CGS is AFSC’s fundraising arm...
Run by a small staff and assisted by wonderful volunteers, the Chosun offers a wide variety of items from Asia such as jewelry, linens, furniture, and rugs.  Profits raised from our operations are donated to both Korean and American projects.
 

Early in 1966, a group of ambitious military spouses started work on their dream, a gift shop here in Yongsan, to bring local Korean handicrafts and gift items from other places in the Orient to the American community stationed in Korea.  The drive was spearheaded by Mrs. L.W. Schlanser, wife of the Chief of Staff, Eighth U.S. Army.  The ladies researched details on transportation, customs, location and official regulations, to make their dream a reality.

In March 1966, Mrs. James Simmerman, President of the Officers’ Wives Club (OWC), submitted a formal application to General Schlanser, who approved the project in principle.  Official recommendations were to start a "Charity Bazaar" for six months from July until Christmas on a trial basis.  Some Okinawan glassware and $500 served as the initial investment.  Handicrafts made by the Paraplegic Village and the Young Chin Vocational School for Girls were added to serve to introduce Korean handicrafts to American shoppers and to help these institutions with extra income.

The project was an instant success. On Saturday, September 16, 1967, the Chosun Gift Shop held its grand opening in Building 3599, a quonset hut across from the high school.  In addition to operating the shop in Seoul and later at Camp Walker, Taegu, the ladies loaded their merchandise into trucks and periodically visited remote sites to enable Soldiers to do their shopping.  The Taegu shop, called The Apple Tree,  is now independent of the CGS and is run by the Camp Walker Spouses' Club.  

Today, as in the beginning, the CGS operates with the approval of the command.  The Board of Directors must meet the guidelines of the Gift Shop, Army Regulations and polices pertaining to private organizations.  The Chosun pays its own expenses including utilities, all transportation of merchandise from other countries and the delivery of goods from ports in Korea to Yongsan.

On April 10, 1997, a fire burned down the then CGS building with tremendous loss of inventory.  But with thanks to many benefactors and innumerable volunteer hours, salvage  and inventory operations were conducted that same week and a temporary building secured to reopen and continue operations.

After 30 years, a newly built permanent CGS reopened its doors to the community on May 26, 1998.  The building was then given as a gift to the Army.  The new store sits at the site of the burned building.

Today, the Chosun Gift Shop is operated by a paid staff of 14 and AFSC volunteers.  Item for sale are brought from Japan, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Philippines.  We no longer stock Korean made items.

Funds raised by the CGS go to the AFSC to be distributed through the American and Korean Welfare Project Committees to support American and Korean charities throughout the country.  They are also used to provide scholarships to graduating seniors.