That sounds like a nightmare of a situation. Isn't there some sort of traveling organization you can contact with these kind of questions? Where did you get your passport? You can try asking the people that work there.

SanguineToss

Canada815 Posts

February 01 2010 23:13 GMT

#23

IT also depends on how long you are there for and for what reasons. If u want to stay/work/live for a bit they will draft you, if your visiting parents relatives it should be no problem.

kroko

Finland2136 Posts

February 01 2010 23:14 GMT

#24

This is how it works in Finland, except the agelimit is 28. One hockey player called Tony Salmelainen was jailed for a while when he came for national team practice at Finland, cause he wasnt done his military service. He worked it out tho...

illu

Canada2531 Posts

February 01 2010 23:15 GMT

#25

I don't think they'd really draft you, but you might have to spend some effort battling with them.

SanguineToss

Canada815 Posts

February 01 2010 23:24 GMT

#26

On February 02 2010 08:15 illu wrote:
I don't think they'd really draft you, but you might have to spend some effort battling with them.

ud be surprised

gnr9292

90 Posts

February 01 2010 23:36 GMT

#27

to my knowledge if you have us citizenship and you are just visiting momentarily for a vacation, as long as you aren't getting a lucrative job while your in korean then your fine

Waffles

Romania605 Posts

February 01 2010 23:45 GMT

#28

i dont see why you wouldnt join the military. ive heard from many people its a good experience as long as youre not fighting on the front lines. there is a lot of communication teamwork and leadership involved. But i think its very important that if you do go to korea and join the military. you loose your US. citizen ship

koreasilver

9109 Posts

February 01 2010 23:48 GMT

#29

On February 02 2010 08:45 Waffles wrote:
But i think its very important that if you do go to korea and join the military. you loose your US. citizen ship

No you don't. You only lose your US citizenship if you go into something other than the regular mandatory service forces. And would you want to suddenly get stuck in two years of forced military training in a country that you've never even lived in before?

As for the getting-whisked-by-army-personnel-when-you-arrive-at-the-airport thing, I'm not entirely too sure how it goes. I know some people that actually got fucked like that, so you should really, really look into the laws carefully. I'm planning on voluntarily going in a couple of years so I've never looked into it, but since you don't want to go you have to be careful.

The6357

United States1268 Posts

February 01 2010 23:56 GMT

#30

I never knew you can get drafted when you have US citizenship....
anyways to be on the safe side...just call Korean Embassy in US and ask them what kind of paper work you need to submit extention for military service...they will ask for your greencard (not sure what they require for citizens) and korean family tree paper work. And you can dl the application form at the website. It is really simple form...just fill it out...reason for extention = work/school is perfect.
takes about a few weeks for them to send you letter that your military service is put on hold till ur 35...then go to korea and watch some starcraft...

to be honest...if u have citizenship and are using us passport...u won't even have to worry about it...tell them you are american.

KwarK

United States43232 Posts

February 01 2010 23:59 GMT

#31

If you can't speak korean I doubt they'll bother conscripting you. You'd be more effort than you're worth.

BlueRoyaL

United States2493 Posts

February 02 2010 00:00 GMT

#32

On February 02 2010 08:45 Waffles wrote:
i dont see why you wouldnt join the military. ive heard from many people its a good experience as long as youre not fighting on the front lines. there is a lot of communication teamwork and leadership involved. But i think its very important that if you do go to korea and join the military. you loose your US. citizen ship

lol. i really have no idea what to say to this. The whole point of the op was because he doesn't want to get drafted for any reason, regardless of the pros and cons that go along with it.

and to the op, i think it's already been said here more than a few times. Definitely the safest thing to do would be to contact the korean embassy and find out from a direct legitimate source. Not to say that what people are posting aren't credibly, but if it's possibly up to 1.5 years on the line, don't risk it. get the information you need from the people that really know what they're not talking about, they're not going to try ta hoax you into their millitary service -_-

Deleted User 37864

780 Posts

February 02 2010 00:01 GMT

#33

Dude. I'd say go join the military service and become good friends with the Mantoss, the Storm Zerg, Grandpa Toss, Sashin and all of them!!!

The6357

United States1268 Posts

February 02 2010 00:05 GMT

#34

oh and make sure you do it quick before your birthday
if i remember correctly you have to be between 18-25 (us age) to submit application

orgolove

Vatican City State1650 Posts

February 02 2010 00:56 GMT

#35

Ah. Even Koreans that lived there for their whole lives absolutely HATE military service with a passion. Spending 2 of the most active and energetic years of your lives in military? No ty. Besides, Someone with a US mindset will never be able to adapt to the hierarchical, tyrannical, and psychologically torturous 2 years. The physical aspect is bearable, but depending on the other guys you live with that entered anywhere between a few days to even a few years before you, your life can be hell.

Do not enter military service in Korea.

haster27

Taiwan809 Posts

February 02 2010 19:12 GMT

#36

On February 02 2010 07:54 Amnesia wrote:

Show nested quote +

Your posting ain't that great either bud.
@OP I heard stories about that, where when people go to Korea, the military is like waiting at the airport or something and take you to the army. That's some scary shit. But if you're an American citizen, can they still do that to you...?

Sounds like what one would hear on the top of newspaper headlines, "Three American Citizens Forcibly Kidnapped by South Korean Government Military"

Edit: And yes, I definitely do not recommend Korean military service, and this is from eight-teen-year old Korean university student who is researching this shit in case of worst contingencies.

haduken

Australia8267 Posts

February 02 2010 19:24 GMT

#37

Dude, what's stopping you from just changing your name?

I mean do you even have a Korean passport? If all you have is your American passport, change your name will probably mean that the Koreans can't trace you even if you don't change just say you are Chinese or something. I find it hard to believe that they can track some one down just via the name consider how many Asians have the same names.

DreaM)XeRO

Korea (South)4667 Posts

February 02 2010 19:35 GMT

#38

waitasec.. O___O

unless you're a korean citizen you cant get drafted

LF9

United States537 Posts

February 02 2010 19:37 GMT

#39

I am pretty sure there are laws against drafting an American citizen into a foreign military regardless; a call to the USA embassy would probably suffice to bail you out should the worst happen.

On another note, I have yet to receive an answer as to why that random poster was banned for a seemingly innocuous post.

DreaM)XeRO

Korea (South)4667 Posts

February 02 2010 19:50 GMT

#40

On February 03 2010 04:37 LF9 wrote:
I am pretty sure there are laws against drafting an American citizen into a foreign military regardless; a call to the USA embassy would probably suffice to bail you out should the worst happen.

On another note, I have yet to receive an answer as to why that random poster was banned for a seemingly innocuous post.

ghostwriter is a forum veteran
he must've insulted one of the mod's very deeply