Compulsory Military Service

[KJmoon117]

Well... First off, I'm 15 years old (turned 15 on Jan 4th) and I'm South Korean.

As most or well, some people know, South Korea has a compulsory military service for those with Korean Citizenship (ages 18-30). This military service is required like in Israel except the only problem is that I can't even speak or understand Korean for crap.

For those who are like me, what happens to them? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of military service or anything but I would rather not be court martialed for misunderstanding orders.

So has anyone been in the Korean Army or know of a situation like this, I'm very interested.

Thanks

[Topher15]

Sorry can't help but why don't you contact the Korean government (via the embassy/consulate).

How long have you not lived in the US? Since you can't speak the language I'm presuming a long time?

Surely any government with compulsory military service must be prepared for situations like yours where the citizen lives elsewhere and can speak the language?

[cantthinkofone]

A friend of mine is from Turkey and is going in for his service in april. They have a system where you serve 6 months...OR...Pay $6000 and serve 3 weeks. Since he has a full time here he can't really afford to be gone 6 months.

Im assuming you were born in south korea and then you came over here?

[KJmoon117]

Sorry can't help but why don't you contact the Korean government (via the embassy/consulate).

How long have you not lived in the US? Since you can't speak the language I'm presuming a long time?

Surely any government with compulsory military service must be prepared for situations like yours where the citizen lives elsewhere and can speak the language?

Well I found this article (took me a while to find though)...

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=15452

Basically, U.S. teacher who has no idea that he's a Korean citizen goes to Korea. He can't speak Korean and he gets drafted. Done. Now I really want to know how he ended up.

Maybe the South Korean government might let me just go serve the U.S. or something, I always wanted to do that before I realized I had to work for South Korea instead. :(

[Edit] Yep, I was born in South Korea and I moved to the US when I was around 6 and I came back about a month ago. I can't really speak Korean, sadly, I know a lot more about the US than Korea.

One thing is that the service is 24-27 months and no one is exempt except some people meeting certain requirements. I have heard that a lot of people run away from duty (soccer players, pop stars, etc. etc. etc.) or bribes the government.

[StealthRider]

If you're a US citizen, you have the option of renouncing South Korean citizenship. Other than that, I don't know anything about the SK system of conscription and the applicable laws, so you should probably talk to a representative of the South Korean State Department (they probably call it something different).

[Don't panic]

so, are you in south korea now?
will you be there for the next 3 years until you become eligible?
i am sure you will know the language by then. how are you dealing with schools and day-to-day issues?

it seems to me that if you are a korean citizen and live in korea, you should just put up with the laws of the country.

is it legal to be a conscience objector in Korea? (although if you were willing to enlist in the US army i guess you conscience is ok with being a soldier)

[KJmoon117]

Yep, I'm in Korea right now and I'm might sure... I might leave next year to go back to my old high school.

As for school right now, I go to one of those foreign schools where the dominant language is English.

Conscience of being a soldier... Hmm, yea I'm not much of a conscientious objector. However, S. Korea imprisons conscientious objector. Only problem I have fighting for Korea is that how do I fight for a country I have no clue about?

Does anyone know if I join the Korean military (by draft), can I get assigned to an English speaking fireteam? Will it also affect my chances of a US citizenship?

I'll ask my grandparents or maybe one of my uncles who's in the ROK Army. I think I'll pass on calling the state or the embassy, they might think I'm one of those deserters and storm my house or something.

Thanks

[Don't panic]

i am sure that the korean army could most definitively use people speaking english natively.

but if you are going to live there for extended periods of time, it would be to your benefit in any case to learn the language properly.

[Unspeaked]

I know if countries that have similar military requirements that excuse non-native speakers, but if you've got a story of someone who was drafted despite only speaking English, maybe that's not the case there...

[Naimfan]

No idea how the ROK draft system works. But if you do enter, you might try to be a KATUSA--they are assigned to US units in Korea (KATUSA stands for, IIRC, Korean Augmentation of the US Army, or something similar). Also, if you hold dual citizenship, I would think you could return to the US and, as Stealthrider pointed out, renounce ROK citizenship, although I have no idea if the ROK government would recognize your renunciation.

[StealthRider]

...as Stealthrider pointed out, renounce ROK citizenship, although I have no idea if the ROK government would recognize your renunciation.

Not an ideal situation in any way, shape, or form - don't burn bridges unless you absolutely have to. Your best chance is some kind of waiver.

[v-ault]

Tell them you want to work for Blizzard and program for World of Warcraft. Chung hey fat choi.

[n0d3]

I'm in Singapore and there is compulsory military service for males where you serve a minimum of 1 year 10 months and a maximum of 2 years depending on your fitness level when you enlist.

If you refuse to serve, you'll be charged and face a jail sentence of about 3 years or so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Service_in_Singapore/

Keke.

[Mammoth]

Well... First off, I'm 15 years old (turned 15 on Jan 4th) and I'm South Korean.

As most or well, some people know, South Korea has a compulsory military service for those with Korean Citizenship (ages 18-30). This military service is required like in Israel except the only problem is that I can't even speak or understand Korean for crap.

For those who are like me, what happens to them? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of military service or anything but I would rather not be court martialed for misunderstanding orders.

So has anyone been in the Korean Army or know of a situation like this, I'm very interested.

Thanks

I am in almost the exact same situation as you..

