Welcome to Korea!

Arrival in the Republic of Korea can be a confusing process. Your first several days will be consumed with all the normal Navy check-in processes that are typical of any PCS. However, this is compounded by being in a foreign country and adjusting to a new time zone. Since the bulk of check-in requirements are completed at Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC), it may be advantageous to spend your first five or so days there.

The base at Chinhae has a Navy Gateway Inns and Suites, a dining facility called Turtle Cove, commissary and Navy Exchange. This is also the place where you can check in with personnel (PSD), IT systems, obtain your ration cards, register in DBIDS, complete medical/dental processing and other administrative requirements. Most importantly, this is where you will begin the procedure of finding housing. Once you have finished with your CFAC check in, you can move into temporary lodging in Busan and then find a place to live.

While residing in temporary lodging in Busan, you will likely have to front-load some initial out of pocket expenses. The per diem rate for Busan for 2015 is $233 for lodging and $147 for meals and incidental expenses. Remember, you are not allowed to use your Government Travel Charge Card for travel associated with PCS. You will receive Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) to cover those expenses, but it may take up to two months for you to receive that allowance. By spending your first few days in Chinhae, you will keep your lodging cost down as well. In either scenario, be prepared to incur debt for costs associated with arrival to Busan while finding a home. But don’t worry, you will be reimbursed later through TLA.

If you are interested in checking in at Chinhae, let your sponsor know before traveling to the Republic of Korea. This allows time for your sponsor to make appropriate plans for meeting you at the airport. It’s your choice to check in at Chinhae or go straight to Busan.

School Districts

Those who choose to enroll command sponsored family members in DoD Schools in Daegu or Chinhae may live in Daegu or Chinhae and have their sponsor commute to/from work in Busan, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours each way, without traffic.

However, if you choose to live in Busan, you are not allowed to enroll your dependents in the DoD schools in Daegu or Chinhae because you will reside outside the school commuting area as per DoDEA policy. The DoD high school in Daegu serves children from USAG Daegu and CFAC, due to an exception to policy that allows CFAC students to attend DHS as there are no accredited international high schools in Chinhae. There are fully accredited international schools for families who live in Busan. Families are free to choose the best schooling and living options that fit their individual needs.

City of Busan

Busan, with a population approximately 4 million, is similar in size to Washington DC. The city is located on the southeastern most tip of the Korean peninsula. Busan is Korea’s principal port and is also the second largest city. This international port city has first class hotels and restaurants to match its excellent beaches, outstanding shopping and sightseeing areas. The city has an excellent public transportation system that includes buses and a subway system. Explore the city at the following links:

Busan Survivor, A Guide to Your Tour in Busan

Busan PCS Guide, 5 Things You Need To Know About Busan!

CNFK Youtube video, Life in Busan, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj8RAIEqzSk

City of Busan, http://english.busan.go.kr/HomeMain.do

Busan Naval Operations Base

Busan Naval Operations Base is the home of the ROK Fleet Headquarters and the future home of the CNFK Headquarters. There is a dry cleaner, bank, running track, minimart, ROK Navy Dining Facility, and some fast food restaurants on base.

Education

There are two DoDEA certified schools in Busan. Approval for attendance is via the Non-DoD Schools Program (NDSP) http://www.dodea.edu/nondod; there are currently students from Navy families enrolled at Busan Foreign School. Families can also send students to local private schools (DoDEA case-by-case approval). Links to the schools are:

Busan Foreign School: http://www.busanforeignschool.org/
Busan International Foreign School: http://www.bifskorea.org/

Medical/Dental

There are five Tricare approved hospitals in Busan, which provide US equivalent or better service. Emergency care for personnel stationed in Busan is at St Mary’s Busan. St Mary’s hospital is located 5 minutes from base. Dependents with Tricare dental coverage (METLIFE) can receive care at local dental clinics. Service members usually receive dental care in Chinhae or Daegu.

Housing

There is no base housing in Busan. Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) housing office will assist in the leasing process and there are local realtors that will assist in finding housing for personnel residing in Busan. The landlord or realtor must submit property ownership documentation for housing review and verification and all off- base housing units must be certified as adequate by the housing office. See http://www.cfachousing.net for more detailed information.

Local DoD Installations

CFAC is located approximately an hour from Busan and is the only Navy installation in the Republic of Korea.
CFAC has an exchange, commissary, clinic, and DODEA K-8 school. Daegu, approximately two hours from
Busan, has several Army Camps that have DODEA schools, an exchange, commissary, medical and dental clinics, and optometrist. CFAC and the Army Camps have MWR facilities and ITT offices.