Some good old reads regarding Hallyu & military enlistment

[Hyooga]

Long read from Seoulbeats, but pretty good

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re an able-bodied South Korean male, death and taxes aren’t the only things that are inevitable — as sure as the day is long, you will be called upon at some point in your late teens/early twenties to devote nearly two years of your life to the defense of the fatherland and enlist in the military.

 

Despite the 1953 armistice, the two Koreas are still technically at war, and in order to ensure that South Korea is prepared at all times to meet a sustained threat from its increasingly isolated (and unpredictable) northern neighbor, all capable young men are drafted and trained as soldiers. While there are a few exceptions to the rule (apparently, having an excess of tattoos is considered grounds for total exemption from service, and Olympic medalists are automatically granted a free pass), they are few and far between. Properly fulfilling one’s military service is more or or less non-negotiable, and those who fail to do so are subject to extreme scrutiny and broad criticism across nearly all spectrums of society.

 

Naturally, there are few young men that are just chomping at the bit to enlist; six decades have dramatically altered the political, economic, and social lanscapes of both North and South Korea, and the conclusion of the Cold War coupled with the collapse and dissolution of one of North Korea’s most critical pillars of support has widened the proverbial gulf that is the 38th parallel. On the whole, young South Koreans do not hold strong feelings either way about their estranged countrymen, and many have questioned the necessity of universal conscription at the prime of youth. Though it has become deeply engrained in the South Korean social fabric, let’s face it: military service is harsh, grueling, and boring. It removes South Korean men from their personal lives, interrupts their education, and ensconces them in bases located in some of South Korea’s most remote regions. With no cell phones and limited access to internet, recreation, and privacy, it is an experience that is completely alien to boys that have grown up with all of the comforts that modern technology affords. Suffering through such conditions for twenty one months is a rite of passage, a shared experience that theoretically places all young men on an equal playing field, even if for just a short while.

 

Now let’s talk celebrity soldiers — also known as public relations recruits that work for the Defense Media Agency.

 

Despite the extensive media play that has attempted to bury the scandal (seriously — shortly after the news broke, we were treated to scores of rumors that Lee Hyori and boyfriend Lee Sang-soon had called it quits, only to find out a few days later that the couple actually got engaged), the cat is out of the bag: Se7en and Mighty Mouth‘s Sangchu, both of whom are currently serving their time in the military as celebrity recruits, have become the latest stars to crap all over their distinction as soldiers by publicly engaging in some of the most asinine behavior thinkable for someone in their positions. Following a performance, the two were seen with other celebrity recruits leaving their motel wearing civilian clothes (a big no-no), using their cellphones (also a no-no), breaking curfew (duh, a no-no), drinking alcohol (seriously, who do you think you are?), and then visiting a massage parlor called Happy Endings to receive “knee therapy†(read: solicit prostitution). At 4 in the morning. While one of them is supposedly in a hundred-years long relationship with actress Park Han-byul. Oh, hell no.

 

And then — and then! — after being confronted by SBS camera crews, who were filming a segment for On Site 21 on the scandalicious behavior of celebrity recruits, Se7en and Sangchu attacked the reporters, essentially confirming that the behavior in which they were engaging was all highly illegal (not to mention completely unbefitting their image). The whole debacle was enough to prompt the Ministry of Defense to launch a special investigation into celebrity soldiers, who have long been suspected of enjoying perks during their service that ordinary soldiers are not granted. After Rain came under fire for the apparent abuse of his off-base privileges to traipse around Seoul (read: visit girlfriend Kim Tae-hee), one would think that celebrity soldiers would tread just a bit more carefully and maybe serve out the rest of their conscription quietly and humbly, but apparently some of them think themselves above the law.

Naturally, there was an attempt made at a cover-up; as mentioned, Ministry of Defense officials offered the lame “knee therapy†excuse (almost as bad as the fanciful tale LOEN tried to spin regarding IU-Eunhyuk), and Sangchu attempted to shoulder all of the blame by saying that he, as the more senior soldier, should have been more responsible.

