Comments on: First Signs of an All Volunteer ROK Army? http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/ Korea From North to South Thu, 24 May 2012 14:38:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ATACMS http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/comment-page-1/#comment-189194 ATACMS Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:45:52 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/#comment-189194 South Korean decision makers seem to start with the premise that in the event North Korea implodes there will be at least several million new street beggars in Seoul and this will be a costly development for the country. At the same time, it is doubtful that the Japanese government looks forward to having millions of starving, displaced refugees on boats, inner tubes, and pieces of wood, paddling towards Japan. It appears that both the ROK and Japan may figure it is far cheaper to simply provide enough food to keep everybody where they now are. Baby Kim will be gone one day and then the North Koreans can be brought, screaming and kicking, into the 18th century. Until then, the idea of status quo seems to have its appeal to ROK and Japanese politicians. I will say that it is a big mistake to send money to the North, both the ROK and Japan would be far better served by limiting their welfare exclusively to food---the emperor like lifestyle of Kim Junior doesn't need any help. South Korean decision makers seem to start with the premise that in the event North Korea implodes there will be at least several million new street beggars in Seoul and this will be a costly development for the country. At the same time, it is doubtful that the Japanese government looks forward to having millions of starving, displaced refugees on boats, inner tubes, and pieces of wood, paddling towards Japan. It appears that both the ROK and Japan may figure it is far cheaper to simply provide enough food to keep everybody where they now are. Baby Kim will be gone one day and then the North Koreans can be brought, screaming and kicking, into the 18th century. Until then, the idea of status quo seems to have its appeal to ROK and Japanese politicians. I will say that it is a big mistake to send money to the North, both the ROK and Japan would be far better served by limiting their welfare exclusively to food—the emperor like lifestyle of Kim Junior doesn't need any help.

]]> By: OneFreeKorea » KTU Update http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/comment-page-1/#comment-19077 OneFreeKorea » KTU Update Sun, 01 Apr 2007 03:29:58 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/#comment-19077 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] First Signs of an All Volunteer ROK Army? at ROK Drop said, [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] First Signs of an All Volunteer ROK Army? at ROK Drop said, [...]

]]> By: Mark http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/comment-page-1/#comment-2575 Mark Wed, 24 Jan 2007 09:00:55 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/#comment-2575 Maybe they'll institute some sort of save pay. $150 a month extra if you're in TROKA, $100 if you're in FROKA, and $50 for SROKA. Maybe they'll institute some sort of save pay. $150 a month extra if you're in TROKA, $100 if you're in FROKA, and $50 for SROKA.

]]> By: StKY http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/comment-page-1/#comment-2574 StKY Wed, 24 Jan 2007 07:31:08 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/#comment-2574 GI Korea, Having been around ROK soldiers for over 8 straight years, I agree with most of your view point. The only correction I would make, though, is that: "The progressives in the South Korean educational system have successfully indoctrinated an entire South Korean generation into the bogus belief that North Korea is just some misunderstood uncle that doesn’t mean any harm to South Korea." It's more like 2 or 3 generations by now. From 30 year old Korean peers to the 19 year old Rok soldier, they just don't see NK as anything that should be worried about. GI Korea,

Having been around ROK soldiers for over 8 straight years, I agree with most of your view point. The only correction I would make, though, is that: "The progressives in the South Korean educational system have successfully indoctrinated an entire South Korean generation into the bogus belief that North Korea is just some misunderstood uncle that doesn’t mean any harm to South Korea."

It's more like 2 or 3 generations by now. From 30 year old Korean peers to the 19 year old Rok soldier, they just don't see NK as anything that should be worried about.

