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valhor
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
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 Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:10 pm Post subject: When are the US Soldiers going home? |
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I've heard lots about about how negatively the U.S. soldiers are viewed in S. Korea from everyone from my K girlfriend to her family, her friends.. etc.
After hearing this and reading/noticing that American soldiers seem to carry a negative stigma based on past events, now the most recent news of rape charges.. How much longer is the United States going to be stationed in Korea? I mean the U.S. pays a lot of money to keep them here, when all they seem to have going is a negative reputation that apparently rightly deserve.
I might be steaming here, but.. When are the soldiers stationed in Seoul and other parts of S. Korea going to pull out and be sent home? Is there a upcoming date? From a brief check on Google I didn't see any. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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Well, as an American citizen, I don't want to pay for them to be stationed here. It costs America billions of dollars. However, with North Korea still hostile and 2MB and Korea insisting that they stay, they're going to stay.
Unfortunately, you will have a tiny minority of soldiers who will act horribly. They're 19 years old, without college degrees. There will be a higher number of them who will be trouble makers compared to us instructors and engineers or businessmen with degrees. At any rate, people may have some negative views of American soldiers, but let's not forget thousands of American soldiers didn't really want to die on Korean soil saving the South from the fate of being ruled by Kim Jung-Il. The rapes are inexcusable, and the military also has rapes of American servicewomen. I think you're focused on being embarassed as a foreigner with the rape. Imagine how the innocent soldiers feel when this happens. They probably feel much worse than you do about it. They would probably want to beat the hell out of the guy. |
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mukukja
Joined: 22 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Simple answer: they will go home when the Korean government asks them to. So far, the Koreans have wisely decided that having US troops stationed on their soil is better than being invaded by a bunch of underfed North Koreans. |
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jondepoer
Joined: 02 May 2010
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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I recently met a military couple who lived in a luxury apartment in Myeongdong, basically a long-term hotel. The military paid 3.8m per month for them to live there. Apparently, this is the maximum living allowance offered by the military, and the real estate agents used by the soldiers make sure they max it out.
Not to mention the fact that they have access to amazing (subsidized) food on-base and are paid much better than the average teacher on top of it all.
I'm not an American, but if I were, I'd be angry about this. |
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Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: When are the US Soldiers going home? |
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| valhor wrote: |
I've heard lots about about how negatively the U.S. soldiers are viewed in S. Korea from everyone from my K girlfriend to her family, her friends.. etc.
After hearing this and reading/noticing that American soldiers seem to carry a negative stigma based on past events, now the most recent news of rape charges.. How much longer is the United States going to be stationed in Korea? I mean the U.S. pays a lot of money to keep them here, when all they seem to have going is a negative reputation that apparently rightly deserve.
I might be steaming here, but.. When are the soldiers stationed in Seoul and other parts of S. Korea going to pull out and be sent home? Is there a upcoming date? From a brief check on Google I didn't see any. |
I've heard lots about how negatively the Native English Teachers are viewed in S. Korea from everyone from my K wife to her family, her friends..etc.
After hearing this and reading/noticing that English teachers seem to carry a negative stigma based on past events, now the most recent news of an assault charges...How much longer is Korea going to keep teachers here? I mean Korea pays alot of money to keep them here, when all they seem to have going is a negative reputation that apparrently rightly deserve.
I might be steaming here, but...When are the teachers living in Seoul and other parts of S. Korea going to pack up and go home? Is there an upcoming date? from a brief check on Google I didn't see any.
See how that works? Change a few words and your rant applies to both groups.
The bigger issue is...when will people learn to act right (Korean or Foreign)? Koreans assaulting/raping English teachers, Soldiers raping Koreans, English teachers doing drugs. You can't pin it all on one group based on a small minority's actions. |
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carleverson
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| jondepoer wrote: |
I recently met a military couple who lived in a luxury apartment in Myeongdong, basically a long-term hotel. The military paid 3.8m per month for them to live there. Apparently, this is the maximum living allowance offered by the military, and the real estate agents used by the soldiers make sure they max it out.
Not to mention the fact that they have access to amazing (subsidized) food on-base and are paid much better than the average teacher on top of it all.
I'm not an American, but if I were, I'd be angry about this. |
HAHA...and americans back home wonder why our government is in debt.  |
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Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| jondepoer wrote: |
I recently met a military couple who lived in a luxury apartment in Myeongdong, basically a long-term hotel. The military paid 3.8m per month for them to live there. Apparently, this is the maximum living allowance offered by the military, and the real estate agents used by the soldiers make sure they max it out.
Not to mention the fact that they have access to amazing (subsidized) food on-base and are paid much better than the average teacher on top of it all.
I'm not an American, but if I were, I'd be angry about this. |
Edited.
Higher ranking people do get more housing allowance, this is true. However most of the guys here are on a restricted tour so their families are back in the U.S
I see it like this, most of the guys here are E4 and below, to get in the 3.8m range you're talking upper officer rankings (Colonel - O5 or above) you can use this site to check what their housing allowances are.
http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/ohaCalc.cfm
They don't pay any type of key money or deposit, so the rent being that high..is kind of understandable.
Last edited by Drew10 on Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:46 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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nate1983
Joined: 30 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| jondepoer wrote: |
I recently met a military couple who lived in a luxury apartment in Myeongdong, basically a long-term hotel. The military paid 3.8m per month for them to live there. Apparently, this is the maximum living allowance offered by the military, and the real estate agents used by the soldiers make sure they max it out.
