Korean Job Discussion Forums

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

This shocked me. I asked a colleague of mine and she said this figure isn't a misprint. Yes, 100,000 KRW a month for those serving the mandatory military service of 2 years. They get paid essentially nothing.

Atavistic

VanIslander · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

presumably everything is paid for them in the military

so the cash is for smokes and soju and buses to their hometown when they get a leave

i don't see what's shocking

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

I don't know if it's still the case, but each soldier used to receive 15 packs of smokes a month.

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

anyangoldboy · Joined: 28 Sep 2007

Just say they get a weekend leave once ever 4 months...that's like 400,000won for a weekend...Pretty good if you ask me...They more or less go home to their parents anyway and so it's not like they have to pay for anything there either...

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

I thought the Korean draftees spend all their time on base and can go out only on weekends.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

It's up to W100,000 now? Korea must really be getting rich. When I came, it was more like W20,000 and for some reason the number W10,000 comes to mind.

I can tell you that officers today make about the same that we do.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee · Joined: 25 May 2003

That is like more than they used to get paid. I heard that at around the time of the Seoul Olympics they used to get something like 2,500 won a month.

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

I'd feel the same way about soldier pay if U.S. reservists were paid just $100 a month, even if said soldiers were living with their mothers and fathers and getting all kinds of support. I think if the shoe were on the other foot, people would be more concerned about any soldiers getting just $100 a month.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

It's small but given all your needs are taken care of, better than a kick in the head. It's not a job. It's what Korean males theoretically owe to Korea. Going to wash your father's feet while he's in the hospital or drinking with the boss or the billion of other duties Koreans have to perform to keep from being the wang-ta isn't paid work either.

Connections connections connections. It's the rotary club or a frat for young Korean men. Army hires army. Guys in the same regiment or battalion give the same a better shot at a job.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

According to the 3 guys I asked today, privates get 4 packs of cigarettes a month for the minimum tax-free price, they thought W300 or W400.