]]> By: GI Korea http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/comment-page-1/#comment-2573 GI Korea Wed, 24 Jan 2007 06:02:27 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/#comment-2573 Just from my personal experience I would say that 30% of the KATUSA soldiers I had in my unit from my last tour in Korea bitched and complained about having to serve and told me if they could have gotten out of serving they would. And I compare that experience to 7-8 years ago when I was in Korea where I would say only 10% were worthless. Keep in mind there is still 70% good soldiers committed to doing their duty but I see a trend that is growing and talking to KATUSAs I would good friends with they concurred with what I see as a growing trend of not wanting to do mandatory service for the reasons I stated. I have actually had a KATUSA tell me himself he felt mandatory service was worthless because NK was not a threat anymore and just misunderstood brothers. I have a buddy of mine who is a CPT in the ROK army and he was telling me the same thing about soldiers entering into the ROK Army. He said the DMZ units are filled with the best soldiers and the ragbags are sent to non-front line units. So right now the front line units are very well trained and ready to protect the country, but he to is worried about 10-15 years down the road just like I am. Just from my personal experience I would say that 30% of the KATUSA soldiers I had in my unit from my last tour in Korea bitched and complained about having to serve and told me if they could have gotten out of serving they would. And I compare that experience to 7-8 years ago when I was in Korea where I would say only 10% were worthless. Keep in mind there is still 70% good soldiers committed to doing their duty but I see a trend that is growing and talking to KATUSAs I would good friends with they concurred with what I see as a growing trend of not wanting to do mandatory service for the reasons I stated. I have actually had a KATUSA tell me himself he felt mandatory service was worthless because NK was not a threat anymore and just misunderstood brothers.

I have a buddy of mine who is a CPT in the ROK army and he was telling me the same thing about soldiers entering into the ROK Army. He said the DMZ units are filled with the best soldiers and the ragbags are sent to non-front line units. So right now the front line units are very well trained and ready to protect the country, but he to is worried about 10-15 years down the road just like I am.

]]> By: mike mcstay http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/comment-page-1/#comment-2546 mike mcstay Tue, 23 Jan 2007 22:43:24 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/#comment-2546 GI I am not sure about your comments about them not wanting to serve and it being looked down upon. Please let me explain. I teach at Woosong University in Daejeon South Korea. I teach Freshman and Sophomores Basic English, What I saw last semester gave me hope for the future of South Korea. I had a few of my students unable to take their final exams because they had to do their service and they were looking forward to it. I have some that will be leaving this semester, once again, they know that they have 2 years to do and then they are done with it and then can continue their education and marry their girlfriends. What I saw was the students who had avoided their service were looked down upon. The only exception was one student who had a handicap and would be inelligible to serve. One student claimed that his dad took care of it for him, was looked down upon. I see a huge difference between the Fr (Who have not served) and the Soph. (Students who have all ready done their time) I have allot less whining from them and they seem more to want to learn English. Maybe you and me have seen different things with these young men here but I liked it when my students wanted to serve and to get it over with. GI I am not sure about your comments about them not wanting to serve and it being looked down upon.

Please let me explain.

I teach at Woosong University in Daejeon South Korea. I teach Freshman and Sophomores Basic English, What I saw last semester gave me hope for the future of South Korea.

I had a few of my students unable to take their final exams because they had to do their service and they were looking forward to it. I have some that will be leaving this semester, once again, they know that they have 2 years to do and then they are done with it and then can continue their education and marry their girlfriends.

What I saw was the students who had avoided their service were looked down upon. The only exception was one student who had a handicap and would be inelligible to serve. One student claimed that his dad took care of it for him, was looked down upon.

I see a huge difference between the Fr (Who have not served) and the Soph. (Students who have all ready done their time) I have allot less whining from them and they seem more to want to learn English.

Maybe you and me have seen different things with these young men here but I liked it when my students wanted to serve and to get it over with.

]]> By: Mark http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/comment-page-1/#comment-2524 Mark Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:48:25 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/01/23/first-signs-of-an-all-volunteer-rok-army/#comment-2524 Trust me, not enough Koreans will volunteer. They'll have to field an army of third-country nationals. Can an Iranian or Pakistani become a Korean citizen by volunteering to serve in the ROK Army? Would he want to? My guess is that the ROK military will cease to be the racially pure institution it is today, much to the chagrin of <a href="http://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.xanga.com/kyungjunyo" rel="nofollow">Coreans worldwide</a>. Trust me, not enough Koreans will volunteer. They'll have to field an army of third-country nationals.

Can an Iranian or Pakistani become a Korean citizen by volunteering to serve in the ROK Army? Would he want to?

My guess is that the ROK military will cease to be the racially pure institution it is today, much to the chagrin of Coreans worldwide.

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