Required Military Service - Is it ethical to support it?

[raspberry84]

I've seen so much debate lately on whether or not BTS should be exempt from enlisting in the military. I'm not going to get into the ethics of that decision (exempting only specific cases) but one common response I've seen people who are opposed to an exemption make is that BTS wants to enlist.

 

The problem with that argument is that military service is expected in Korea and seen as an honor. People aren't really aloud to speak out against it, especially idols who could potentially damage their career by saying they don't want to serve. Not serving or trying to get out of it has ended other celeb's careers in the past.

 

So you now have a culture that forces every male to enlist in the military and socially pressures everyone to speak of it positively. Mandatory service is unlikely to change anytime soon in South Korea and I'm sure there are many men who will be forced to serve who don't want to (for a variety of reasons).

 

And the more I think about it the more uncomfortable and unethical the whole situation seems to me. Especially if an active war were ever to break out.

[Mr.Skinny-penis]

kpoppies forget about the fact N and S korea could still break out into war 

at anytime

there's a reason why its mandatory

that why so many careers gets ruin when celebs tries to get out of it

[Kiwii]

I dont know tbh but i do think its an argument which has no room for internationa fans.

[Sinupii]

idk if it is ethical but it is unfair to those who had to enlist just because it is mandatory. War sucks.

[turn it up!]

I dont know tbh but i do think its an argument which has no room for internationa fans.

[Hormones.]

idk if it is ethical but it is unfair to those who had to enlist just because it is mandatory. War sucks.

[DolphinGremlin]

As I said in a previous post which I'll just copy here. 

 

South Korea has mandatory draft like any other country that has it because they face the large threat of possible war from nearby countries. Like Taiwan in case of war against China, Singapore in case of war against Malaysia, Israel in case of war against Arab nations, and likewise South Korea in case of war against North Korea.

 

They don't just have mandatory draft to be dicks. There's a reason. 

[raspberry84]

 

kpoppies forget about the fact N and S korea could still break out into war 

at anytime

there's a reason why its mandatory

that why so many careers gets ruin when celebs tries to get out of it

 

 

I look at it this way: mandatory service is even worse for those forced into it during an active war.

 

There is a reason why the US no longer actively uses the draft after Vietnam.

[rockerchic88]

If you don’t belong to the country just stfu this has nothing to do with you. The kpop stans talking about this always make me cringe.

[raspberry84]

As I said in a previous post which I'll just copy here. 

 

South Korea has mandatory draft like any other country that has it because they face the large threat of possible war from nearby countries. Like Taiwan in case of war against China, Singapore in case of war against Malaysia, Israel in case of war against Arab nations, and likewise South Korea in case of war against North Korea.

 

They don't just have mandatory draft to be dicks. There's a reason. 

 

I'd make the argument that, considering there is a higher chance that they'd see active combat, the draft is even more unethical since it's forcing them into an extreme situation that they didn't consent to. Arguably, it's forcing people to kill other people without their consent in those situations.

[NoIdeaWhyImHere]

I look at it this way: mandatory service is even worse for those forced into it during an active war.

 

There is a reason why the US no longer actively uses the draft after Vietnam.

 

The US hasn't used the draft solely because there hasn't been a crisis big enough to get congress to authorize the draft, our volunteer only military size is big enough for most things we need to do and was further increased after 9/11 to the point that now the military is downsizing in almost all professions except highly skilled ones.

[Mr.Skinny-penis]

I look at it this way: mandatory service is even worse for those forced into it during an active war.

 

There is a reason why the US no longer actively uses the draft after Vietnam.

there actually been talks about a mandatory service in the US

plus we should've never been in Vietnam plus they were forcing people 

into war who couldnt even vote

but we arent in the situation that S. Korea is in

N. Koera has nuclear bombs and could literally take over S 

at anytime

the us doesnt really have that problem

technically both N and S are still at war rn

[raspberry84]

If you don’t belong to the country just stfu this has nothing to do with you. The kpop stans talking about this always make me cringe.

 

Not being from a country doesn't mean you can't question the ethics of their political decisions or choices. Countries don't exist in isolated boxes.

 

That would be like me saying that someone from outside the United States couldn't discuss the ethics behind the Trump Campaign or police brutality here. They 100% can discuss that and have their own opinions on the way it's being handled.

[raspberry84]

Think of it this way:

 

Because there is a threat does that mean the government should have the ability to force you into battles were you may be forced to kill people?

