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U.S. Military
Retirees & Veterans in Korea

     Retiree Support Overseas Korea aims to help the U.S. military retiree and veteran community in the Republic of Korea. With close to 1,600 retirees living in Korea, according to the 2022 MRSS Report, we try and consolidate as much information as possible to keep you informed on matters around the ROK to include policies and processes in this foreign land we call the "The Land of the Morning Calm".
     USFK calls Korea a soldiers Assignment of Choice, but it is also a Retirees Retirement Location of Choice. It is one of the few, if not only, overseas locations providing retirees with all the benefits and privileges available to retirees overseas.

  A Look at What's Inside 

Retiring in Korea?    Turning 65?    Retiree ID Cards    Base Access Ration Control    TRICARE    Medicare    Housing ARC Cards    DFAS    Visa/Immigration Postal Services    Casualty Assistance    Driving in Korea SSA    VA    Voting Assistance    and more...

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Retiree Council Newsletter

Retired and Retiring in Korea

Retiring In Korea?

Help for a successful retirement in Korea 

* Be Prepared: Some help to prepare a retiree for Korea living

I'm Turning 65

I'm Turning 65!

How should I prepare? What do I need to do? 

* Prepare: Some must-do's at 65 to help get your affairs in order

Social Security in Korea

Social Security

Social Security support while living in Korea

* No SS Office in Korea: SSA/FBU support is in the Philippines

VA Veteran Crisis Hotline

Calling from Korea

COMM: 0808-555-118
DSN: 118

CONUS/Toll Free:
1-844-702-5493  /  1-877-267-6030
1-800-MYVA411 press 7



DEERS DOD ID Cards

DOD ID Cards

Supporting retiree's, families and all DOD beneficiaries 

* Locations: Located on all bases in Korea, No Appointments needed!

Base Access Control DBIDS

Base Access & Vehicle Reg

Gate Access Control processes allowing base access

* Global DBIDS: DOD Enterprise system that works world-wide, not just Korea

TRICARE on RSO Korea

TRICARE For Life & Medicare

Military Direct Care - On-base Military Treatment Facilities

Military Direct Care at MTF's

Korean Health Care system

Korea Hospitals & Health Care

Did You Know information
  • No More Ration Cards more...
  • Call US Toll Free using 1688-4663
  • Dependent spouse INDEF at 65 more...
  • Enroll in Medicare or lose TRICARE more...
  • Retirees keep your Community Bank more...
  • AND MORE...
FAQ
Department of Veterans Affairs Services While In Korea

VA Services While In Korea

Overseas Military Service Coordinator Korea

VA OMSC in Korea

Request your military records at VA.gov

Request VA Records

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Request Military Records

Request All of Your Veterans Military Service Records 

* Service Records: Request on-line from National Archives & Records Admin

Retiree and Widow Support

Survivor, Widow, Retiree Support

Years of experienced to assist survivors living in Korea 

* A Volunteer Force: Availing personal time to assist the retiree community

Returning to Korea

I'm Coming Back to Korea

Been Gone Awhile or Newly arriving? See What's New 

* USFK & Korea 2025: Closed bases, Ration changes, new Humphreys, more

Korea's Cultural Spotlight

Korean Culture Spotlight

Korea's Cultural - Be prepared for a fabulous journey 

* Traditions, Etiquette and Faux Pas: Koreas beauty, sites, wonderful foods

U.S. Postal Services for Retirees in Korea

APO Postal Services

Retiree's have USPS and an APO privileges

* Weight Limit: Retirees have 16oz of mail sending & receiving

Housing in Korea

Korea Housing

Many different types and prices of housing 

* Living in Korea: Highrise's, apartments, villas, houses and more

Travel and Transportation around Korea

Travel & Transportation

Koreas Mass Transit system 

* Get Anywhere: Trains, busses, planes, subways, great highways

DFAS and financial services

Survivor Financial Planning

MyPay, Survivor Benefits Plan, Financial Services info

* Quick Tools & References: DFAS newsletters, How To's, forms & documents

Ration Control and Exchange Shopping

Shopping Privilages & Ration Control

Retiree Shopping at AAFES Exchanges, Commissaries 

* USFK Ration Control: Authorized shoppers broke down by types of ID cards

U.S. Army Retired Soldiers Handbook 2024

U.S. Army Retired Soldier Handbook

“Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier
. . . a Soldier for Life” prepared by
the Army Retirement Services Office

United on the ROK

Celebrating and Informing Our Veterans

United on the ROK

My Time in Korea and Why I Decided to Stay

Published:

November 2022

Written By:

Patrick J. McGee

United on the ROK

About Retiree Support Overseas Korea

Published:

November 2022

Written By:

Patrick J. McGee
John F. Behrend

United on the ROK

Korea's Retiree Council Fact Sheet

Published:

December 2022

Written By:

Richard Deppe

United on the ROK

John F. Behrend, MGYSgt, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)

Published:

October 2023

Written By:

John F. Behrend

 Need TAX Return Help?

BLUF: On-base military personnel assistance is not available to retirees in Korea

Retirees can use one of many on-line tax companies such as Intuit TurboTax, FreeTaxUSA, TaxSlayer and others. Or, visit an H&R Block South Korea office where there are concession stands on base at USAG Humphries and Osan AB (Humphreys: Maude Hall One Stop or Osan: Mustang Mall (Exchange food court). These offices are managed by the H&R Block main office in Seoul and appointments are required. Contact info:
  Websitehttps://www.hrblock.kr
  Email: sam.lee@hrblock.com and kenny.lee@hrblock.com
  Phone: 070-7597-0132 or +82-2-795-7555
Keep in mind if you maintain more than $10,000 in a Korean bank account you must declare it to the IRS during tax filing via a Foreign Bank Account Report (FBAR).

Tax Return Assistance
Driving in Korea

Driving in Korea

Cell Phone Services in Korea

Korea Cell Phones

Banking in Korea

Banking in Korea

 Identity Theft in Korea

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

The biggest scam that could affect our identity being here in Korea are email scams. You must always be aware of unsolicited phone calls and texts, and while we do get those on our Korea phones (damn robocalls) usually as marketing schemes, always be aware. Here are some tips to keep in mind to help prevent falling victim to identity theft:

  • 1. We know about PII, but as a reminder, be careful and always question why any personal information is being asked for and how it will be used. Most legit callers will never ask.
  • 2. Check your credit report(s). You can get a free copy of your credit report from each credit reporting company at https://www.annualcreditreport.com.
  • 3. Pay attention to billing cycles. If a bill doesn't show up on time, ask questions, contact the company.
  • 4. Do not provide your social security number (again we know about PII). Your SSN is literally a “golden key” for identity theft. Consider setting up your personal My Social Security account to keep an eye on your benefits, even if you are not claiming them yet. Read more on our Social Security page.
  • 5. Make online purchases through a secure website that shows “https” in the website link and has a lock in the address bar.
  • 6. Secure your accounts by adding multi-factor authentication login. Yea, it's a PITA we all know, but security isn't supposed to be easy or convenient. Better safe than sorry.