Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae

Mission Statement

Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae powers the United States Naval Shore Forces through resilient infrastructure, integrated base operating support and responsive operations that support U.S. Forces and U.S. Naval Forces Korea. We care for the well-being of our service members, families and civilian workforce, maintain peak readiness to execute Noncombatant Evacuation Operations response and anchor the U.S.-ROK Alliance.

Vision Statement

To be the U.S. Navy’s indispensable forward-postured strategic installation for U.S. Naval Forces on the Korean Peninsula: uniting resilient infrastructure with unmatched operational support to empower the Fleet, Joint Forces and our workforce and fortify the U.S.-ROK Alliance.

Service members are not required to secure passports for entrance into Korea for their duty assignment because of existing Status of Forces Agreement. Family members who accompany are required to have a no-fee passport and an A-3 VISA and have completed the South Korea Electronic Travel Authorization, K-ETA, Waiver: The South Korea Electronic Travel Authorization is now available online. The current SOFA states that "Members of civilian component, their dependents and the dependents of members of the U.S. Armed Forces shall be in possession of appropriate documentation issued by appropriate U.S. authorities so that their status may be verified by the authorities of the Republic of Korea." Contact the local transportation or legal office prior to departure to determine how to obtain an A-3. Immediately after arrival/in-processing, bring your passport to PSD at Bldg.606 so that if your VISA does not state A-3 status, they may assist you in obtaining an upgrade and being issued a SOFA stamp. The SOFA stamp is required to verify the special status of civilians and dependents under SOFA.

Service members will need copy of PCS orders and ID card or leave chit and ID card to travel between the U.S. and Korea. To travel to other foreign countries not covered by SOFA, service members will most likely need passports. Law effective July 2, 2001 requires signatures of both parents to obtain passports for children under the age of 13. If one parent is not available to sign the passport application, parental consent can be documented with a signed, notarized letter or statement from the absent parent providing permission to take the child or children overseas.

SOFA

The legal status of U.S. Forces personnel in Korea is determined by an international agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea called the US/ROK Status of Forces Agreement.

Your assignment in Korea not only helps the Republic of Korea, it helps the U.S. accomplish important foreign policy objectives. This doesn't entitle you to any special privileges, except for those provided in the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement).

The SOFA applies to all U.S. Armed Forces personnel in Korea. Persons entitled to protection under SOFA are required to carry a SOFA Card at all times. If you have family in Korea they are also required to have a SOFA verification stamp in their passport. This happens once they arrive at CFAC through PSD.

Criminal Offenses

Crimes committed on post are subject to investigation by Military Police and the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigation Service, depending upon the nature of the crime. Heinous/severe crimes by personnel or their family members are not tolerated by the military and can result in quick reassignment back to CONUS.

USFK Off Limits Information

The following areas and establishments within the ROK are off-limits:

• All tattoo parlors and body piercing shops.
• All houses of Prostitution
• ROK Government curfew areas north of civilian control line at the Demilitarized Zone.

For further information on these regulations and policies, or any other USFK regulation, please visit the USFK website and click on the publications link.

Abbreviation Codes:

• (P/HT) = Prostitution/Human Trafficking
• (FP) = Force Protection
• (D) = Controlled Substances
• (H/S) = Health/Safety
• (UAG) = Underage Drinking

It is relatively safe to travel throughout Korea. Always check with the base security or NCIS Agent representative to find out which areas are off limits.

During situations of unrest or when student demonstrations are in progress, alerts are provided in advance to U.S. personnel throughout Korea. While these situations are played up by the media in the U.S., personnel assigned here are rarely affected.