From: junglee@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Jung S. Lee)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.korean
Subject: Re: <Why I was in army) Re: Service in Korea
Date: 19 Nov 92 22:18:40 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

jfe@alchemy.tn.cornell.edu (Brian Chung) writes;

First, before I get into the Korean military system, I would like to point
out that Korea had been invaded over 1000 times(my wild guess based on
what I learned in the high school) over 500 years(?) in her history.
Strong military power matters inkeeping others from making stupid
decisions.

Second, how longer do you or we want Korea depend on America for
helping us defend from North Korea? We must to have our own people
defending ourselves without relying on others.

>	It sure is the time to change the Korean military system.  If you
>are going to go around being paranoid about every single neighbour, 

This sounds to me that you don't know anything about Korean history.
Korea had been invaded by either Japan or China up to Japanese colony
periord.  There was short period of peace time but if you study for
Korean history exam, you will be darn confused to memorize which
invaded when.  Well, you can say that is just history but to people
who went through a war, that is unforgettable tragic period of their
lives, which they hell don't want to repeat for them and their next
generations. 

>never ever change the military system.  According to your logic, even after
>North Korea falls, we must keep up our defense spending because Japan may
>invade.  Great.  How do you propose to solve this problem?  Take over Japan
>before they take us over?  And then what?  Are you going to keep up the
>defense spending in case China or Russia decide to turn against us?  

To me, your logics is of a 13 years of kid. Face the reality. No one
will leave you alone because you are no harm to them. They will take
advantage of you and intimidate you unless all on the earth agree not
to(I wish it comes true some day). All I am saying is that we have the
military to defend us from others, not to offend others. If necessary,
we should spend some more our tax to defend from China or any other
country. The war should be avoided by any mean.

Now, let me talk about the Korean military system. I agree with you on
this. It's about time to change it. It's making too much noisy. Some
rich people get away with it, others don't have no choice. IMHO,
serving in the military is one of the highest honor one can achieve in
his life. Many of you pobably agree with me that making decision to
serve in the military for 2.5 years is very difficult when you have
right to choose. Ones who believe in defending their country from
others will serve in military voluntarily. Others can contribute in
other ways. I am not criticizing ones who don't want to serve. I am
saying ones who served or serving inmilitary deserve their respect
from others in the society although this isn't the case in Korea......



>-- >T. H. Brian Chung | Happiness is...  
>Internet:jfe@alchemy.tn.cornell.edu | "Tea, Earl Grey, hot."  
>Bitnet:jfe@cornella | 210 Lake St. Apt. 11-A 
>DECnet: CESR10::THC | Ithaca,
NY 14850 Tel: 607-272-1543

Jung S. Lee			junglee@gandalf.rutgers.edu
				junglee@rucs-admin.rutgers.edu