CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea –
Ground was broken for the new "downtown" area, featuring a new
Exchange, commissary and bowling center among other facilities, here,
yesterday.
The project will also see the construction of an auditorium, chapel,
chapel family life center, an arts & crafts center, recreation
center, plaza and parking.
When completed, these facilities will provide retail shopping, groceries, entertainment, recreation and religious services.
The project, awarded to POSCO Engineering & Construction, Ltd.,
will cost an estimated $146.7 million, and is expected to be completed
in the first quarter of 2016.
The theme of "partnership" rang throughout during the groundbreaking.
"Today is a celebration of a partnership between two nations and many
agencies, all working together to provide our service members [with]
facilities that provide a taste of home," said Steve Pena, general
manager, Humphreys and Osan Exchange.
"One of the core values at the Exchange is 'family serving family,'"
added Pena. "We are 'family,' and the Exchange is proud to be a part of
the Humphreys family."
Pena said that the new Exchange will feature an expanded lineup of the
many services and eateries that are already available here, except that
when the new facility opens, there are also plans to have an Arby's.
In addition to breaking ground on a new Exchange and several Soldier
and family support structures, the future downtown plaza will eventually
be home to the largest commissary in the Pacific.
"I'm proud to say that you have a lot to look forward to when these
stores are built," said Wayne Walk, Korea and Guam zone manager, Defense
Commissary Agency. "It's our goal in the Defense Commissary Agency to
make your shopping experience something to look forward to. It's not
enough to have a new facility and low prices. Our goal is to provide
great customer service on every visit. We're here now to take care of
you during the Korea transformation, and we'll be here to serve you and
your families when transformation is completed."
According to Defense Commissary Agency officials, the new Camp
Humphreys Commissary will be a large, modern 90,000-square-foot store
with 23 checkout lanes. The store will also feature extensive produce,
meat, grocery, dairy, delicatessen, bakery and frozen foods sections.
For comparison, the current commissary is 19,188 square feet with five
checkouts.
Although breaking ground on the new facilities is exciting, Col. Darin
S. Conkright, commander, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys and Area III, took
this opportunity to thank the Humphreys Military Community for bearing
with all of the growing pains, whether it is road closures, building
moves or traffic bottlenecks.
"Trust me, I know it can be difficult to deal with so much going on in
one place," Conkright said. "And yet, it never ceases to amaze me how
resilient, flexible and understanding our community remains through
these challenging times, as we build today for a better tomorrow."
Other guest speakers at the event were: Republic of Korea Army Brig.
Gen. Kang Chang-koo, director general of program management in the
Ministry of National Defense USFK Base Relocation Office; Kim Jong-woo,
director, USFK Base Relocation Project Management Office, Korea Land and
Housing Corporation; Lee, Yong-byung, senior vice president, POSCO
Engineering & Construction, Ltd.
Camp Humphreys is currently undergoing one of the largest
transformations in Department of Defense history. The vast majority of
forces located in the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area and north of the
Han River will move here in the coming years, in accordance with the
U.S. and Republic of Korea bilateral agreements.
More Photos