U.S. Navy Veteran Revisits South Korea Through the Revisit Korea Program

COMMANDER FLEET ACTIVITIES, CHINHAE, SOUTH KOREA- U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Daniel Frenning revisits South Korea through the Revisit Korea Program orchestrated by the Republic of Korea government to thank the service members from the U.S. who have served in South Korea.
Dr. Frenning was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps in 1972 and was assigned as the chief general medical officer at Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) in South Korea. Because his assignment was accompanied, his wife, Carol, was able to reside with him in Chinhae.
The Frennings arrived during a transformative period in South Korean history. The years between1972–1974 were defined by two major developments: the establishment of the authoritarian Yushin system, which centralized political power and suppressed democratic opposition, and the rapid expansion of heavy and chemical industrialization, which established the country's modern economic and corporate infrastructure.
Within this environment, CFAC served as the primary permanent U.S. Naval presence in South Korea, acting as both a diplomatic post and a logistics station for incoming vessels. Despite its strategic importance, the medical facilities on the base were limited.
“We had a very small dispensary with rudimentary capabilities,” said Dr. Frenning. “I feel like I was dealing with more than I should have been able to handle.”
A typical day at the dispensary involved treating U.S. military personnel, Marines, and their families in the morning. In the afternoon, the dispensary opened its gates to the local Korean population to provide basic medical care.
The Frennings departed South Korea in 1974 and returned to Minnesota where Dr. Frenning completed his residency at the University of Minnesota, specializing in oncology and hematology. He practiced medicine for 43 years until his retirement in 2020.
In September 2026, Dr. Frenning and his wife, Carol, returned to South Korea through the Revisit Korea Program sponsored by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
The program is designed to recognize the service of military personnel on the Korean peninsula and support the bilateral defense alliance.
The program fully funds travel for eligible veterans and partially funds travel for one accompanying family member or caregiver. It is open to veterans of the Korean War, as well as personnel who served in Korea as members of the United Nations Forces or U.S. Forces Korea after the 1953 armistice.
Organized with stateside support from the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) and the Korean War Veterans Association, the initiative allows participants to meet veterans from different eras of service and visit sites such as the Seoul National Cemetery and the War Memorial of Korea. The attendees were also able to visit nearby U.S. bases including Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base. This 5-day itinerary allowed the veterans to truly see the impacts their service has made on both the Korean community and the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the U.S
“They really emphasized how important it is to maintain this defense alliance, and I strongly support that,” said Dr. Frenning.
Once completed with the official visit in Seoul, the Frennings were able to extend their trip and visit their old home in Chinhae, South Korea.
During their visit, Dr. Frenning observed significant infrastructure changes, both in the region and at the military installation. Today, transportation to Chinhae is facilitated by multiple tunnels constructed through the surrounding mountains, which has improved regional access and eased medical evacuations. Furthermore, the base clinic now operates as a branch of the U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka in Japan, offering expanded services.
“I think the upgrades are very important in the clinic area,” noted Dr. Frenning upon visiting the modernized facilities. “They have such good access to specialists when needed, and I didn’t have that much support.”
The Frennings expressed thanks to the facilitators of the program for making it possible for them to revisit the place where they started their family.
The Revisit Korea Program is open to all eligible veterans who served in Korea, and interested individuals are encouraged to apply through the Korean War Veterans Association.

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