more confirmed COVID-19 patients per 100,000 people over a seven-day period. The command updates its district guidelines every week.
In-person worship services Members of Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul hold in-person worship services in front of Seoul Station on Aug. 29, 2021, after receiving a notice of closure by the office of Seongbuk Ward amid the country’s efforts to rein in the fourth wave of the pandemic. (Yonhap)
