<strong> HANNAM VILLAGE, Republic of Korea</strong> - About 20 Hannam Village residents gathered at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 for a town hall meeting. Hannam Village is a leased housing area for junior enlisted Soldiers and officers located a couple of miles from Yongsan Garrison in Seoul.
"We have challenges at Yongsan because we are nonenduring," said U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Commander Col. Dave Hall. Most of USAG-Yongsan is scheduled to close in the future as U.S. Forces Korea relocates units to bases further south.
"It's a myth that we don't need resources because we're going away someday in the future," Hall said. "We're working to maintain a quality of life commensurate with your level of service."
Hall said the Garrison is committed to increasing quality of life as part of the Army Family Covenant.
Hall showed residents a slideshow about the Garrison. He said the Garrison staff faces constant challenges with aging infrastructure.
"We are trying to make it so Hannam Village is not a 'have-not,'" Hall said. "We have a plan to get the high-rises open again."
The plan is to renovate vacant high-rise buildings. The Army pays rent on occupied quarters at the compound. The Korea National Housing Corporation is offering to renovate the buildings to make them habitable again. Currently two high-rise buildings have been vacant since 2006.
"The plan is to decrease the number of apartments by making them bigger," Hall said as he showed photos of the model renovations.
USAG-Yongsan Housing Officer Carol Jones also announced the status of a project to construct a Hannam Village Community Center. The new facility will be located above the commissary.
"This is something residents asked for," Jones said. "We're hoping to have the community center open by the end of the month."
Hannam Village resident Briana Tillman asked about the possibility of numbered parking spaces.
"We'll conduct a resident survey this week and evaluate the feedback," Jones said.
Tillman said she wanted to make a positive comment about the Hannam Village Commissary.
"They are very responsive," she said. "They'll deliver groceries to your apartment for $3 and if you ask for something, they are very helpful."
The issue of bus schedules came up. Residents asked about changes to the Hannam Village-Yongsan Garrison shuttle bus service.
"This is your schedule," Hall said. "We want to know what your needs are. We will do what we can to adjust the schedule."
Residents also asked the 18th Medical Command Commander Col. Ron Smith about medical appointments.
Smith announced a new automated call system that will help community members get appointments. "We hope to have the system in place soon," Smith said.
Garrison officials committed to another Hannam Village forum in February 2009.
"We're trying to increase quality of life here," Hall said. "If we're not meeting the mark, you need to let us know."
Social Sharing