Phoebe Mak

The subplot of Kitae and Haitai going to the army may not have a huge impact on the storyline, but it is certainly a milestone in every Korean men’s life. In the drama, Kitae held a week-long farewell party before entering the army. They even booked a room to drink all night before his enlistment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Korean hasn't officially ended, and there is still tension on the Korean peninsula. Under the Military Service Law of 1949, all South Korean male citizens aged 18 or above have to perform about two years of compulsory military service (Lee 2007, 91). Conscription in South Korea has always been involved in controversies include corruption, easier service conditions for celebrities, dual national service obligations and exemptions. Nonetheless, in addition to national security, conscription serves multiple functions in Korean society. In this article, I am going to argue that compulsory military service is essential for Korean men to succeed in society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a personal level, 2 years of training and serving in the military can shape individuals into a better person with a strong mentality and physical fitness. As mentioned by Dr Saeji, some boys that used to slack off in college would undergo a significant transformation and become a hardworking student after their military service. In Korea, there’s a saying that you ‘become a man’ only after you enlist in the army. Some people may argue that all you do in the army is useless chores and endless pushups, but the dull and repetitive tasks can help build up young people’s resistance and perseverance, which are important qualities in successful people.

 

From the sociological perspective, mandatory military service helps train individuals to adapt to the hierarchical society in South Korea. Undeniably, the army has the strictest hierarchical structure. Lower-ranked soldiers are required to obey all lawful orders from senior ranking soldiers. This power structure can also be seen in Korean society, especially in corporate environment. As discussed in class, Korea has a rigid social hierarchy and individuals are expected to pay total respect to people with a higher rank. Most Korean men serve their mandatory military service in their first or second year of college prior to entering the society. The training that they received prepares them for the harsh world of strict social hierarchy.

 

Fulfilling military duties is a display of nationalism in South Korea, and an indispensable component to do well in the collective Korean society (Kwon 2000, 29). The collective memory of enduring the tough military service creates a bond between Korean men. Anyone who hasn’t gone to the military will be discriminated. In the drama, after hearing about Haitai’s enlistment notice, Dongil commented Korean men should serve in the military. A deterrent example is pop star Yoo Seung Jun, a Korean-American who evaded military service by renouncing his Korean citizenship. He was forever banned from entering Korea and despised by his people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In conclusion, on a personal, social and national level, conscription is essential for men to succeed in the Korean society.

(495 words)

 

Bibliography: 

 

Kwon, In-Sook. "A Feminist Exploration of Military Conscription: The Gendering of the Connections Between Nationalism, Militarism

    and Citizenship in South Korea." International Feminist Journal of Politics 3, no. 1 (2000): 26-54.

Lee, Nam-Hee. Making of Minjung: Democracy and the Politics of Representation in South Korea. Ithaca: Cornell University Press,

    2007.