The Busan City Government, et. al., is going to transform the dockside behind the KoRail Station. The artist rendition looks like something straight off the shore from Dubai! All the high-rise buildings look like DNA Helix and the center-point is an artificial island.

You may have noticed that the piers are empty. Those big barges are core drilling machines that are measuring how far down the bed rock is below the sea-floor (all the buildings have to be built on pylons driven to the bed rock).

Everything in the first phase is scheduled to be finished within 8 years..

The United Seamen's Service organization will keep a presence in Busan, but it will only be at Pier 8. Walt will be renovating the small Club, knocking out walls and putting in more tables. Pier 8 is much smaller than the Club at Pier 3, but he intends to continue the open holiday buffets (like Thanksgiving and Christmas). This Club is not as easy to get to without a car. Take the subway to Daeyon, bus 51 to PUFS University, take a cab to Pier 8 (minimal cost)..

Walt doesn't expect many of the Korean membership holders to transfer their habits to pier 8 since it is far from their downtown offices.

Eventually, after all the legal problems are overcome, the USS hopes to establish in or around Kwang-yang or Yosue.. the New Port area.

Walt, bless his 'ol heart, has been made "regional manager" of Asia and is moving to Guam. He will be back frequently to make sure things go smoothly.

Has the smaller club remained open? Do they still sell Copenhagen?

Yes, as I said, they are open and expanding.. yes, tobacco is sold.

Strict adherence to Membership ID, government SOFA regulations.

Regional manager? Good for him!

By the way, what's the phone number for the club on Pier 8? Also, is there any plan to make the club either no smoking in the dining room or at least to have a no smoking area after the club's renovated?

So bfg, if you don't mind, what exactly do you mean by the above? How does one meet such strict adherence criteria to Membership ID & SOFa regs? Last time I dropped by the Sad Sack and, in general, vastly overrated Pier 3 joint, and inquired about the "new" membership policy (Walt was in Guam by then), I was basically told to check out.

If you go to the Pier 8 SC now will you be welcomed? No membership policy??

There is a sign posted, " Membership Required", at the Pier 8 Seaman's Club.. according to SOFA regulations negotiated between Korea and the US Military, the Seaman's Club (an NGO) is considered to be on a military base and you need a "pass" to be allowed on base.. in this case, a membership. The number of "base passes" is delineated by the SOFA for every base in Korea. These NGO memberships are limited and cost a fee, there are no more "expat-community" memberships.

If you are a member, then you can enter and buy food and consumables. You cannot play the slots or buy some items in the canteen.

The Seaman's Club's phone number is: 462-8029..

I have not heard about any plans for a non-smoking area.. why not call and request one?

The new hours are: 11 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Saturday.

Thanks for the response. Actually, every time I've been into the other one, my friends and I requested a no smoking area. The usual response from the staff was initial shock and then a discussion to decide where they could put us to minimize the exposure to the stench of tobacco smoke. Kudos for them trying, but it'd be even better if they'd cotton to the idea that a restaurant should be no smoking. Maybe I got that attitude from living in California so long, but it should be obvious, IMHO. When I went to the club on Pier 8 and asked if there's a no smoking section, the response was, "We allow smoking here."

The US Military allow smoking everywhere in the world on their property, so I understand. I have heard that the Brass intend to change that, and make all branches "non-smoking", but it will take time.

The vast majority of the indoor facilities on US military installations around the world are non-smoking. By the way, smokers are in the minority now.