Korean Job Discussion Forums

[helly]

Whoah! Chill down there, lush.

Maybe I used words too strong ("demand") but I don't consider his opinion or desire racist, arrogant, or nationalist at all.

He wants us to stay in Korea forever. That is not an outrageous desire. Unrealistic, yes, but outrageous, no. He wants his family close. His opinion is that if we are to live here forever, why not become a citizen.

When we were getting married, his condition to saying "yes" was that we promise to live here forever. I had a problem with this and went to a very close friend (who is Korean) to ask advice. He told me, "That is not a problem at all. Simply say yes. When it is time to leave, he will understand. At this point, he wants to have some control over the situation. Understand that as his perspective, allow him to have that feeling, and you will have no worries."

That is what we did. And he took that to suggest gaining Korean citizenship.

When we told him that we were leaving, he understood and supports our decision. No conflict at all.

Oh, and I'm not ethnic Korean and I understand that I would be exempt. But it did provide an easy excuse

[lush72]

Sorry Helly,

I didn�t mean to insult or slander your in-laws in any way. I was reacting this way because I have a friend from the Philippines who married a Korean guy and the family was insisting that she give up her citizenship and take Korean citizenship. They (the family) were not doing this in the spirit of good nature. I didn�t know the details of your situation. I�m sure my in-laws want my wife and I to stay in Korea forever as well. They haven�t said anything, one way or the other, to us about our future plans� yet. I�m not looking forward to that day. Her brother knows we are leaving in 18 months. I�m sure her parents know this, but chose to say nothing.

[DHC]

Being born of Korean parents outside Korea doesen't make you a Korean citizen. Someone in this man's Korean family had to register his birth with the Korean government in his parent's Family Census Register. THAT made him a Korean citizen.

[Gord]

[Real Reality]

Highlights from the locked thread story:

The 34-year-old Korean-American, Kang Joon, lived in the United States for more than 25 years.

Picking up trash, controlling traffic and working at the ticket booth pretty much covers his entire job description as a public servant. The government pays him 26,000 won a month ($21) and some 110,000 won for lunch and transportation.

"I asked officials at the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) what I was going to eat and where I was going to sleep after I get off work. They said it wasn't their problem," he said.

"What irked me more than anything else was that they kept saying duty, duty and duty," he said.

When contacted for a comment, an official at the MMA, who declined to reveal his name, said anyone and everyone was required to serve in the military no matter what. When asked if they could not have made an exception for the U.S. war veteran, they said they were simply two different countries.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200312/kt2003121218123212020.htm

[Ajarn Miguk]

".......they said they were simply two different countries."


Yes, they are.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Hank Scorpio]

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

TheUrbanMyth wrote:

"Mr. Kalgukshi now writes: He tried to take advantage of a program (F-4) in Korea which discriminates against other U.S. citizens not of ethnic Korean heritage.

He is in his present predicament because of his desire to be in Korea and receive preferential treatment based on his ethnicity. He is about to find out what this really means for most Korean males.




Yet when I pointed out that the F-4 discriminates, I was shouted down by a number of people on this board. I don't see them shouting you down. Then again I'm not a mod. I wonder if they will eventually work up the nerve to challenge you? Should be interesting to see.

Mr. Kalgukshi now writes: It's nice to be remembered. Just goes to show you there is life after being a Mod.

[HardyandTiny]

"Not realizing that he was also given a Korean citizenship due to his parents� Korean nationality at time of his birth, Chun came to the country in December 2002 to take an English teaching position at a private language institute."

How!
How was that given?
If you're born in The USA and your parents never register you in Korea how can you also be a Korean citizen?
How does the Korean government know that you exist?
Why would anyone ask?
He's American.

"he was also given a Korean citizenship due to his parents� Korean nationality at time of his birth"

How was he given that? The article does not explain why the Korean government thinks he is Korean.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

[Real Reality]

Military Service for Dual Citizens
It is absolutely imperative that in analyzing the effect of this law, the National Assembly learn to distinguish between dual citizens that were born and raised abroad their entire life, and the classic passport baby that claims to be from abroad, but yet cannot speak English without a Korean accent and has no idea what a Stanley Cup or Super Bowl stand for.

The measure of a competent legal system is the ability to identify exceptions within the law that can be proven, without compromising the original purpose of the lawmakers.

Why there is no exemption from mandatory military service for ethnic Koreans born and raised abroad is a mystery to me. This is not a question of duty anymore. It is one of simple logic.

This lack of basic common sense will prove to be a huge disservice, for not only the dual citizenship holders that seek reconciliation with their motherland, but more importantly, to the Korean people themselves.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200312/kt2003121917310811390.htm

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Mr. Kalgukshi]