Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sushi]

Found this info about the draft on another School's Wikipedia Homepage. Interesting to see what some people will do to recruit students

"According to draft law for Armed Forces in Korea, the Korean military requires all young men starting at age 19 to fulfill a draft of 2 years into the Korean Military or the Korean National Police Agency. If an individual fails to meet the basic requirements of this automatic draft, which include never graduating from middle school, they will be sent a letter of release from their obligation to the draft for life, leaving them free to visit other countries. At a later date however, without an educational record, entry into college would be nearly impossible.

The owner of MWICPS upon interview was quoted as saying, "a student may resign from studies at Korean national middle schools, achieve their high school diploma through a slower and more focused course with MWICPS, and as upon reaching the age of 19, they will receive recognition from the Korean Military that the student does not meet the criteria necessary for draft, allowing them to leave to a foreign country for academic studies in a university using the diploma acquired from MWICPS. This is only possible with MWICPS and as its' students records are located in America and it is not registered in Korea as an international school, students may regain 2 years of their life back for studies with this approach. I believe that once the Korean government realizes this, they will attempt new laws to block such things from happening. For that reason, we give no guarantees of students not requiring draft once returning to Korea after university. However, it is my personal opinion that as long as MWICPS remains a 'private institute' and not an 'international school', students may use our school free from worry of draft biting them- at least during studies either at MWICPS or in another country."

To date there have been no stories in the news regarding any changes in military draft laws as a direct result of MWICPS."

MWICPS is M Wright International College Preparatory School (In Yongin)

[ChinaBoy]

I know "recruit" sounds like it has a q in it, but it doesn't.

[pkang0202]

Some Koreans are exempt from military service if they are in the top of the country academically. I know one such person who was exempt from military service, and that person ended up graduating in the top 3% of his class at KAIST.


Outside of that, all Korean male citizens are required to do military service. Yes, even those born in Korea, but have lived overseas for all of their lives, who still have Korean citizenship. When those Koreans enter back into Korea (from aged 19-40), and they are found by immigration, they will be put to military service.


Also, when you go to apply for jobs in Korea, you'd best have a damn good reason to have been exempt from military service. Dodging the draft through backdoor/shady ways will guarantee you don't get that job you've always wanted.


Also, I believe I heard that a Korean male does not have to serve in the military if their spouse is serving. So, at aged 19, you can get married to some lucky Korean girl who will do 2 years in the Korean Army in their stead. Not sure if that is true or not.



Back to the OP, I don't see how someone can resign from Middle School, and yet get a high school diploma. Don't you have to complete middle school in order to GO to high school?

Do you go to MWICPS and say, "Hey, I never finished middle school. I can still get accepted here right?"

[Xuanzang]

Chances are if you had enough clout or money to dodge then you have the apple boxes necessary to get the job you want.

[Darkray16]

or if you have enough tattoos covering your body, you are exempt.

seems the korean government doesn't want to start training people they suspect of being in a gang on how to use automatic rifles and kill people with all sorts of weapons.

[eIn07912]

i dont want to hijack the OP's post here, but i gotta ask.

whats the big deal about skipping out on the army? i mean, its not like the grunts in the states that actually ya know, get sent to war or wars as it where. whats so bad about taking a few years off from starcraft and living with ur mom to become a man? do some pushups, learn to use a rifle, sweat it out wussy.

my boss skipped out on his army service by going to a uni that allowed education majors to skip out. and his such a soft, weak, push over of a "man". the army would have been good for him. i did two years as an enlist after high school. and will go back in a few years to get my commission as an officer. and i imagine the u.s. army is far worse than rok.

if any hanguks read this and ur skipping out on ur service, u will be a soft, weak, limp wink of a boy for the rest of ur life. and u better pray to whatever god u pray to that those hardened, starved, brain washed soldiers up north dont decide to invade, because if they do and the U.N. decides not to help, they will run all over these girly men.

[Xuanzang]

2 years lost, indoctrinated about Korean, dae Han Min Gook, very little leave, forced to smoke ciggies, floggings, possibility of being bummed by a man...

At least US soldiers choose to be in the army, get paid wages, the GI Bill and have slightly more privileges than Korean soldiers.

[eIn07912]

[Sushi]

I was surprised that a student who hasn't graduated from middleschool is exempt from doing time in the army. This is what the school is trying to push, which I think is a big con as a way to recruit. Sure the student can skirt the law, and go this route but he pays for it in the long run when he trys to find a job.

Doctors and dentists are exempt from military service as well, but they have to do 2 to 3 years of free service in remote villages.

Mixed blood Koreans are also exempt from the Military.

If one's grades are good he or she can work for very minimal wages at certain government designated Reaserch Institutes for a number of years to get military exemption. I think that the worker also has to have a masters degree.

I remmember the guy who lost to No Mu Hyun in the elections before the last one had his son or sons exempted from the military, because of their height. Apparently very short individuals get preferential treatment. The media had the sons up in the spotlight to double check their heights, and lo and behold they were found to be taller than they claimed to be.

[jkelly80]