 

However, things have gotten steadily worse for the pair since their initial run-in with SBS. In what can only be construed as a deliberate attempt to incite more anti-celebrity soldier sentiment, Se7en showed up for his on-site investigation wearing civilian clothes, which… well, if you’re a soldier, this is just asking for it. Worse still, SBS’s report essentially confirmed the luxuries that celebrity recruits are afforded (a private gym, Playstation game consoles, televisions, snacks, a civilian wardrobe, and gratuitous access to internet) and included testimonies of atrocious behavior tantamount to sexual harassment, wanton rule-breaking, excessive partying, and a general disregard for military protocol on multiple levels. A final bit of icing on the cake would be that an anonymous celebrity recruit, known only as “A,†whined that celebrity soldiers work really, really hard and sometimes perform up to twenty times a month. Yes, this sounds very taxing — almost as taxing as, say, patrolling the North Korean border in the dead of winter. Probably equivalent, I’d say.

 

To be fair, having friends who have served in the Korean military leads me to believe that having a PR unit within the larger structure of the South Korean armed forces isn’t completely useless. Soldiers need morale boosts, especially when one considers that pretty much the entirety of the army is composed of conscripts who likely never would have elected to be there in the first place and have very little personal connection to what it is that the army asks them to do. However, I question the morale boost that a celebrity soldier could give in light of all of the damning evidence that suggests that he is essentially living the good life while his fellow soldiers — presumably men who have found themselves in the same position of serving the country as is he — engage in physically demanding and draining tasks on the regular, are given precious few furloughs, must adhere to strict dress codes at all times, can’t use their cellphones to keep in touch with their families and loved ones, can’t spend evenings with their girlfriends, and certainly can’t go out to drink beer, shoot the shit with friends, or visit a massage parlor for sex whenever the fancy strikes. I feel like the only thing a celebrity soldier could inspire at this point is serious antimony and disgust. While I can’t speak for the Korean military, it would seem to me that if this is the case, then the practice of having celebrity recruits functioning as PR arms of the military has outlived its usefulness and ought to be abolished.

 

Before his enlistment, Se7en earned the ire of the nation by commenting that Hallyu stars serve South Korea’s global interests just as much as do Olympic medalists who boost the country’s global prestige and domestic pride, but currently no mechanism by which they, too, can get an exemption exists. Needless to say, he got tremendous flack for this, and it isn’t hard to guess why. Yes, Hallyu is an important means by which South Korea generates international interest in Korean culture, but I think many would agree that (a) Hallyu stars are more or less constructed by the market, and few of them are truly special/possess some sort of real, rare, innate talent that should be rewarded with military exemption, and (b) Hallyu stars are at this point a dime a dozen.

 

The K-pop/K-drama market is completely over-saturated with budding singers and actors, and frankly, I don’t think that the disappearance of one star, no matter how “beloved,†for a period of 21 months will grind the Hallyu gears to a screeching halt. Someone else will inevitably slot in to fill his shoes, and the anticipation of one’s favorite star’s return will likely only serve as a boost as he enjoys a wave of post-enlistment popularity. Unless, of course, he totally blows it while in the military by abusing privileges and expecting to be treated like some sort of prince for his “gifts,†in which he case he will return to… no career at all. Hey, that sounds familiar!

 

The Ministry of Defense has yet to release the results of their investigation into celebrity soldiers, but they’ve already thoroughly discredited their assertions that celebrity soldiers aren’t receiving special benefits by declaring that Rain will not receive additional punishment for his earlier transgressions (beyond a bogus week in confinement to “reflectâ€) and will be discharged as scheduled on July 10. One has to wonder how much longer a country’s patience can endure on this issue, but if I were calling the shots, I’d hold firm to my original belief: if celebrities want so much to be treated like ordinary people, then surely they can suck it up for 21 months’ worth of being treated the same as is everybody else?

 

(Newsen, Sports Chosun, Nate, Star News)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complicating matters is the recent revelation that Rain is dating drama megastar Kim Tae-hee. Given that a large chunk of Rain’s official overnight stays off-base took place in Seoul, this has led to speculation that Rain abused his privileges in order to hang out with his ladyfriend — a particularly egregious offense, due principally to the fact that lots of young men in the military left behind girlfriends that they can only see a few times a year (and given that soldiers are not permitted to have their own cellphone on base, communication with loved ones isn’t exactly simple). To make matters even worse, he was photographed off base without his hat — and though this may seem like a trivial matter, as a public figure who is supposed to be promoting the military as a member of the PR squad, it doesn’t look good. Nor does it do him any favors as the South Korean public grows increasingly heated over his perceived indiscretions. Currently, it is being reported that a few online commenters have even suggested that he be made to repeat his military service as did Psy, who was similarly accused of using celebrity privilege to breeze through his military service.

