Youth ranges from the teens to the twenties, and people usually call it the young age of life. Adults say that it is not bad for young people to face struggles. Also, young people like to do what they haven’t experienced and what they want to do. However, some healthy Korean males aren’t entertained with their young lives. If we look at young Korean men, most of them have a pattern of entering the university, going to the army, leaving the army and graduating from a university.
  In the case of Korea, we are using a military system called conscription to force the military service on young Korean males to defend the country from North Korea. Korean young males don’t have any option but to join the troops. Do young foreigners have the same ideas as them? Is their military system the same as Korea’s?
  Representative nations that have conscription are Korea and Israel. Israel is known as a country where both males and females join the army. Israel does their best for their national defense because it has a lot of conflicts with Islamic nations. Males have a three-year service period, and females have a two-year service period.
  On the other hand, a representative nation that has voluntary military service is the USA. Americans and permanents residents can apply to the military regardless of sex if an applicant doesn’t have any reasons for disqualification. The age limitation is 29 for commissioned officers and 35 for the enlisted.
  Let’s find out different opinions from different nationalities and the differences with the Korean military system?

By Choi Ji-su | js36@cbnu.ac.kr

Q1. What are the differences and similarities between your nation’s military system and Korea’s?

Leila Belhassaini(France): Our army’s rules are similar to your countries. All functions and goals of the army are similar in any country. The French government is pushing ahead with Service Militaries Voluntary(SMV). The SMV is for people who have a bad background, like committing crimes, and they can go to the army. The aim of SMV is to help them. They can know the realities of life.

Edward Kwon(USA): The way to join to the army is different between the nations. Korea’s system is mandatory, but America’s is voluntary. In Texas A&M University, I heard that all tuition is supported for students who joined the army. The United States Government gives citizenship to foreigners who live in America and join the army voluntarily, so people who want to get citizenship tend to join the army.

Q2. There are many people who don’t like the Korean army because Korea has a conscription system. What do you think about the military system of your country?

Leila Belhassaini(France): The question is personally sensitive for me. For example, my friend liked the army. Before going to the army, he led a fast life and didn't have an aim. He said, “After I went to the army, I had an aim in my life and learned many things.” I think that he became kind and good.

Edward Kwon(USA): Americans have high respect for soldiers, and facilities for soldiers are good. Also, people often say, “Thank you for your service,” because they appreciate the soldiers’ sacrifices for our country. Now, I’m studying at MSC, a memorial student center. This building was dedicated for students who died in the war. All deceased students are recorded there. Also, students who fought devotedly in the war received medals, and pictures of them are hung on the wall.