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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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 Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:55 pm Post subject: Too sick for the army |
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A couple weeks ago we got one of those kids who can't go into the 2 year mandatory military service for whatever reason. He is (I say the kid because I am surprised by his naivity (sp?) all the time) is pretty cool and a good kid.
Everyday he eats lunch with us, gets to practice his English with me, studies for tests he will take later, etc etc. When we have jobs for him, he does them, and sometimes they are really boring. Now, where am I going you might be asking...
How do normal Koreans not absolutely hate this guy? He stays in an airconditioned area all day practicing English and studying for tests later or literally just doing nothing. Most others are doing menial tasks for their superiors, have to wake up early and eat crappy food, the drills, having to wear the uniform all the time, etc etc. Now I like the kid, I am not putting him down for not being able to do it. I truly mean that. But what I am wondering is...
How much resentment is there towards these kids who can't do it? |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:59 pm Post subject: Re: Too sick for the army |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
A couple weeks ago we got one of those kids who can't go into the 2 year mandatory military service for whatever reason. He is (I say the kid because I am surprised by his naivity (sp?) all the time) is pretty cool and a good kid.
Everyday he eats lunch with us, gets to practice his English with me, studies for tests he will take later, etc etc. When we have jobs for him, he does them, and sometimes they are really boring. Now, where am I going you might be asking...
How do normal Koreans not absolutely hate this guy? He stays in an airconditioned area all day practicing English and studying for tests later or literally just doing nothing. Most others are doing menial tasks for their superiors, have to wake up early and eat crappy food, the drills, having to wear the uniform all the time, etc etc. Now I like the kid, I am not putting him down for not being able to do it. I truly mean that. But what I am wondering is...
How much resentment is there towards these kids who can't do it? |
Ummm, don't you work at an elementary school? What the hell kind of place are you describing? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:02 pm Post subject: Re: Too sick for the army |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
A couple weeks ago we got one of those kids who can't go into the 2 year mandatory military service for whatever reason. He is (I say the kid because I am surprised by his naivity (sp?) all the time) is pretty cool and a good kid.
Everyday he eats lunch with us, gets to practice his English with me, studies for tests he will take later, etc etc. When we have jobs for him, he does them, and sometimes they are really boring. Now, where am I going you might be asking...
How do normal Koreans not absolutely hate this guy? He stays in an airconditioned area all day practicing English and studying for tests later or literally just doing nothing. Most others are doing menial tasks for their superiors, have to wake up early and eat crappy food, the drills, having to wear the uniform all the time, etc etc. Now I like the kid, I am not putting him down for not being able to do it. I truly mean that. But what I am wondering is...
How much resentment is there towards these kids who can't do it? |
Ummm, don't you work at an elementary school? What the hell kind of place are you describing? |
I don't understand your question? My elementary school is really good and quite nice. He is working here in lieu of the military service. He works 9 to 5 every day for 2 years instead of military service (I also learned that during the two years they aren't allowed to leave the country). |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't think it's a big deal- there are all sorts of addendums- for example, the oldest son in a family that only has that one son to carry on the family name doesn't have to do the full service, and may be exempt. My husband did this cuz he's the last of his line, and he only did 3 months. He's never suffered for it. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject: Re: Too sick for the army |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
A couple weeks ago we got one of those kids who can't go into the 2 year mandatory military service for whatever reason. He is (I say the kid because I am surprised by his naivity (sp?) all the time) is pretty cool and a good kid.
Everyday he eats lunch with us, gets to practice his English with me, studies for tests he will take later, etc etc. When we have jobs for him, he does them, and sometimes they are really boring. Now, where am I going you might be asking...
How do normal Koreans not absolutely hate this guy? He stays in an airconditioned area all day practicing English and studying for tests later or literally just doing nothing. Most others are doing menial tasks for their superiors, have to wake up early and eat crappy food, the drills, having to wear the uniform all the time, etc etc. Now I like the kid, I am not putting him down for not being able to do it. I truly mean that. But what I am wondering is...
How much resentment is there towards these kids who can't do it? |
Ummm, don't you work at an elementary school? What the hell kind of place are you describing? |
I don't understand your question? My elementary school is really good and quite nice. He is working here in lieu of the military service. He works 9 to 5 every day for 2 years instead of military service (I also learned that during the two years they aren't allowed to leave the country). |
Oh, you're talking about a co-worker. I thought you were describing a student. Now I understand.
Sounds like you're doing everything right. |
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huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:07 am Post subject: Re: Too sick for the army |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
How do normal Koreans not absolutely hate this guy? |
Isn't military service a part of the Korean hierarchy scheme? He's probably getting screwed when it comes time to figure out his social position. But that's just a wild guess on my part.
BTW, is he making the standard military wage, which is something like 40,000 a month? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:09 am Post subject: Re: Too sick for the army |
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| huffdaddy wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
How do normal Koreans not absolutely hate this guy? |
Isn't military service a part of the Korean hierarchy scheme? He's probably getting screwed when it comes time to figure out his social position. But that's just a wild guess on my part.
BTW, is he making the standard military wage, which is something like 40,000 a month? |
Ooohhh. Good question, I don't know ??? |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:21 am Post subject: |
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| periwinkle wrote: |
| My husband did this cuz he's the last of his line, |
How on earth did he ever get his parents's OK to marry you? |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:35 am Post subject: |
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| Lots of Korean guys end up doing all kinds of alternative service in lieu of military service. They work as forest rangers, traffic cops, paper pushers in dong offices, etc. I've never gotten the impression that it's such a big deal. He's not shirking his duty, he's just doing it another way. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:36 am Post subject: |
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| Son Deureo! wrote: |
| Lots of Korean guys end up doing all kinds of alternative service in lieu of military service. They work as forest rangers, traffic cops, paper pushers in dong offices, etc. I've never gotten the impression that it's such a big deal. He's not shirking his duty, he's just doing it another way. |
I am in no way saying he is shirking his duty. But I still think most men do the service, and I was just wondering what they thought since the two "2 years service" are completely different. |
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