By GI Korea on November 6th, 2011 at 3:28 am

ROK Drop Open Thread – November 6, 2011

• ChickenHead
  11:35 am on November 6th, 2011 1

  Set your alarms.

  Soon, it will be November 11, 2011…

  …and, at the right time, it will be…

  11/11/11 11:11:11.

  And it will happen in the morning and at night…

  …two kick-azz times to engorge yourself on a whole box of…

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

  …which I will not only do… but give large amounts of it to everyone I know.

  If you don’t catch it, in Korea, 11/11 is Pepero Day… being they are sticks… like 1s. Get it?

  I figure 11/11/11 11:11:11 is Death by Pepero Day.

  Sure, this is totally arbitrary…

  …but it is kinda cute from our current frame of reference.

  I decided 11/11/11 at 11:11:11 is time to start something special…

  …a generational project for the advancement of mankind.

  Anybody want to join me?

• kangaji
  11:51 am on November 6th, 2011 2

  Sure.

• Retired GI
  12:22 pm on November 6th, 2011 3

  Why not.

• Retired GI
  12:45 pm on November 6th, 2011 4

  Pepero: a long sweet tasting stick—that you put in your mouth—that starts with pepe.

• Leon LaPorte
  3:31 pm on November 6th, 2011 5

  4. a long sweet tasting stick—that you put in your mouth

  I often use that description.

• Glans
  1:48 am on November 7th, 2011 6

  I visited Youtube, and this happened to come up. Nice legs.

• Retired GI
  4:40 am on November 7th, 2011 7

  My Pepero and I likey

• Homeboy
  6:28 am on November 7th, 2011 8

  Women love chocolate sticks… Especially the thick and long ones….

• Just Curious
  1:03 am on November 8th, 2011 9

  Different topic here… just curious and wondering about military deployed in Korea?

  1) There seem to be many military here who had been previously deployed in combat areas like Iraq and Afghanistan. So is the deployment to Korea seen by those as a much needed respite for at least a year, since the possibility of being deployed to another combat area while here is virtually guaranteed not to happen?

  2) There also seem to be a lot of young men whose first deployment is to Korea and that is the reason why they get into trouble with drinking and women. Is this also because Korea is seen as a safe country for the young recruits to learn about living in a foreign country/learn combat training before they are deployed to actual combat?

  If anyone has any insights I would appreciate it, and if I’m going off on something not true at all please also let me know.

  Thanks!

• Glans
  2:23 am on November 8th, 2011 10

  A Chinese hydropower project in Myanmar has been suspended because of local opposition. Andrew Higgins reports from Naypyidaw for the WashingtonPost.

• Retired GI
  4:47 am on November 8th, 2011 11

  Just curious. You seem to think that there exist some form of “planning” concerning young soldier. There isn’t.

  Korea is just another of the places that a young soldier can be sent too. Some young soldiers never go to korea. They go to Germany or Honduras or other countries and leave the military, never seeing Korea.

  I have a friend that retired from the Army five years ago. Twenty years and he never was sent to Korea.

  The Problem with Korea is with the American Military Leadership, not Korea.

  I spent 1988 through 1992 in Korea. I never got into trouble “off base” in Korea.
  We had a week off BRIEFINGS before we were FULLY inprocessed. The American Military nolonger does this and hasn’t for long time. (about the time most off post troubles began.

  But after thinking about it further, there is one problem with Korea, in general. It is thought of as a place that at the drop of a hat, can turn very anti-American. Because of the obvious difference in Race, an American can not simply blend into the background. This is not always a bad thing.

  There was one time when I was in Seoul, walking back from the Philippine embassy. A police woman stopped traffic for me and saluted me as I crossed the intersection. That was about 1989. But there have been many more times when anti American riots have kept me from being able to leave the base.

  In conclusion: Korea is seen as yet ANOTHER reason for men to be seperated from their wives and children, their car, and much of their freedom for an entire year.

  Yet people can’t understand why the soldiers drink. This is not true for 100% of the soldiers. Only the ones that make the news. I never made the news. Most Soldiers do not make the news.

  While I can’t speak as an expert in the area lately. I can speak as a Soldier that spent nine years in Korea; 1988>92, 1995>97, and 2002>2004.

  Bring back the week long BRIEFING!

• Just Curious
  4:22 pm on November 8th, 2011 12

  Hi Retired GI

  Thanks for the response. I do realize that there are many of the 28,500 USFK here who DON’T get into trouble, but it seems like only the handful of them that do, create bad reputations for the entire group…

  Which is unfortunate, so I was trying to see if there were different reasons or angles for the soldiers stationed here. Weeklong briefing sounds good, I thought there was supposed to be some classes or something instilled?

