Korean ProGamers & the Military?

On April 29 2011 13:28 salazar001 wrote:
ALL Koreans must go serve in the military for at least 2 years. No exceptions unless you have some severe problems and absolutely cannot attend. People can postpone their service for a short period of time, but it is mandatory to serve in the military. Also, for BW in the military they have a progaming team. For your last question, it entirely depends on the programer, they will choose themselves whether they wish to continue their career in progaming.

On April 29 2011 13:28 salazar001 wrote:
ALL Koreans must go serve in the military for at least 2 years. No exceptions unless you have some severe problems and absolutely cannot attend. People can postpone their service for a short period of time, but it is mandatory to serve in the military. Also, for BW in the military they have a progaming team. For your last question, it entirely depends on the programer, they will choose themselves whether they wish to continue their career in progaming.

On April 29 2011 14:28 Intensity wrote:
Why can't they have laptops / tv's / cellphones? In america, after basic training, you can have whatever you want in your dorm. Especially after your primary training for whatever field you're going into.

Also, isn't NesTea 30?

On April 29 2011 16:22 VicTimEyes wrote:
I know it might not be entirely related, but I was wondering how this works for other sportsman like Ji-Sung Park (Man Utd) that are performing abroad? Do they get to postpone their duty after their active career or is there another way how they can fulfill their duty.

On April 29 2011 16:46 jinorazi wrote:
achievements in sports will also exempt one from military. World Baseball Championship, World Cup, Asian Cup, Olympics, etc.

On April 29 2011 16:30 thoradycus wrote:

Im pretty sure Park Ji Sung would need to go for military service.There has been instances where sportsman were exempted from service due to success, such as the 2002 SK world cup team, which reached the semi finals.Athletes who won gold medals are exempted.

Flash and Jaedong hasnt joined military service yet.

On April 29 2011 17:11 Maliris wrote:
Personally I think its pretty bullshit that people involved in sports/esports have to do miltiary service... maybe that sounds really ignorant, but having progamers be forced to go to military is horrible. It nearly ruins their entire career, anyone who did their miltiary service in BW who was a progamer were never able to get their skill level back up to a similar point that it was before they left

On April 29 2011 14:09 Intensity wrote:


What about a military proteam for SC2? Is there a list anywhere of which of the major Korean progamers have served? Also, is it similar to the US where, after basic training (6 weeks I think) you live in a dorm, have you own computer and whatever, do your job with the military during the day then do whatever you want @ night? What I'm essentially asking is - are these guys still allowed to compete / ladder while serving in the military?

On April 29 2011 17:43 Talin wrote:
Surely there must be a better and more cost efficient way to prepare for a possible future armed conflict than having every (or almost every) male undergo military life for 2 years?

I'm no military expert, but I can't see the benefits of such a rigid system compared to the way most western countries do it. It's not like raw manpower decides the outcome of armed conflicts nowadays.

On April 29 2011 18:03 thoradycus wrote:

u cant really take any chances when your neighbour/enemy has like 1 mil soldiers and 8 mil reserves.

On April 29 2011 17:11 Maliris wrote:
Personally I think its pretty bullshit that people involved in sports/esports have to do miltiary service... maybe that sounds really ignorant, but having progamers be forced to go to military is horrible. It nearly ruins their entire career, anyone who did their miltiary service in BW who was a progamer were never able to get their skill level back up to a similar point that it was before they left

On April 29 2011 17:29 kOre wrote:
Korean citizens must go into the military for 2 years. This starts at age 21 and you can postpone till you're 30. As far as I know there are only 2 exceptions to this.

95% or higher average in university (not 100% sure about this one but I heard it from my cousin in Korea).

Physically or mentally unable to go to the military (weigh like 300 pounds and stuff like that).

On April 29 2011 17:43 Talin wrote:
Surely there must be a better and more cost efficient way to prepare for a possible future armed conflict than having every (or almost every) male undergo military life for 2 years?

I'm no military expert, but I can't see the benefits of such a rigid system compared to the way most western countries do it. It's not like raw manpower decides the outcome of armed conflicts nowadays.

On April 29 2011 16:19 blade55555 wrote:
I am curious, thought I would ask in this thread.

Has jaedong done military service or no? has flash?

On April 30 2011 01:34 andrewlt wrote:



Flash is too young to go. It starts at 21, I believe. Jaedong and Bisu are barely old enough to do it. They just hit 21 in the past 6 months. Unless I'm mistaken and 21 is in Korean age.

On April 29 2011 19:14 WAAA wrote:


Are you kidding me? Pretty sure any countryin SK's position would have a mandatory service. Also the mandatory service provides citizens with military training in the event fighting breaks out and there is a draft.

On April 29 2011 19:01 GTR wrote:
dunno where people are getting the idea nestea hasn't gone. he went and did his service before going pro in bw (back in 04-05).

