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DAY6’s Young K is the first ever Idol to enlist in KATUSA Military Unit


blossoms

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KATUSA is considered the most desired branch of service for Korean soldiers.

 

DAY6‘s Young K announced that he will enlist on October 12 into the KATUSA branch of the Republic Of Korea (ROK) Army, becoming the first K-Pop idol to be accepted into the program. This is a highly sought-after, low-acceptance branch of the Army.

 

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KATUSA, which stands for Korean Augmentation To the United States Army, started in 1950 following the beginning of the Korean war. Its purpose was support the US forces during the war, and since the 1953 armistice, it functions to the benefit of both the US Army and ROK Army. KATUSA members serve as support to the US Army forces as well as translators between Americans and the Korean public. Beyond the military, however, many KATUSA and US Army soldiers have shared that the cultural exchange and learning opportunities make the experience unique.

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Those who wish to join are required to take and pass one of eight standardized English tests. Two of the most common tests are TOEFL, with a passing score of 83, and TOEIC, with a passing score of 780. For Young K, he received a TOEFL score of 116 and a TOEIC score of 970. But even once they receive their passing score, their acceptance is not guaranteed; KATUSA relies on a lottery system to choose from the pool of qualified volunteers. According to The Korea Times, out of 16,760 applicants in 2020, only 1,600 were accepted. Their acceptance rate will continue to decline in future years as more US Army forces move out of South Korea.

However, despite the highly competitive process to get into KATUSA, it remains “the most enviable” post for Koreans entering the military. This is due to the comparatively better treatment soldiers can receive through working with US Army units - compared with the ROK Army, and that junior enlisted personnel receive better treatment, have more educational opportunities (especially with regards to learning English), experience a higher standard of living, and have an overall better quality of life than their ROK counterparts. 

"The popularity of joining KATUSA derives from the fact that they can receive better treatment, including meals, compared to regular South Korean military units. These perks include the freedom to leave military posts on weekdays with relative ease, and a comparably less hierarchical relationship with supervisors."

— Bak Se Hwan, The Korea Herald

Young K is the first idol to be accepted into the highly desired KATUSA branch thanks to both his impressive fluency in English and just a touch of good luck. He’ll begin his military service in October following the release of a solo album.

 

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Edited by blossoms
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27 minutes ago, melancholic autumn said:

he's not Canadian born, he was born in SK. He didn't move to Canada until middle school. 

yeah, this news prompted me to look more into his history so i know now!. lol i just kinda assumed from how well he speaks english plus his high school stories. the more u know~!! 

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