What is the off post housing like at Camp Carroll Korea?

Here are the answers you need:

How much do they charge?

It depends. If you go in uniform, your rent will be whatever you are entitled to. The landlords know the pay and will charge by your rank. Go in civilians. On average, the rent was between 800,000-1,000,000 won or about $800-$1000 depending on the exchange rate at that time. Some landlords will pay your water (or provide the water dispensers and some many large jugs a month) and/or gas. Some will not. Electricity can be expensive and there is usually only one small a/c in the whole place. If you leave it running, you will have a super high bill.

Approx. square footage?

Apts will be in "pyeong" or about 35 sq ft per pyeong. The average size apts are around 32 pyeong.

Is it nice?

It all depends. There are some new apartments in front of the back gate and not too far past that. There are also some not so nice ones. You will get a better apt if you rent from a complex instead of the apt above a bar or restaurant.

Does BAH (OHA) cover the cost?

If you do not need a big apt, yes. If you are taking family and need a lot of space, probably not, depends on your rank. You will also get a little extra with your housing pay to help offset your bills. Do not forget, you will also get COLA (cost of living allowance) and save pay. If you are authorized to live off post, you should get full COLA, which was around $375 a month for me.

Commute times?

Waegwan is a smaller town. If you get an apt that is close, you can be at the gate in about 10-15 minutes. It depends on where your unit is to how long it will take to get there. Camp Carroll is pretty spread out. Sometimes traffic can back up at the gate because of the civilians coming in and the fact that there is a pretty large street outside the back gate. There is also a main street by the front gate.

Pitfalls you should avoid:

Don't let the landlord know your rank right away.

If you can't drive, know how to say your address correctly for when you are in a taxi

If you can drive, try to find an apt that has parking lots. Parking sucks everywhere.

If your apt does not have the water dispenser (like you see in offices), try to get your landlord to give you one. The water will look gross coming out of the faucet if you do not have a purifier hooked to it.

Ask the landlord for transformers for the electronics that you bring over.

If you have an electric lock, get the directions to change the code or the landlord will come in on you...some not all.

Korean cable is not that great so get a satelite dish from the PX.

The language barrier will cause a headache at times, but you will pick up the language and they will try to speak english.

Don't take a taxi from Waegwan to Daegu. It will be expensive. You can take the train or the free bus on post. If you can drive, keep in mind that there is a toll and that traffic can get pretty bad.

*great restaurant in Daegu-----go out the main gate. go left at the light. it will be on the corner at the next light. it is a great, great little galbi buffet for like 7,500 won. we went there once a week. you have to try it*

*great local restaurant in Waegwan---this place serves american and korean food. try the ramyan. go out the front gate and walk across the street to Country Restaurant.

Camp Carroll Korea

Camp Carroll

I went to Camp Carroll a couple of years ago and you will really like it; as far as Korea bases are concerned. It is a sleepy base located fairly close to the local town (which has a nice city-like feel to it).

Of course, right outside the gate there are the obligatory drinky-girl establishments and clubs, but if you go about a mile the city center is there with a nicer area.

Unfortunately I don't know what housing costs there, but I did see a lot of highrise apartment buildings there. I don't think the Army has there is off-post housing set up by the military. You would be out on the economy if you were married and your family could come.

Suggest you contact the Housing officer by email: chonhim.kim@korea.army.mil

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RE:

What is the off post housing like at Camp Carroll Korea?

How much do they charge on average? Approximate square footage? Is it nice? Does BAH cover the cost of housing? Commute times? Pitfalls I should avoid? Would appreciate info on this area.

I just got orders to there, so I'm trying to get a feel for the area.