 

As I mentioned in an earlier article about MC Mong, military service is simply not something to be screwed around with in South Korea — and for celebrities who do not toe the line, the public can be pretty unforgiving. Criticism of Rain’s actions is not necessarily the product of an unreasonable lynch mob — quite frankly, complaints that celebrities are getting off pretty easy in the military are legitimate. It isn’t totally impossible to understand why South Korea would invest in a large PR arm of the military; compulsory military service increasingly does not sit well with millions of young men who did not live through the horrors of the Korean War, have little to no connection or experience with North Korea, and who do not necessarily dream of reunification. Despite the rhetoric surrounding the military, enlistment is often regarded as a necessity rather than a patriotic act, something that all able-bodied males just have to put up with for two years of their prime. Making military service look appealing — and motivating soldiers to see their service as meaningful and for the good of the country — is no doubt critical. However, the PR squad is not an actor’s guild; its members are still soldiers. There is no good reason why they should not be held to the same rules and restrictions as are other soldiers, and certainly no good reason why celebrities who find themselves in this branch of the service should make matters worse for themselves by giving anyone any reason to point the finger. Everyone knows that celebrities in the military do almost none of the tasks that make life in the military miserable for regular soldiers; why call more attention to this undeniable fact? In this regard, Rain’s actions have been foolish — and this remains true whether he is found guilty of any sort of violation or not.

 

Regardless of what becomes of Rain, things don’t look good for the rest of South Korea’s celebrity soldiers. The Ministry of Defense will almost certainly have to answer to an increasing number of citizens who are calling for a reduction in the amount of time that they are allowed off-base. Less coddling and more equitable treatment of celebrities in the military is something that probably ought to have been addressed a long time ago, but thanks to Rain, it looks as though it will get its due quite soon. Rain may be a beloved public figure, and he and other celebrities may be well-known, admired, and talented people, but gods they are not. Unfairly rewarding celebrities for being celebrities in an institution that is supposed to promote respect for the well-being of the unit above the individual is absurd. Celebrities often complain that they want to be able to live like an ordinary person — and if this is true, then they should learn that sometimes, being an ordinary person requires doing things that you don’t want to do — like joining the millions of other young men who are sacrificing some of their best years for their country, for example.

 

(South China Morning Post, The Wall Street Journal, Naver, Nate, ABC)

 

 

 

 

A lot of Korean stuff untranslated into English will show you it is not only celebrities who get criticized for this, but the rich and the powerful. It's more than just an enlistment issue for many Koreans, but an issue of inequality. It's easy to be pressed when it's our faves who get criticized, but there are able-bodied huge celebrities who served in active duty: Won Bin (who was even stationed in the DMZ), Yoo Seungho (who did his when he was just barely 20 despite being a huge teen actor + military peers testifying he never accepted any special treatment even if subzero freezing weather), Hyun Bin (not in the celebrity unit but the friggin marines), Jo In Sung (who was in the air force), DB5K Yunho & Jaejoong (who were both medalled soldiers in ACTIVE duty), Song Joong Ki (who never even tried applying for the celebrity unit & willingly went for active duty) & even Choi Jinhyuk and Seo Inguk (who were active soldiers until they had to be honorably dismissed due to injury), Kyuhyun still serving despite a near-death injury.

 

I definitely agree that those who are truly sick (Yoo Ah In!!!111!) or unable to be exempted to be given easier posts (stuff like the PR unit) but you have to realize there's a reason why Knetz are so distrustful of celebrities deferring or getting exempted. It's an issue of equality for them, and it's not like SK can cancel the draft anytime soon since they are still technically at war. A lot of Asian countries have this too - Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan etc Like I get their faves not even having a choice but to serve is a concept that is pretty mind-boggling for many international fans but they also need to understand the context of why issues like this get so much noise from the Knetz. Plus a lot of celebrities (even known A-listers) were known to have served properly, so it is inevitable someone who gets an 'easier' post could get some flack. 

