The new chapel at Osan Air Base, South Korea, replaces its worn-out, demolished predecessor with a sanctuary that seats 306 and room for overflow. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — A new chapel at this base south of Seoul “promises to enhance not only our strengths in worship, but our social connections, resilience and education efforts,” the wing commander said as its doors opened last week.
The chapel, three years in construction, replaces its worn-out, demolished predecessor with a sanctuary that seats 306 and room for overflow.
“The previous chapel served Airmen for more than 50 years,” 51st Fighter Wing commander Col. William McKibban said in a statement Friday. “This one promises to deliver and serve Airmen for another 50 years, symbolizing an investment in Osan today for the Airmen of tomorrow, as well as over commitment to providing top-notch support to our service members and their families.”
The new house of worship cost $17 million to build, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The money came from a nearly $11 billion pot, mostly funded by South Korea, for relocating the bulk of U.S. forces south of the capital.
The new chapel at Osan Air Base, South Korea, replaces its worn-out, demolished predecessor with a sanctuary that seats 306 and room for overflow. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
The new house of worship at Osan Air Base, South Korea, cost $17 million to build, comes with two classrooms and a fellowship hall that seats 150. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
Air Force Chief of Chaplains (Maj. Gen.) Randall Kitchens cut the ceremonial ribbon in front of more than 40 guests, including senior leaders.
The chapel has a state-of-the-art audio-visual system with cameras, projectors and screens, allowing the sanctuary and fellowship hall to be used congruently. The new facility also comes with two classrooms that seat 12 and 24 people respectively and a fellowship hall that seats 150.
The building has a reception area, counseling rooms and a duty chaplain’s office. Some of the areas, such as the sanctuary, multi-faith worship center and the men’s and women’s purification rooms, are strictly for religious purposes.
“The new chapel allows for service members and their families to connect in a sacred space and grants us the opportunity to execute religious support operations more efficiently,” base Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James Galyon said in the release.
