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Korean students at USU ponder
duty of military service in home ecountry
By Jason Cutler
May 6, 3009 | Finals.
Girlfriend.
Summer housing.
Mandatory military service.
These are the things that have been on Min Taek Seo's
mind these days, whether he likes it or not.
He is one of many students at USU who, at one point
or another, will have to complete their mandatory military
conscription for the Republic of Korea.
Seo, whose English name is Milan, is a South Korean
national who will serve two or more years as a soldier
for the Korean Armed Forces starting this August, as
is mandatory for all able-bodied Korean men over the
age of 18.
Seo has been out of Korea for over six years living
in Toronto, Canada and Logan. However, he is still required
to make the journey home for his tour of duty.
"I want people to understand that it means I'm giving
everything away…I never know what's going to happen
once I get in there, " said Seo in near perfect English.
Everyone that serves in the military has to make sacrifices,
whether it is schooling, postponing a job, or just plain
fun; even celebrities and sports stars are expected
to put their careers on hold.
It is especially tough for those who, like the students
at USU, are studying abroad.
Joo Seung Seo, another Korean student, will have to
get a new visa to come back to study here, and Min Taek
Seo is scared he will lose his English skills after
two years of almost no exposure to it. Both of them
are worried about how this will affect their schooling.
However, the situation is a little different for everyone.
In Joo Seung Seo's case, the poor condition of his
eyesight will not allow him to participate in regular
military service, instead he will be assigned to a state
organization such as a fire station or post office.
Either way he must serve his two years.
"At first I felt like a failure. Why do others get
to go and not me? But I get more freedom, " said Joo
Seung Seo.
There is a sense of honor and duty that has been cultivated
behind conscription in South Korean society.
Joo Seung Seo said, "If you don't serve in the military
you have nothing to talk about."
For some the honor is lost in the cause.
"If it was not compulsory I would feel a little
bit of honor; the only reason I go is because it's compulsory.
Everyone goes, so I'm supposed to go also," said
Min Taek Seo.
There are some examples of dodging, but as of 2004
the punishment for such is three to five years in jail,
according to The Korea Herald.
One of the most prevalent cases was a draft-dodging
scandal in 2004 involving 50 players from the South
Korean baseball league and altered urine tests, according
to the Korea Times.
For most there is no question whether they will; it
is not a matter of choice, but rather of duty.
In Korea there is a proverb referring to two sides
of a sword; one is sharp and one is dull, both are part
of the sword. That is how most Korean students at USU
feel about the current military system.
"Two sides of the sword, Korea has no choice,
if Korea has an army we can protect. . . . I think it
is a waste individually, but as a whole it can be good,"
said Joo Seung Seo.
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