 

Also the Steve Yoo story is a good basis if everyone wants to know any worst case scenario. 

[literally tilted]

tldr

[Vanillish]

tldr

[Acer]

[Thigh-high feminist]

I remember that huge Seven/ Sangchu scandal. That was about 6 or 7ish years ago and they really torpedoed their careers. Both were often seen now you never really see them ( Seven only made news for who he was dating.). Scary stuff, don't screw up too hard during the enlistment.

[JihyoStoleMyHeartAYAYAY]

[Hyooga]

I remember that huge Seven/ Sangchu scandal. That was about 6 or 7ish years ago and they really torpedoed their careers. Both were often seen now you never really see them ( Seven only made news for who he was dating.). Scary stuff, don't screw up too hard during the enlistment.

 

 

A lot of international fans really don't get military enlistment imho and keep commenting on how it's unfair for these men to serve against their will without understanding Korean society and some of its nuances. I only fully understood this when my own friends had to serve the military.

[Thigh-high feminist]

A lot of international fans really don't get military enlistment imho and keep commenting on how it's unfair for these men to serve against their will without understanding Korean society and some of its nuances. I only fully understood this when my own friends had to serve the military.

Yeah, what they don't get is South Korea was a completely war torn place not too long ago, (don't they ever wonder why they get so excited at the sight of beef?!) they just remade themselves so quickly and so well that it's hard to take in. Anyway, they are technically still at war (right?) plus they have a history of being invaded by the Japanese, there are reasons why it's important that they are able to defend themselves. Plus, South Koreans have a lot of pride and they want to maintain it. I'm nervous for my faves when it comes to the military but they have to do what they have to do.

[Hyooga]

Yeah, what they don't get is South Korea was a completely war torn place not too long ago, (don't they ever wonder why they get so excited at the sight of beef?!) they just remade themselves so quickly and so well that it's hard to take in. Anyway, they are technically still at war (right?) plus they have a history of being invaded by the Japanese, there are reasons why it's important that they are able to defend themselves. Plus, South Koreans have a lot of pride and they want to maintain it. I'm nervous for my faves when it comes to the military but they have to do what they have to do.

 

 

Also because Korea as a society is so collective - you have to do your part as a contributor in society to prove your worth (not really Confucian as many intl fans like to believe) - enlisting is one of those "rite of passages" every able-bodied men in Korea are expected to do and celebrities trying to do it the easy way makes people feel how unfair lives of the famous are compared to them. I can imagine why a celebrity wouldn't wanna go to the army though - after years of being adored by fans and jetsetting - serving in active duty kinda forces them to let go of special privileges they've had as celebrities. 

[Thigh-high feminist]

Also because Korea as a society is so collective - you have to do your part as a contributor in society to prove your worth (not really Confucian as many intl fans like to believe) - enlisting is one of those "rite of passages" every able-bodied men in Korea are expected to do and celebrities trying to do it the easy way makes people feel how unfair lives of the famous are compared to them. I can imagine why a celebrity wouldn't wanna go to the army though - after years of being adored by fans and jetsetting - serving in active duty kinda forces them to let go of special privileges they've had as celebrities.

 

Well, they should prepare for it cause it's coming.

 

Re: being a contributor...Yeah, I figured that out. They came so far so the bar is raised really high. But, it has made a lot of their people merciless and miserable. The lack of empathy by so many really scares me. People are human and people make mistakes.

[Hyooga]

Yeah, I figured that out. They came so far so the bar is raised really high. But, it has made a lot of their people merciless and miserable. The lack of empathy by so many really scares me. People are human and people make mistakes.

 

What pains me is the fact that people who are actually sick and unable to serve get lumped with those who are obviously just wanting an easy enlistment or none at all.

[Thigh-high feminist]

What pains me is the fact that people who are actually sick and unable to serve get lumped with those who are obviously just wanting an easy enlistment or none at all.

Yeah, I hate those blind accusations too. It's like they have become unreasonable on the matter, like with Seo In guk's case, for example and Yoo Ah in.

[Hyooga]

Yeah, I hate those blind accusations too. It's like they have become unreasonable on the matter, like with Seo In guk's case, for example and Yoo Ah in.