  Hmm, and I do think there are a lot of combat vets here but having to be here by themselves probably isn’t good for their state of minds either.

  I know there is a lot of animosity towards the American soldiers here and never realized how bad it was until I was hanging out one night with my female Korean friend and male American military friend and a Korean guy started yelling at him and wanted to fight him, so us two female Koreans had to yell back at him and push him away. That was very eyeopening and sad.

• Retired GI
  5:37 pm on November 8th, 2011 13

  Just Curious, your GI friend is fortunate indeed to have a Korean National, reguardless of male or female, to help him through his tour of duty in Korea.
  I was also fortunate to have had a Korean National as a friend during my tours. It is helpful.
  There was one guy that was in the ROK Airforce. We were “ville” buddies, and he helped with my understanding of the Korean way of thinking. He gave me his “ETS” shoulder patch when he left the Airforce. It is still special to me and I still have it. I ran into him in 2002, had not seen him since 1992. Neither of us had changed much. I tried to call the # in the States he gave me, but couldn’t find it. His name was Lee surYong. A friend from a very good time in my life. Obviously, I think of him from time to time. It was a different tour of duty back then.

  Teach your GI friend well and show him the places that the USO tours do not offer. Most GI’s are OK guys. But like any group, we have our idiots also. Sadly, they are the ones that get the press time. Sugohasayo.

• Tbonetylr
  5:59 pm on November 8th, 2011 14

  Cheonggyecheon stream in Seoul polluted with bacteria
  http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111108000721

  Yes, of course the U.S.A. is at fault. Just give them more time to find out…

• Homeboy
  6:06 pm on November 8th, 2011 15

  Well… it is interesting to read some of the posts here…

  When I think of Korean girls / women who tag along foreigners as a GI groupie (in Korean: 딸랑이) …

  Young women who grew up in Korea never know what it’s like to grow up in other-race-majority society. So, women here have fantasies about foreigners who they think them in the same image as popular Hollywood actors.

  The Korean women groupies are much like their counterparts in China, Japan, and South East Asia who go wild or goo goo over Korean Wave (Hallyu) stars.

  I don’t know why a Korean guy attacked an American at a bar for no reason but if I may guess, the women groupie surrounding American may have been openly showing affection in public which is looked down upon in Korea – drooling all over the foreigner.

  In another instances, I’ve heard from one of my GI friends that their Korean girl friends trash everything about Korea – especially the men.

  How she decided to meet a “foreigner” because she felt that Korean men were too short etc. She weren’t that tall.

  So, whatever the reason Korean chicks date foreigners, they look like a groupie (딸랑이) to many Koreans and rather pathetic.

  I’m sure there are many relationships developed on the base of equality and respect for each other but for some, I can see right through what kind of relationship they’re having.

  Don’t get me wrong: I don’t blame the foreigners… They should take what’s coming at them. The groupies are for free. Just take it, use it and dump it. More power to you..hooah !! — Just don’t rape the regular girls…. there are plenty of GI/white men fantasizing women groupies out there in Seoul… who want to learn English or practice it with you in private.

• Homeboy
  6:24 pm on November 8th, 2011 16

  The magic number 28,500 popped into my eyes so I got some comment. For your information: the official number of American military personnel in Korea is 28,500 but the actual number is seen as around 24,000 something…

  You see during Rumfeld-led Pentagon years, the U.S. told then SK President Roh that it would take out 12,500 men and reduce the total number station in Korea down to 25,000. Ostensibly, the plan was renegotiated and the No. of USFK was pegged at 28,500 for the time being. But that’s just a show. The Americans meant it when they wanted to pull out 12,500 men and reduce the total stationed here at 25,000 men.

  It seems American military pull people in and out of Korea within bounds of 28,500 men and women slots but the actual number is far below that. (hovering near 25 K)

  When the American war-time operational power is turned over to South Koreas and Combined Forces Command is dissolved, the number of USFK will be cut drastically. (in 2016 ?)

  Given Korean political situation at this time, if leftists were elected parliamentary majority and their leader is elected the President of South Korea then you may even see even smaller number of USFK in Korea.

  At anyrate, it seems whether we all like it or not, the years of American bases and GIs is coming to a close. I’m not a fortune teller but I can guarantee that in ten years, things may look very different from what it is today.

• Tbonetylr
  1:59 am on November 9th, 2011 17

  Huh, gang members in S. Korea via USA military…?
  http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/11/116_98361.html
  A number of American gang members have sneaked into Korea as service members of the U.S. forces, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said in a report, raising concerns of their involvement in criminal behavior here.

  The report didn’t mention the exact number of U.S. gang members in Korea, but as of April, the FBI has identified people from at least 53 gangs whose members have served in or are affiliated with U.S. military.

