Housing allowance skyrockets north of Seoul

[unhappycamper]

Servicemembers living north of Seoul can now afford the new high-rises sprouting around the older brick buildings near Camp Red Cloud, after a huge housing allowance hike took effect recently. Although some of the older housing surrounding bases in Uijeongbu and Dongducheon is adequate, some soldiers have told horror stories of filthy, ramshackle apartments.


Housing allowance skyrockets north of Seoul
By Erik Slavin, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, February 10, 2008

CAMP CASEY, South Korea — A request last year for higher housing allowances by Area I has in some cases doubled the available rent for servicemembers living off post.

Servicemembers in pay grades E-1 through O-4 can receive between $1,047.71 and $2,037.22 per month with a $500 to $700 per month utilities allowance, according to the Pentagon’s housing allowance Web site.

Last year, they received between $607 and $841 per month.

At Area I and the 2nd Infantry Division’s request, the Defense Department’s Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee visited in late October to re-evaluate the housing market, said Richard Davis, deputy to the Area I commander.

The increases began Jan. 16, although purchasing power can vary slightly based on the dollar-to-won exchange rate.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52331