Kunsan AB  In-depth Overview

Mission

Defend the Base, Accept Follow-On Forces, [and] Take the Fight North

The vision for the 8th Fighter Wing is to be "a resilient warfighting wing ready to deliver combat airpower at a moment's notice; honoring our legacy by fostering an environment of teamwork, dignity, and respect; enhancing the Wolf Pack culture of innovation, compliance, and excellence...1-year tour with a 10-year vision."

Special and Critical Installation Information

Kunsan Air Base is home to the 8th Fighter Wing which is known as the “Wolf Pack”, a nickname given during the command of Colonel Robin Olds back in 1966. It is one of two major Air Force installations operated by the United States in Korea. It is located on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. Kunsan Air Base is a remote / unaccompanied assignment, and all 8 FW active-duty military members must reside on the installation unless authorized by the Installation Commander (Wolf).

Gunsan City is the host city for Kunsan Air Base. “Kunsan” and “Gunsan” are spelled the same in Korean: 군산. Gunsan City is pronounced Gunsan-si and is spelled 군산시. If you search “Kunsan” on the internet, you will find information on the installation. If you search “Gunsan”, you will find information about the host city.

The city of approximately 272,000 people (as of Mar 2019) and is located on the edge of central western coast, as a waist of the Korean peninsula, is in 2~3 hours away from anywhere in Korea (231 km away from Seoul and 337 km away from Busan). Many excursions await those interested in exploring the traditions and customs of this great country. The city of Gunsan itself is a very vibrant and upbeat community filled with 5-star restaurants, quaint coffee shops and numerous clothing stores.

The local markets are a tradition in Korea and offers many hidden treasures to include a huge variety of inexpensive clothes, kitchenware and imported products. These markets offer the excitement of feasting on delicious street eats; almost every type of Korean street food can be found at the market.

The city also has a thriving fishing fleet and is an excellent place for fresh seafood. There are two fish markets that can be found in town: Haemang-dong and Bieung port. Gunsan is known for saengseon hoe (생선회), raw sliced fish.

Lee Sung Dang is the oldest bakery in Korea. It has been in business in the same location since 1945. Its menu includes danpatppang (bread filled with red bean paste) and yachaeppang (vegetable bread). If given the opportunity you must visit.

The WON (Korean Currency) exchange rate varies from day to day according to market conditions; there are many online sites available to research current rates.

When reporting to Kunsan ABUs and/or OCPs are the uniform of the day. It is also recommended that you have at least one set available in your accompanied baggage. Kunsan AB has a high ops tempo, thus your arrival could be during one of many exercises. Nearly all base facilities are closed during exercises to include BX and commissary. It is critical to coordinate your arrival with your sponsor to ensure you have the basic necessities.

The Community Bank, which is affiliated with the Bank of America is the only banking service located on Kunsan AB. You may access Navy Federal banking system at both Camp Humphreys and Osan AB, respectively 2 to 2.5 hours away.

• U.S. Transportation Command re-instituted Patriot Express service to Osan with the port located at Seattle, WA. This service is mandatory for all duty passenger travel. Your local Traffic Management Office (TMO) at your current base will book your tickets for your PCS flight to Korea on the Patriot Express.
• All newcomers must complete the mandatory online USFK sponsorship survey as well as USFK Theater Specific Required Training. After completing the USFK Theater Specific Required Training, print out a copy of the certificate and bring it with you to in-processing.

U.S. Transportation Command re-instituted Patriot Express service to Osan and Kunsan AB with the port located at Seattle, WA. This service is mandatory for all duty passenger travel. Your local Traffic Management Office (TMO) at your current base will book your tickets for your PCS flight to Korea on the Patriot Express.

All newcomers must complete the mandatory online USFK sponsorship survey as well as USFK Theater Specific Required Training. After completing the USFK Theater Specific Required Training, print out a copy of the certificate and bring it with you to in-process with your Command Support Staff.

Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions

The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. The DSN area code in Korea is 315 and must be dialed when calling Korea by DSN. Long distance charges may be incurred if calling commercially.