  “Many U.S. street gang members join the military to escape the gang lifestyle or as an alternative to incarceration,” said the report under the headline “2011 National Gang Threat Assessment.” “But they often revert back to their gang associations once they encounter other gang members in the military.”

  Among gangs with members who have served in the U.S. military is Korean Dragon Family, a street gang, it said.

• Homeboy
  3:27 am on November 9th, 2011 18

  some wiener deleted my post on the actual number of USFK personnel stationed in S Korea.

  I mentioned that although official count is 28,500, the actual number “in-country” is around 25,000. That was the number Rumsfeld wanted down-sized to some years back. ROKs don’t know the exact figure ‘cus USFK wouldn’t let us know.

  But we figured for sure that the actual number of USFK stationed in Korea is au contraire to the official slot count.

  I’m pretty sure KATUSAs more than make up for the gaps… See.. it pays to stain in the S Korea ain’t it?

• Retired GI
  9:25 am on November 9th, 2011 19

  Rumsfrld was on target about reducing the American Military in Korea. Perhaps he will get another shot at it one day. I like the # at 6K myself.

• Just Curious
  2:53 pm on November 9th, 2011 20

  I also heard from an inside source here that top military officials are telling others with authority to trim the fat so to speak because they want to downsize, so their solution is to kick out the bad seeds but let others do it for them…

  and btw I’m not a groupie nor is my Korean friend. I am a Korean-American so that really confuses regular Koreans who expect me to act like a Korean but when I don’t they get confused.

  This discussion is very interesting!

• Retired GI
  5:30 pm on November 9th, 2011 21

  #20 I bet the are confused.

• Just Curious
  9:33 pm on November 9th, 2011 22

  #21 I blame the American media for perpetuating the stereotype that all Asians are still foreign and thus that is why Koreans think that only white people are American while Asian-Americans are still 1) from some Asian country 2) aren’t American and 3) can’t speak English.

  I blame Ken Jeong, Lucy Liu (Kill Bill), Kal Pen (Van Wilder), all those Asian-American actors for putting on the stereotypical foreign-Asian accent.

  Sure Ken Jeong was funny as Mr. Chow in “The Hangover” but he still spoke funny and is looked upon as not American even though in reality the dude is an American medical doctor who speaks perfect English…

  ok! rant over

• Retired GI
  5:20 am on November 10th, 2011 23

  #22 I don’t know most of those individuals, except Lucy Liu. I have always thought she spoke english quite well.

  In fact, all I think about when I see or hear her is how much I would love to get her in bed. My bed. Her bed. Floor. Wall. Table. Car seat. Yeah. Like that’s ever going to happen. But i can DREAM.

  Twisted thoughts over — for now.

• GI Korea
  5:27 am on November 10th, 2011 24

  @9 – USFK especially 2ID has a whole lot of young men with many of them away from home for the first time. I don’t care where you put people of this age group some of them will get into trouble. Especially when there first initial exposure to Korea is the ville that causes IMO young first timers to Korea to think that the ville is the way all of Korea is. Thus they bring the ville attitude into real Korea when they venture out away from the ville.

  When they get into trouble incidents in USFK then make national news, especially during a political season like we are entering now in Korea.

• Homeboy
  5:21 pm on November 10th, 2011 25

  #23, RGI, Ditto for me too… Lucy Liu is just less than average compared to Korean babes but she does stir that thing …

• Homeboy
  5:37 pm on November 10th, 2011 26

  #20, Just Curious, I welcome your female curiosity… It’s like breath of fresh air…

• Homeboy
  5:47 pm on November 10th, 2011 27

  #6, Korea is full of girls like the Wonder Girls… Tons of Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, like female entertainers…better looking and more down to earth… No Las Vegas wedding and quckie divorces, No drugs…

• Retired GI
  12:35 pm on November 11th, 2011 28

  #25 Homeboy, it seems we are in agreement on Korean Females.

• Homeboy
  3:31 pm on November 11th, 2011 29

  There’s nothing like Korean young women…. They are just smokin’ hot!!!!!

• kangaji
  7:00 pm on November 11th, 2011 30

  I’m more worried that Congress is going to fail to come to a deal on the budget and the military will get hit with the $1 trillion cut. Remember back in April I think it was when they weren’t sure if they were going to have a government shut down or not?

• Homboy
  7:25 pm on November 11th, 2011 31

  Why is the U.S. spending so much money to keep its military the way it is and keep on fighting in a War? (may be the next one would be against Iran)

  US is spending way too much money on its military and other related government entities. There seems to be many overlapping intelligence agencies, military branches and so forth. Why do you need 10 – aircraft carrier fleet anyway each worth over 10 billion us dollars and a billion dollar to keep it float per annum each. AND you’ve got something like USS Iwo Jima that could be considered as an air craft carrier in another country… you’ve got at least 10 of ‘em… that is just mind boggling… On top of that, US Air Force that really dominates everybody with their array of air crafts. US Naval Aviation and USMC Air Wings, each, could be considered as a national air force sized branches. US Army has huge helicopter fleet that is really unmatched with any force in the world.