Not to mention the fact that they have access to amazing (subsidized) food on-base and are paid much better than the average teacher on top of it all.
I'm not an American, but if I were, I'd be angry about this. |
3.8m is not much for a senior officer's housing allowance. It's certainly nothing that I, as a US taxpayer, am enraged over, though like most Americans I'd like to see our military influence (and subsequent costs) decreased. And most of the servicemen are stuck living on base - I've been there many times, and was never once jealous of that living arrangement, but you're free to sign up if you think it's that dandy.
"Amazing subsidized food"? You mean Taco Bell and Anthony's Pizza? Though the latter is quite good I must admit.
| Quote: |
See how that works? Change a few words and your rant applies to both groups.
The bigger issue is...when will people learn to act right (Korean or Foreign)? Koreans assaulting/raping English teachers, Soldiers raping Koreans, English teachers doing drugs. You can't pin it all on one group based on a small minority's actions. |
Agreed. They're not all 19-year-old uneducated, irascible delinquents. Just like all English teachers aren't 22-year-old disheveled potheads who couldn't get a "real job," though some people like to paint them that way. |
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jondepoer
Joined: 02 May 2010
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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No, even with the lack of deposit, 3.8 (or even 3.6) is absolutely not understandable for a couple with no kids. I don't know why the military sees the need to subsidize their walk in closet, granite countertops, built in appliances, and jacuzzi.
My girlfriend and I pay 1.1, which is well above average for most expats. We have good jobs and have been here for almost 3 years.
Anyway, I just thought I'd throw a log in the fire. |
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tran.huongthu
Joined: 23 May 2011
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed. They're not all 19-year-old uneducated, irascible delinquents. Just like all English teachers aren't 22-year-old disheveled potheads who couldn't get a "real job," though some people like to paint them that way. |
No actually they are much worse than that. There is a reason expats and Koreans alike avoid them like the plague.
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| tran.huongthu wrote: |
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Agreed. They're not all 19-year-old uneducated, irascible delinquents. Just like all English teachers aren't 22-year-old disheveled potheads who couldn't get a "real job," though some people like to paint them that way. |
No actually they are much worse than that. There is a reason expats and Koreans alike avoid them like the plague.
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I don't avoid soldiers and officers. When I once was in Songtan, I had a nice chat with an officer and some soldiers, and he showed me around the market. I used to chat regularly with an officer at the Canadian tavern. He talked about some hot-headed, stupid soldiers, but said, as reasonable people say, that most soldiers are fine. However, some act stupid. Remember, these are 18 and 19 year olds without degrees.
Some foreigners who have degrees and diplomas break the law, should Korea stop having them completely, though we commit less crimes than the average Korean? And is Korea doing enough to make sure Korean rapists are prosecuted for raping Korean girls and making it easier for Korean women to feel they can go to the police? No. I knew of a girl in Cheonan who was a foreigner. A guy attempted to rape her twice. Did the cops do anything? No. Only the second time when she hit him with a baseball bat. But it wasn't to help her. She hit the Korean guy very hard on the head with the bat.
Should we stop immigrants from Korea and Jamaica because some join gangs in Canada and the US like this guy who was deported to Korea because he held up someone? We're human just like everyone else.
I think this partially has to do with xenophobia and teachers trying to feel superior to the soldiers in some cases. |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Adventurer"]Unfortunately, you will have a tiny minority of soldiers who will act horribly. They're 19 years old, without college degrees. There will be a higher number of them who will be trouble makers compared to us instructors and engineers or businessmen with degrees. quote]
Gesh!!!....
you have college educated foregin born teachers in korea who have committed crimes also! Rapes, murders, drugs, alcohol....
age has nothing to do with it. Nothing at all!
Look at all the so called college educated folks in the world who have committed crimes......
criminal acts are not limited to age....
true...these soldiers give a bad name to all..and if they ARE guilty..they will pay for it....
I for one wish the U.S. military would leave korea! Let them fend for themselves!
But..the problem is...YOU and I....it is OUR fault...for electing knuckleheads to congress who don't follow the wishes of the majority of the voters. |
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radcon
Joined: 23 May 2011
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="hellofaniceguy"]
| Adventurer wrote: |
Unfortunately, you will have a tiny minority of soldiers who will act horribly. They're 19 years old, without college degrees. There will be a higher number of them who will be trouble makers compared to us instructors and engineers or businessmen with degrees. quote]
Gesh!!!....
you have college educated foregin born teachers in korea who have committed crimes also! Rapes, murders, drugs, alcohol....
age has nothing to do with it. Nothing at all!
Look at all the so called college educated folks in the world who have committed crimes......
criminal acts are not limited to age....
true...these soldiers give a bad name to all..and if they ARE guilty..they will pay for it....
I for one wish the U.S. military would leave korea! Let them fend for themselves!
But..the problem is...YOU and I....it is OUR fault...for electing knuckleheads to congress who don't follow the wishes of the majority of the voters. |
Can you provide a link that shows that an English teacher has committed a murder or a rape in Korea? |
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Mr. Peabody
Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Location: here
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:10 am Post subject: |
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The soldiers will be in South Korea as long a China, Japan , and South Korea want them to be in Korea. They keep the peace.
The English teachers well, no one really wants them in Korea and I am not really sure they serve much of a purpose anyway. The level of English has certainly not improved very much. |
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