Korean Job Discussion Forums

exit86 · Joined: 17 May 2006

Anybody know why there have been fighter jets
flying around recently? They were flying really low today,
and have been off and on for the past week.
US military exercises or s.Korean Air Force????

Anybody know?

Its sorta scary actually, because it reminds you that this place
really could be a potential warzone.

Figure8 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

My co-teachers told me that it is Service Day in Korea today. I don't know if this is correct or not, but that's what they said. They implied it was a way for SK to exhibit its pride in its military, as well as flex its military muscle as a display for its brother to the north.

Summer Wine · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: Next to a River

It depends on what city you are in as to whether its normal or not. I lived in Gwangju in Jeolla near the airport and it was very common.

Though up in the Seoul area I only saw it happen once.

Jandar · Joined: 11 Jun 2008

They're practicing for tomorrow.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

It's all part of living in a country that is still technically at war.

BTW, thank the LORD for those fighter jets and the men/women who fly them. They help keep Kim Jong-Il in HIS crappy sandbox.

sojourner1 · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:16 am Post subject:

It's a common thing day and evening in rural Gangwon-do. They usually stop by dark time and start up by 9 or 10 in the morning, but recently go constantly. Big jet sound is a constant for the past 2 or 3 days. It's military maneuvers to practice for the Norks coming invasion that just seems to never come again. You look up in the sky and see what appear to be American fighter jets.

The 2 Koreas are still acting crazy again since the Norks shot a tourist dead. It was recently reported that the crazy dorky Norks are starting their nuclear weapons program up again. It appears that everyone believes a war is inevitable before their cold war is over. It's possible a nuclear war event will come to a head at some point if they can't settle their differences. This is the fear hanging over Korea's head in a country that seems so safe. While all the men are prancing around in pink shirts and murses, one day all of a sudden they will be called to duty. By surprise attack, all hell breaks lose with fire in the sky and all the men immediately drop their femininity and fight like real men. Murses aside and all. It will be the grand finale show down when it happens.

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

Overhead? How about sharing the Meadowlands with the Giants? Given the cost of fuel I'd estimate it's pretty high.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

I saw three waves of 3 fighter jets go over eastern Seoul today at about 2 pm. They were doing it last week, too. Pretty awesome. Probably had something to do with the North Korean 60th Birthday Parade. Perhaps. They have air raid drills with fighters every once in a while. I'll be in my cave on Namsan when it goes down. Wolverines!

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

OP, have you heard the big civil defense "They're coming over the border" siren? It's LOUD.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

September is apparently the month of the Incheon landing ... and 2008 is the 50th anniversary of that.

Hang on that would mean 1958. That ain't right.

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

There is a base here in Suwon. I see them flying over head everyday, sometimes in groups of 5-10. I always stop teaching for a minute when one of the jets flies over my school because they're so loud.

Chamchiman · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Location: Digging the Grave

exit86 · Joined: 17 May 2006

I'm in Seoul (forgot to mention that).
I find the jets so odd because this has been restricted airspace for the longest time. In my very long time here in Seoul, I can't remember
such military exercises. Of course I've experienced the civil defense drills--where all cars must stop, all doors to public parks and schools are slammed shut, and everyone stands around on the street with a bewildered look, wondering if this is a drill or the real damn thing.

Personally, I enjoy the civil defense drills just for such facial expressions, because it is instant realization to all that Korea may not be the safe, wonderful, world-class "Hub of Asia" that it so often pretends to be.

Whether anyone likes it or not, it still is a country technically at war.

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

I think one of the coolest things I have witnessed her in the ROK happened back in 1998 or 99.

Saturday morning and I'm chillin at home drinking coffee on my patio. Suddenly I could hear a very distant explosion (not that loud). And the rattle of automatic weapons (again distant). I walked out to the edge of my yard for a better view (I lived 1/2 way up a mountain overlooking downtown Suncheon. I could see the outskirts of Yeosu in the distance).
I'm standing and looking. Occassionally I hear gunfire. All of the sudden it soundend like a train was about to climb up my ass. Scared the hell out of me. 12-15 Apache Attack Helicoptors came screaming over my neighborhood at tree top level. A few broke off and headed South but the rest remained over my part of the city doing all manner of aerial acrobatics. This all went on for about 30 minutes.

Turned out the NORKS had landed a team of commandos near the Oil Refinery outside of Yeosu. This was just the ROK military mopping-up and playing a defensive/search role.

Awesome!!

p.s.: The house I was living in quartered North Korean soldiers during the war. We had bulletholes on the back wall of the place.