On April 29 2011 19:01 GTR wrote:
dunno where people are getting the idea nestea hasn't gone. he went and did his service before going pro in bw (back in 04-05).

On April 29 2011 17:11 Maliris wrote:
Personally I think its pretty bullshit that people involved in sports/esports have to do miltiary service... maybe that sounds really ignorant, but having progamers be forced to go to military is horrible. It nearly ruins their entire career, anyone who did their miltiary service in BW who was a progamer were never able to get their skill level back up to a similar point that it was before they left

On May 14 2011 14:28 BLinD-RawR wrote:


you probably have to break up with them.

On April 29 2011 17:18 JerKy wrote:


Well, I think you're missing a point there.
Yes it sucks for a progamer to have to go into military service, but it sucks for ANYONE to have to go into service. I mean, who wants to leave their home, family, loved ones, job to go into mandatory army service? Unless you are geared towards a military career, having to go to the army just sucks

It's not only progamers that have to suffer this unfortunate fact. And moreover, also keep in mind some people, including progamers, may feel obligated to serve in the army to protect their country in the case that the Korean war continues.

On May 14 2011 14:39 zoLo wrote:


Doubt it... Maybe it applies to some progamers since their coaches want them to focus on practicing. It's not like the military forces their soldiers to cut off all ties in their military life.

On May 14 2011 14:19 Washow wrote:
ALL able bodied male must go serve for 2.5 years. If you have some problems (physical stuff), you may not serve but have to do a public service thing just helping out govt facilities.

Yeah it's fucking dumb and it ruins everyone's lives. You have to just abandon everything and leave to military at your PRIME AGE of like 21 ~ 23. Then you come back to finish your uni and everything you do will be delayed for 2.5 years because of military.

Can't help it though, we are technically still at war with north korea.

On March 14 2012 00:06 neoghaleon55 wrote:
Bump because people were talking about Ganzi going to do his military services soon.

I'm stressed out by this as well.
I don't want DRG to go

On March 14 2012 03:41 opisska wrote:
This thread's gonna bring my some nightmares. 2.5 years? That's horrible. I would probably emigrate if I lived in Korea before they took me!

Yes, sure, they have a lethal enemy right at the sight of their capital, but most of the western world have already understood that this is extremely inefficient way to handle it anyway. You need an army? Well, just offer enough money for enough professional soldiers to sign up voluntarily - and as they are way more efficient as a group of random consripts, you may in the end actually save money.

On April 29 2011 17:29 kOre wrote:
Korean citizens must go into the military for 2 years. This starts at age 21 and you can postpone till you're 30. As far as I know there are only 2 exceptions to this.

95% or higher average in university (not 100% sure about this one but I heard it from my cousin in Korea).

Physically or mentally unable to go to the military (weigh like 300 pounds and stuff like that).

On March 14 2012 05:38 Dfgj wrote:

There are organizational and social benefits to ensuring a culture of people who are (somewhat) in shape, contactable/mobilizable, and accepting the need to serve their country.

Did my 2 years in Singapore, despised it, but there's big-picture purpose.

On March 14 2012 06:26 opisska wrote:


There are such benefits to about a milion things that you would probably not condone - for example, there sure are "organizational benefits" to an absolutist monarchy, aren't they? Anyway, I don't see how any of that justifies state-sanctioned slavery. As to the positivies: Firstly, it is none of the goverment's business, in what shape I am. And how having the service compulsory makes anyone "accept the need to serve"?

But that main point of my post was that I don't really believe that it is cost-efficient. Firstly, if the soldiers want to train, they will train much efficiently (even more so if they are under the pressure of not keeping their job, if they underperfom). Secondly, the level of combat readiness (both physical and mental) may fall very quickly after the constript's release from duty.

On March 14 2012 08:33 j89007 wrote:
I hated how Boxer (and I could be wrong) had to "retire" because of the military. He may have reached his peak and pasted it, but he just seemed like such a good player in the long-run that it was devastating to me...

On March 14 2012 09:16 Tomken wrote:

wtf are you talking about?

On March 14 2012 09:23 neoghaleon55 wrote:



He meant that he felt the conscription had adversely affected boxer's career as a pro-gamer.
I fear this rite of passage may be devastating to both sets of skills.
In the end you might be mediocre at both starcraft II AND military combat.

On May 14 2011 14:28 BLinD-RawR wrote:


you probably have to break up with them.

On March 14 2012 08:20 Dfgj wrote:

It can be quite in the government's interest what shape you're in if healthcare is subsidized (which it is in Singapore, I can't speak for Korea, but they also have a more pressing military requirement). Nor is wanting people to be fit a cruel totalitarian decree, especially when they give you money for passing exams (again, citing my own country). These exams and reservist call-ups are also what help maintain reservist proficiency after their release from duty. As for why creating a culture where serving the country is normal creates a culture of accepting the requirements to serve, that is self-evident. Whether every person agrees is a different story, but is also unrelated as that's a constant to any sort of policy or population.