Kunsan Air Base is a United States Air Force base located on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is adjacent to the town of Gunsan and about 150 miles (240 km) south of Seoul. The town (군산시 in Korean) can be romanized as both Gunsan and Kunsan. The United States Air Force uses Gunsan to refer to the town, and Kunsan to refer to the base.
The base is named after Gunsan City, a port town seven and a half miles east of the installation. Kunsan AB is a true remote assignment. It is much more austere than Osan AB. It is not configured to provide adequate support to family members. Kunsan AB is home to the 8th Fighter Wing made up of two F-16 fighter squadrons, the 35th Fighter Squadron and the 80th Fighter Squadron.
Kunsan Air Base is the home of the 8th Fighter Wing, "The Wolf Pack," assigned to the Pacific Air Forces' Seventh Air Force and the 38th Fighter Group of the Republic of Korea Air Force. It is one of two major Air Force installations operated by the United States in Korea, the other being Osan Air Base, approximately 100 miles to the northeast.
Units on Kunsan
The following major units are stationed at Kunsan Air Base:
· 8th Fighter Wing
o 8th Operations Group (Tail Code: WP)
35th Fighter Squadron (35 FS) (F-16C/D, Blue tail stripe)
80th Fighter Squadron (80 FS) (F-16C/D, Gold tail stripe)
o 8th Maintenance Group
o 8th Mission Support Group
o 8th Medical Group
· 1st Air Defense Artillery
· Area Defense Council
· American Forces Network
· Army and Air Force Exchange Service
· Defense Commissary Agency
· Office of Special Investigations
· ROKAF's 38th Fighter Group
Cost of Living: Similar to the national U.S. average.
Base Operator: 011-82-63-470-1110, or DSN 315-782-1110.
Population (approx. values):
· Military (U.S. Air Force): 2,600
· Military (U.S. Army): 185
· U.S. DoD Civilian: 30
· Korean Nationals: 450
Area Population: About 700,000 in a country of 47 million.
Current as of April 14, 2021