ROK, U.S. Airmen unite during Korean-American Friendship Day at Kunsan AB
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Airmen assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing and the Republic of Korea Air Force’s 38th Fighter Group united for the tenth annual Korean-American Friendship Day at Kunsan Air Base, ROK., Oct. 16, 2026.
Korean-American Friendship Day is the largest annual bilateral event hosted at Kunsan AB. ROKAF and U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to Kunsan take the day to participate in sports events, try local Korean cuisine and learn more about each other’s cultures.
“Korean-American Friendship Day gives us a chance to honor the history of our partnership and build the friendships that carry it forward,” said Kiersten Warren, 8th Force Support Squadron community services flight chief. “When our Korean and American teammates compete side by side, share traditions and learn from one another, those connections extend beyond the event. They strengthen our community and the teamwork we rely on every day.”
As with previous iterations of the Friendship Day, sports competitions garnered much attention from Kunsan Airmen. Historically, the 8th FW and 38th FG competed against each other on separate teams, but this year offered a new change: combined teams. Servicemembers from both countries now competed side by side, integrating into teams mixed with ROKAF and U.S. Air Force Airmen.
A wide array of sports were available to play, such as golf, paintball, bowling, volleyball, soccer and much more.U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Keeley Dolan, 8th Operations Support Squadron airfield operations officer, participated in a soccer tournament on a team comprised of five U.S. Air Force Airmen and six ROKAF airmen:
“Overall, competing alongside our ROKAF partners was a rewarding experience!” Dolan said. “It’s always inspiring to experience how sports really do transcend languages and culture. By the end of the tournament, it was clear that we had built genuine connections through our shared love of soccer.”
The day also offered several cultural exchange experiences for the Wolf Pack and 38th FG. At several booths set up near the base exchange, Wolf Pack Airmen could brew their own Korean style coffee and try on Hanbok, a traditional form of Korean clothing. ROKAF airmen also had the opportunity to play cornhole while U.S. Air Force Airmen learned how to play Jegichagi, an outdoor Korean game where participants compete to keep a paper Jeji – a weighted object similar to a birdie used in badminton – aloft using their feet.
"The 2026 Korean-American Friendship Day focused on helping our servicemembersunderstand each other as true colleagues by teaming up within counterpart departments to work together and experience Korean culture, such as trying on Hanbok and playing Jegichagi," said Republic of Korea Air Force Col. Kyung-soo “Eagle” Lee, 38th FG commander. "I hope today's event serves as a strong catalyst for deep bonds between ROK and U.S. servicemembers, ultimately becoming a core driving force that supports our robust combined defense posture."
As the sport competitions and cultural exchanges concluded, Kunsan Airmen turned their attention to a cultural and arts show, featuring Korean performers. During a performance, the Kimpo University Taekwondo Team demonstrated their martial arts skills, while the ROKAF Band played a mix of songs with lyrics in both Korean and English. Later in the evening, the installation hosted a concert featuring Korean solo artist Ben, the K-Pop group S2it and a DJ performance by DJ Windy.
The day concluded with an awards ceremony hosted by U.S. Air Force Col. John “Wolf” DeLion, 8th FW commander, and Col. Lee,who presented challenge coins to the top performing Kunsan Airmen and teams of the day’s sports competitions. The coins commemorated the partnership of the U.S. Air Force and ROKAF, being engraved with the flags of both countries and an image of two F-16 Fighting Falcons, an aircraft that is flown by both the Wolf Pack and 38th FG at Kunsan AB.
At the end of the ceremony both DeLion and Lee reflected on the events of Korean-American Friendship Day, thanking servicemembers and their families for their dedication to the Kunsan AB mission while highlighting the enduring U.S.-ROK Alliance.
“The bond between ROK and U.S. servicememberswas forged in battle decades ago and continues to endure today,” DeLion said. “During today’s sports events, festivities, and immersions into Korean culture, we showcased our combined commitment to each other as we continue to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance.”
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