  The reason for maintaining such sheer massive military power is :

  Power comes from the barrel of the gun so the U.S. will keep its military as it is as long as it can. Regardless of its economic well being.

  Everyone in the world looks up to the US for not only its economical prowess but for its sheer military power. Nothing like it has existed in the world. Not even Soviet Union came close to the power that US has in its arsenal.

  So, I DON’T BELIEVE US CONGRESS WILL EVER CUT US MILITARY BUDGET IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

  I am most certain that US is an Expansionist Power just like other great powers came before it and CHINA is striving to be.

  So, regardless of how benign the U.S. wants to make itself to be, everyone in the world recognizes the U.S. as single most powerful expansionistic imperial power in the world which is being challenged by the Chinese imperial-militarists.

  That is how world is moving at this moment… and Koreans are embroiled right in the middle of the clash of titans…God save us…

• kangaji
  5:45 am on November 12th, 2011 32

  Post Apocalyptic Scene as reporters finally get to look at Fukushima #1 Power Plant.

• Retired GI
  8:17 am on November 12th, 2011 33

  #31 Homeboy, a historical note is in order here.

  Ask the Philippine Government about America’s expansionist ideas.

  Ask about how many jobs were lost for their people when we left them and gave over control of subic bay and Clark Airbase.

  If Korea wants America out of Korea, it will happen. Just as it did in the Philippines.

  I would like to see that happen myself! One less reason for American Military people to be away from their Family.

  China can have Korea as far as I’m concerned. I would love to hear about the anti-China “protest”, after America has left the area. Of course thee is always a chance that Korea would be just fine with Chinese rule. Likely wouldn’t have much of an option but to like it.

  I feel the same about Iraq and Afghanistan. We should leave them to kill themselves off.

  Sadly for me, I’m not likely to be elected President. If I were, I would need my own Security Team. Made up of the NRA and I would carry my own weapon as well.
  You think it is rough internationally NOW? Be glad there is no chance for a President Retired GI. (Troops coming home—from all areas. Keystone Pipe line approved. Illegal Aliens rounded up and marched south. Government programs killed and dismantled. Weapons production UP and sold to whoever pays.)

  Have fun world! America is back on the sidelines and watching. I forgot a really BIG one. (UN is out.)

• Retired GI
  8:22 am on November 12th, 2011 34

  Ahhh, I forgot; Mary Jane is legal and TAXED, along with Prostitution.

  Vladimir Putin, What’s up Vlad? I can ride a horse shirtless too, and I have a better body.

• kangaji
  8:37 am on November 12th, 2011 35

  What? The global economy will be fine without the Security of shipping routes and air space due to Pax America? Cool.

• Glans
  3:34 pm on November 12th, 2011 36

  “Meeting with about a dozen veterans in South Carolina, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney suggested privatizing the healthcare system of military veterans.”

  UPI has the story.

• Retired GI
  3:36 pm on November 12th, 2011 37

  Global is the problem. America should take care of America.

  If the globe has a problem with that, they can fill the void themselves.

  Kill the “green” movement also. Fifty states taking care of themselves.

  I believe we used to do that, didn’t we? England is lost to the Muslums and nothing can be done about it. They did it to themselves.

  Yeah sure, people will bitch about the selfish Americans. But they bitch now when we help. F— them.

  Did I mention kicking the UN out of America? Yep, I did.

• Glans
  1:23 am on November 13th, 2011 38

  For Kushibo: since you like PBS News Hour, you might enjoy Bob Somerby’s discussion of Jim Lehrer’s work as a debate moderator.

• kangaji
  7:36 am on November 13th, 2011 39

  Yeah, Romney gets deferments for Vietnam, does a speech basically hinting he wants to bomb the shit out of Iran at the Citadel with the words “American century” with cadets as a backdrop, and now talking about privatizing GI health care. Love this guy. I think I’m going to go ahead and register as a Republican and vote against him in the primaries.

• Homeboy
  7:50 am on November 13th, 2011 40

  #37, you were being unlike your wise self…

• Retired GI
  3:21 pm on November 13th, 2011 41

  Sometimes i get on an anti-world rant Homeboy. It happens

  Kangaji, you really should. If you and others don’t, he just might get the nod.
  I like Newt Gingrich currently.

  Newt can talk more trash than Obama and will eat his lunch one on one. Also has more international experience than Cain. However, Cain would MAKE A GREAT VP. With his business experience.

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