I'm also 15 (as of today in fact, and it wasn't such a great day..) and I have dual citizenship, Swedish and Canadian. Sweden requires 1 year of military service at age 18 or something so I don't know if I'll be sent off to Sweden or not. I do know Swedish well, but not nearly fluently.. kind of worries me. :(

[Green2Delta]

No idea how the ROK draft system works. But if you do enter, you might try to be a KATUSA--they are assigned to US units in Korea (KATUSA stands for, IIRC, Korean Augmentation of the US Army, or something similar).

This is exactlly what I was thinking. I was stationed in Korea back in 2000 and we had KATUSAs in my platoon. You're pretty close, it actually stands for Korean Augmentee to the US Army.

I would look into being a KATUSA if you have to do military service.

[aloofman]

If you're a US citizen, you have the option of renouncing South Korean citizenship. Other than that, I don't know anything about the SK system of conscription and the applicable laws, so you should probably talk to a representative of the South Korean State Department (they probably call it something different).

When a U.S. citizen renounces citizenship in a native country, it's only the U.S. that considers it renounced. The U.S. doesn't recognize dual citizenship, but some other countries do. (Don't know if South Korea does.) Renouncing your citizenship would mean nothing to the ROK if U.S. citizenship doesn't interfere with theirs.

[Naimfan]

This is exactlly what I was thinking. I was stationed in Korea back in 2000 and we had KATUSAs in my platoon. You're pretty close, it actually stands for Korean Augmentee to the US Army.

I would look into being a KATUSA if you have to do military service.

TURTLE!

[Green2Delta]

TURTLE!

What?

[Naimfan]

What?

I guess times have changed . . .

"Turtle" was what newcomers were called when arriving in Korea, and as a general way of making fun of someone.

(I was in Korea from June 91 to June 92.)

[nbs2]

Does anyone know if I join the Korean military (by draft), can I get assigned to an English speaking fireteam? Will it also affect my chances of a US citizenship?

From this, I take it that you are a SK citizen and do not have dual citizenship in the US. That makes things a little more difficult, but if you don't wish to serve, then you would have to become an American citizen. Otherwise, you will be obligated to serve. Any (especially obligatory) service shouldn't have any effect on your ability to become an American citizen at a later date.

If I am incorrect, and you are a dual citizen, then you will need to make sure that your name has been removed from the Korean Family Census Register. As of 5/26/05, you cannot renounce your citizenship in order to escape military service - getting off the Register would be your only option.

More information is available here. (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1018.html) Just keep in mind that the information is primarily directed towards dual citizens, but there is some material that would be to your benefit.

[KJmoon117]

I'm a 100% Korean (by law lol) but I'm pretty disabled in terms of speaking...

But if I have to go through with Korean Boot Camp, only problem is the language. I want to serve but it's just the language that's the barrier. Plus, I know how the US Military works more than I do with Korean.

Oh well, I guess I'll have to re-learn everything and just join the ROK Marine Corps instead of the US.

Thanks dudes

[nbs2]

Oh well, I guess I'll have to re-learn everything and just join the ROK Marine Corps instead of the US.

If you are intent on joining the USMC, I imagine that your obligation to the ROKMC would be discharged. Serving in a foreign armed force would be a deterrent to any other armed force taking you.

But, in the end, good luck with whatever you do.

[Leareth]

I am in almost the exact same situation as you..

I'm also 15 (as of today in fact, and it wasn't such a great day..) and I have dual citizenship, Swedish and Canadian. Sweden requires 1 year of military service at age 18 or something so I don't know if I'll be sent off to Sweden or not. I do know Swedish well, but not nearly fluently.. kind of worries me. :(

If I were in your case I would join Cadets, even though you are not in military officially, it disqualifies you from serving in a non-commonwealth country military except US.

[Green2Delta]

I guess times have changed . . .

"Turtle" was what newcomers were called when arriving in Korea, and as a general way of making fun of someone.

(I was in Korea from June 91 to June 92.)

Ahh gotcha. Is that because of the ditches they had running everywhere on base because of the rainy season? I think it might be coming back to me now... or am I way off?

[motulist]

Out of curiosity, how did you wind up being a South Korean citizen who can't speak Korean well? Did you immigrate there from a country that spoke a different language?

[protozoa]

This is exactlly what I was thinking. I was stationed in Korea back in 2000 and we had KATUSAs in my platoon. You're pretty close, it actually stands for Korean Augmentee to the US Army.

I would look into being a KATUSA if you have to do military service.

Yep. I served in Korea in the U.S. Army in the late '90s. We worked with KATUSAs as well as Korean Regular Army soldiers and officers. Being a KATUSA would be the way to go. They are paid on a U.S. Army pay scale (which is much better than the Regular Army enlisted men are paid), and enjoy other benefits.

One thing I didn't see (but may have missed) is... what are your parents saying about what will happen? I'm sure they have a pretty good handle on what your responsibilities would be.

I would not bet the farm that the Korean Army would excuse you from your service based on your lack of language skills. We have people in the U.S. Army who, not only can't speak English very well, but they aren't even U.S. citizens!

[bgd]

I suppose on the bright side you will have a pretty good grasp of the language at the end of your service. :)

[Mammoth]

If I were in your case I would join Cadets, even though you are not in military officially, it disqualifies you from serving in a non-commonwealth country military except US.

Bah I'm not worried too much. Sweden hasn't been in a war in god knows how long, and at least my Swedish will get much better.