 

 

Seo Inguk's case was actually great - people had good comments on him because they knew he tried till the end

 

Yoo Ah In was a different case. I think I know the reason why he's getting the bash (guy always had this patriotic sentiments and he isn't the most apolitical person either, so him not serving makes him look like a complete hypocrite) but people need to know he has a fucking bone tumor

[Thigh-high feminist]

Seo Inguk's case was actually great - people had good comments on him because they knew he tried till the end

 

Yoo Ah In was a different case. I think I know the reason why he's getting the bash (guy always had this patriotic sentiments and he isn't the most apolitical person either, so him not serving makes him look like a complete hypocrite) but people need to know he has a fucking bone tumor

He has a legit medical excuse so they need to ease off.

[mel_mel]

In yoo ah in case didn't before applying for active service he is going for enlist as a police but just one final test again knettizzen bashing him and he dropped that, and try applying for active service which for that he is retested 4 time (u know why) and in the end he is given an exemption by the army

 

my question why cant he try for public service didn't its just an easy job desk or why can he try for the police service again?

[King Jaejoong]

Informative , thanks for posting !

Tbh, I was a bit frustrated at some point because of how underrated Kim Jaejoong's military service was, most people even ignore the fact that he's a special class warrior and before that he also received 1st place award at military training graduation , he had many other honorable achievements but he doesn't brag about it nor does the media hype it so much. 

[Nins]

In yoo ah in case didn't before applying for active service he is going for enlist as a police but just one final test again knettizzen bashing him and he dropped that, and try applying for active service which for that he is retested 4 time (u know why) and in the end he is given an exemption by the army

 

my question why cant he try for public service didn't its just an easy job desk or why can he try for the police service again?

 

For the police service you have to be fit for active duty service and to pass police exam (and later to train in basic military and police training). That's why police service is counted as active duty service (21 months).

Conscripts who go to the public service (like office work for 24 months or more) still have to train in 4-weeks basic military training before their work. It looks like Yoo Ah In is not fit even for this training in his present health condition.

[mel_mel]

For the police service you have to be fit for active duty service and to pass police exam (and later to train in basic military and police training). That's why police service is counted as active duty service (21 months).

Conscripts who go to the public service (like office work for 24 months or more) still have to train in 4-weeks basic military training before their work. It looks like Yoo Ah In is not fit even for this training in his present health condition.

That bad huh even for the training he can't do thats...i means how difficult a basic training for public service? Didn't its different with active soldier..i means I don't hear yoochun doing the same thing like jj and yh with the most hardest basic training walking 40 km etc I bet yc will got an asthma attack if he did this, I wonder how public service doing their training I heard it's more easy and like i said before YAI almost enlist as police and dropped that bcs nettizen bash him ...so this is means he fit for police service...

 

Either way I don't know much about Korean army but if doing a training is even so dangerous for him then he better don't act in action drama scene ... believe me the knetz will not gonna leave him..

[Nins]

That bad huh even for the training he can't do thats...i means how difficult a basic training for public service? Didn't its different with active soldier..i means I don't hear yoochun doing the same thing like jj and yh with the most hardest basic training walking 40 km etc I bet yc will got an asthma attack if he did this, I wonder how public service doing their training I heard it's more easy and like i said before YAI almost enlist as police and dropped that bcs nettizen bash him ...so this is means he fit for police service...

 

Either way I don't know much about Korean army but if doing a training is even so dangerous for him then he better don't act in action drama scene ... believe me the knetz will not gonna leave him..

 

I don't know how different basic trainings are for different categories but there were photos of Yoochun from training center.

Yoo Ah In decided not to go to police exam in March 2014. His old health condition worsened and he got injured again when he filmed "Veteran" after that. In 2015-2016 he got tumor. And he fractured left collarbone in 2016.

https://netizentown.blogspot.com/2017/06/an-explanatory-timeline-of-yoo-ah-ins.html

https://yooahinsikseekland.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/yoo-ah-in-gives-up-police-promotional-team-enlistment-agency-speaks-up/

https://yooahinsikseekland.wordpress.com/2017/06/27/fixed-translations-yoo-ah-in-exempt-from-mandatory-military-service-after-5th-medical-examination-full-agencys-statement/

The only possibility for him to go to police service now is to find a time machine, travel back to 2014 and go to that police exam (to say to his younger version to go to that exam).

 

Yes, it will be hard for him to work in the future.