Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hollywoodaction]

[quote="dg611"]few things to add here:

2. Service in the Korean military is not an exercise in patriotism, it is a requirement that the vast majority of Korean men wish they could get out of with no ill effects. Men who do not serve in the military are often passed over for jobs and promotions at jobs...they are discriminated against in other subtle ways in Korean society....even if their reasons for being excluded were beyond their control like height or weight or some physical deformity...even a childhood accident that leaves a large visible scar but no handicap can exclude someone from service...they still are discriminated against. Senior soldiers are often barbarously cruel to their juniors and on occiasion death has been the result.

Yes, I've seen my students wait in the parking in their uniforms to do their yearly day of reserve training (what a joke). There were lots of what we called "pizza heads" (a berret flat on top of the head, which looks like a pizza) and bags of **** (ruffled uniforms with threads sticking out everywhere) when I was in the military. They have so little pride in their uniforms, it gets my blood boiling...and I'm not even Korean.

[darbyjh]

I have worked with a man who is half-Korean and half-Japanese. He was born in Japan, moved to Korea when he went university (I believe he retained dual-citizenship or maybe forfeited the Japanese, I can't recall). He got married, had twins and just before his 30th birthday, they said he had to fulfil his obligation to the Korean military. This all started to unfold around the third trimester of his wife's pregnancy. She gave birth to the boys prematurely (2 months) and they were in the hospital in very weak condition and he was having to go back and forth to court trying to fight this. Shortly after the boys were released he was forced into the military (despite being mixed). After serving four months they released him realizing the gravity of the situation. So basically, in a nutshell, mixed bloods, depending upon their circumstances, are not completely exempt from military duty.

Another note, there are many countries that require mandatory service (albeit not as long) and don't have the problems that Korea face with dual citizens. Most Koreans I know have, reluctantly and sometimes gladly, returned to Korea to fulfil their obligation. My boss is one of them.

[Jeff's Academy]

Response to question on Ministry of Justice message board. They have not answered my post yet, but this one is on point:


Title Dual Nationaliy son
Name (deleted)
Date 2005/05/12 Hit 29

Cont I am a Candian married to a Korean citizen, and we have a one-year old son. We registered him in Korea with the understanding that he will be able to choose when he is a teenager which citizenship he will retain. Now I have read that the law in Korea is changing, and that dual-citizens will be allowed to choose only after performing 3 years of military service.

We do not plan to live in Korea for more than a few years; however, I would like to leave the option open for him to identiy hiself as Korean if he wishes to. However, I would not want him to be forced into military service in Korea due to my own choice, or to be banished from his country of birth until he is beyond conscriptable age. If he does remain in Korea, he could be forced to serve a jail term as a conscientious objector.

If this law is true, then must I cancel my son's citizenship immediately to avoid the undesirable alternative?

It seems that this law is having the opposite effect of it's intention, and will in fact alienate many dual citizens from their country. However, I understand that this is simply the action of a few politically-minded politicians.

Please clarify this law and the procedures for renouncing citizenship on the behalf of one's children as soon as possible.
State answered




Title re:Dual Nationaliy son
Name ������ Depart �ⱹ������
Email [email protected] Date 2005/05/19

Content Dear sir
As you are Canadian citizen, your son's case would not be affected by the amended law
Have a nice time during your stay in Korea
Thank you very much



Link to message board:

http://www.moj.go.kr/HP/ENG/eng_05/eng_5020.jsp

click "immigration bureau"

[Hollywoodaction]