Shopping Privilages & Ration Control

June 30, 2025 Home / Ration Control Program

About Ration Cards & Purchase Limits

USFK Ration Control

NO RATION CARDS: There are no Ration Control cards needed for dependents of retiree, GS or contractor anymore.  The Ration Control program is still in-place in Korea, but it has changed. Some Foreign Military still require Ration Control cards, as do units and  few other exceptions, but dependents no longer require them. Ration control is based on your DOD ID card now.

NO COMMISSARY PURCHASE LIMITS: The purchase limits have been lifted, EXCEPT on alcohol.  Limits still apply on alcohol. USFK J-1 does still monitor purchasing, so probably still NOT a good idea to be buying 500 packages of hotdogs or something 

VISITING RETIREES and DEPENDENTS CAN SHOP: Whether you are retired and living in Korea or just visiting, your DOD ID card gives you full access to the Exchanges, Commissaries, and all MWR facilities and services.

Retired U.S. Military and Dependent Privileges

SHOPPING PRIVILAGESYES Retirees (RET) of the U.S. Military with a valid DoD Retiree ID card and their Dependents with a valid DoD Retiree Dependent ID card have unlimited access to the Commissary, Exchanges and MWR facilities whether living in Korea or just visiting.

BASE ACCESS: Go To the Base Access page

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: Go To the Base Access page

ABOUT THIS ID CARD IN DEERS: Go to the DEERS ID Card page

Widow of Deceased U.S. Military Retiree Privileges

>SHOPPING PRIVILAGESYES Un-Remarried Widows or Widowers of deceased Retirees with a valid DoD Retiree Dependent ID card have unlimited access to the Commissary, Exchanges and MWR facilities whether living in Korea or even just visiting.

BASE ACCESS: Go To the Base Access page

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: Go To the Base Access page

ABOUT THIS ID CARD IN DEERS: Go to the DEERS ID Card page

20/20/20 and 20/20/15 Designated DOD Beneficiary Privileges

SHOPPING PRIVILAGESYES
20/20/20 Designated Beneficiaries (divorced spouse) with a valid Designated Beneficiary ID card have unlimited access to the Commissary, Exchanges and MWR facilities whether living in Korea or just visiting.

20/20/15 Designated Beneficiaries have shopping privileges for only ONE YEAR.

BASE ACCESS: Go To the Base Access page

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: Go To the Base Access page

ABOUT THIS ID CARD IN DEERS: Go to the DEERS ID Card page

DOD 100% Disabled American Veteran & Dependents Privileges

SHOPPING PRIVILAGESNo, not in Korea. USFK J1 was notified in July 2025 that the Korean Government has determined DAVs (veterans not retired) should not have access to duty free goods. The Korean Government's position is that disabled vets are living here by choice, are treated like Korean citizens, and do not have the same courtesies afforded to them as a 20+ year Retiree ID card holder. This decision will need to be managed and enforced at the duty free goods purchasing locations on bases in Korea since the DEERS/RAPIDS system will still print all privileges on the ID cards.

BASE ACCESS: Go To the Base Access page

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: Go To the Base Access page

ABOUT THIS ID CARD IN DEERS: Go to the DEERS ID Card page

VA VHIC ID Card - Veteran Health Identification CardPrivileges

COMMISSARY & AAFES EXCHANGE SHOPPING PRIVILAGES: NO  USFK Instruction (USFKI) 1501.01 does not allow Duty Free purchases by VHIC card holders in Korea.

BASE ACCESS: Go To the Base Access page

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: Go To the Base Access page

ABOUT THIS ID CARD IN DEERS: Go to the DEERS ID Card page

Shopping on USFK Installations

USAG Yongsan:  No Exchange, no Commissary, no Gas Station. The Dragon Hill Lodge as of Jul 1, 2025 still has the only AAFES Shoppette with no closure dates in sight (more DHL services). There is still an AAFES Barber Shop and a Thrift Shop. The US Embassy Association building has a Korean GS25 convenience store.  For Yongsan, that's all folks!

USAG Humphreys: Now the biggest US Army base in the Pacific and one of the largest in the world. It has everything to include a mall that houses the AAFES Exchange, Food Court, huge number of AAFES concessions, Starbucks, MAS Military Auto Sales, just about everything.  A huge Commissary, multiple 24/7/365 Express Gas Stations and Shoppettes, banks, Navy Federal Credit Union, and more. Here is a list of all the services around Humphreys.

Osan AB: Osan is still a go-to spot.  It has the Mustang Mall that houses the AAFES Exchange, Food Court, Bank, Post Office, FEDEX,  many AAFES Concessions, Starbucks, MAS Military Auto Sales, and more. A huge Commissary, an Express Gas Stations and Shoppette, Navy Federal Credit Union, and more. Check out the FSS website for more.

Camps Walker and Casey: Walker and Casey haven't changed much over the years.  Yes, some renovations here and there, but no new major construction projects.  They both still have all the typical AAFES support facilities and DECA commissaries. 

Chinhae, Busan, Mujok, Kunsan: While Busan is a wonderful vacation spot within the Korea peninsula, it and the military sites in the area are not really the go-to places for on-base shopping. They do serve their own communities well.

And in case you're wondering... there is nothing north other than Camp Casey.  All other bases are gone.


Ration Suspension

Suspension of Shopping Privileges

OPR: Director of Emergency Services (DES), Civilian Misconduct Office

The Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) overseeing misuse and abuse of shopping privileges is the DES Civilian Misconduct Office.  This office was much more busy before the lifting of the Ration Limits, but there are still many instances when abuse is found. Violations still occur in liquer over-purchasing, potential black marketing and more.  Investigates do still occur, as do litigations through the JAG office, and the Civilian Misconduct Office.  Memo's still get sent out to offending party's  informing them of Exchange and/or Commissary suspensions.  When this happens, the offender must report to a DEERS ID Office for issuance of a new ID card with these privileges removed from the ID card.

Bottom line here is, even though we have unlimited shopping available to us now, there are still instances that can bite you in the... so be aware.

Reporting Suspected Black-Marketing or Duty-Free Violation

The USAG Yongsan-Casey Civilian Misconduct and Ration Control Program office has implemented a process for reporting suspected black-marketing in the Yongsan-Casey area. Below is a sample of a flyer you may see posted around the installations with phone numbers and a dedicated email address to report suspected black-marketing, and also a fillable pdf form you can use to send to them.

Email: USAGYongsanCaseyReportNow@army.mil

Additionally, suspected black-marketing can be reported to any Civilian Misconduct Office. Contact one of these offices.

Stop Black Marketing Flyer Form to Report Suspected Black Marketing
 USFKI 1501.01 Exchange And Commissary Privileges Access To Duty-Free Goods

USFK Instruction 1501.01

Exchange And Commissary Privileges Access To Duty-Free Goods

Ration Control Limits in Korea Current as of Apr 2025

USFK Ration Control Limits as of 2025

Ration Control Program Contacts

USAG Yongsan/Casey
DSN 722-1589 / Cell 05033-22-1589
Email: TBD

USAG Humphreys
DSN 757-2088 / Cell 05033-57-2088

Camp Carroll
DSN 763-2890 / Cell 05033-63-2890

USAG Daegu
DSN 763-4709 / Cell 05033-63-4709