[lunakitten]

I think it's very logical for S.Korea to have required military service. 

 

- If S.Korea had a smaller army it would be more likely to be attacked

- If N.Korea did attack, in theory the majority of males wouldn't need training it's already been done. This saves so much time which is important when you think how close Seoul is to the border. 

 

I'll be surprised if there is ever is an attack in my lifetime, but it's better to be over prepared than under. I see the training as being able to defend yourself and your family just in case. Also the army can't force you to kill anyone. They can't make you pull a trigger that is something that only you get to decide in the moment. 

 

It also seems to create a bit of a bond to the country, which I see lacking in my own country. That sense of togetherness.  

 

However, I do have one major problem with the conscription. If men have to do it, women should too. I'm not expert but I do think this is blocking Korea from being able to completely be gender equality. It would be more fair and bring gender together if both gender had to do training. 

[junmyeonsnoodle]

 

 

There is a reason why the US no longer actively uses the draft after Vietnam.

Males still have to register for the draft when they 18 in the US....There just hasn't been a draft since the Vietnam War.

 

*it's actually called selective service, not the draft. It's in case there is a draft

[Sdm]

It is unethical. Not everyone is mentally cut out for it, even if they're physically fit. Not a lot of people want to sacrifice two years of their life just like that either. That's a long time.. Pretty sure a lot of Koreans treat it as an unfortunate obligation they've to get done with. But SK can't really do away with it either, considering there's an active threat right next to them and their population is already small.

 

Also I wonder how much hate yoongi will get for his verse in Adult child if knets decide to dig that song up again. Cause he talks about exactly this issue there. And I feel like a lot of korean men share his sentiments.

[raspberry84]

Males still have to register for the draft when they 18 in the US....There just hasn't been a draft since the Vietnam War.

 

Hence why I said "actively use" the draft.

 

They also no longer charge people who not registering, that stopped sometime in the 80s.

[raspberry84]

It is unethical. Not everyone is mentally cut out for it, even if they're physically fit. Not a lot of people want to sacrifice two years of their life just like that either. That's a long time.. Pretty sure a lot of Koreans treat it as an unfortunate obligation they've to get done with. But SK can't really do away with it either, considering there's an active threat right next to them and their population is already small.

 

Also I wonder how much hate yoongi will get for his verse in Adult child if knets decide to dig that song up again. Cause he talks about exactly this issue there. And I feel like a lot of korean men share his sentiments.

 

Seriously, I don't know how anyone who has heard his verses in that song think that he actually wants to enlist in military service. He made his stance on it pretty clear there.

[plutto]

It's unethetical for every country to force people into doing a military service. (War issues aside, before someone come at me with "but N. Korea"... and even so, I'm not supportive of it)

[Iceprince]

Think of it this way:

 

Because there is a threat does that mean the government should have the ability to force you into battles were you may be forced to kill people?

Darling, do you know what a war means? They dont ask what you want or like, it's either kill or be killed. And technically Koreas are still at war

[raspberry84]

Darling, do you know what a war means? They dont ask what you want or like, it's either kill or be killed. And technically Koreas are still at war

 

Obviously that is what war is. That is exactly why I think people should consent and join the military on their own free will instead of being forced into those situations.

[Eremit]

my country has mandatory service too (but shorter) and everyone I know hated it and bitched and complained abou having to do it. But they also get mad at the idea of younger men not having to do it, cause like if I had to suffer, they might as well too, that kind of thinking. There was a vote on it and older men voted in favor of keeping it while younger men voted against it. Poor young ones were outnumbered.

 

I'm pretty sure no idol really wants to enlist, when even regular Koreans aren't happy about it. For an idol it is usually the end of the career they had until then and the end of the career they could have had. It really sucks for them. But losing public favor would mean the same, that's the reason they go.

[dragostaedintei]

It's unethetical for every country to force people into doing a military service. (War issues aside, before someone come at me with "but N. Korea"... and even so, I'm not supportive of it)

 

This. No men or women should be forced to "serve their country", regardless of the circumstances. Citizens are people and not just numbers for the army. 

 

Do people still think korean men enjoy serving in the army? They do because they're obligated to. You can find their complaints about the whole thing anywhere on internet.

 

[YuMing]

generally I don't support mandatory enlistment but it's not really my place to talk about it for a country I don't know much about ://