Jason (last name withheld) is a 19 year old Korean in the U.S. on a student visa. Under a new U.S. Army program to recruit more immigrants who have special linguistic, cultural or technical skills, Jason can apply to the army and afterwards get U.S. citizenship. Conversely, by default Jason avoids being drafted by the South Korean Army.
Interesting story that’s a part of today’s L.A. Times. Article can be read here.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Obviously not a draft dodger, if he intends on becoming US citizen to live here permanently.
I’m really curious as to what the “nativists” think about this.
Heh heh heh, bitches.
Both.
Normally I would be cynical as well, but he’s trying to join the US military, and I’ll bet 10bux they’ll get him for a longer time than the 2 years the ROK military would.
Basically, he gets to be a US citizen faster than normal, and will be doing something he’s good at and wants to do. The US gets a much need translator, and the ROK gets rid of a traitor to the master race.
Sounds win/win/win all around.
Never mind that this guy immigrated when he was 9. I know we’ve got the whole illegal immigrant issue here, of people who basically went to school their entire lives here but don’t have citizenship, the most prominent case being Dan-el Padilla Peralta, the dude from Princeton.
It would be sort of interesting if the US was recruiting — actively — outside the country as well. Maybe they are.
I agree: definitely win-win.
While it’s nothing new to the ‘ole, is JW trying to instigate a flame war? Is he genuinely curious w/ that question or just trolling? Geez, it’s the gyopos starting the nasties now, huh.
I think we need to draw the line somewhere. I mean sure after all those illegal immigrants we have one Dan-el Padilla, but what about the hundreds of criminals or would be criminals that don’t get filtered to get that one Dan-el?
There needs to be a better way of getting talented and qualified immigrants into this country. No system or a badly broken one is not the answer.
Jason’s language skills would best serve USFK, but once he hits ground in Korea the local authorities may wish to see him in shackles. How is he protected by the SOFA?
He would not escape the ROK military, at least without taking some specific steps. There are many cases of U.S. citizens of Korean ethnicity going to Korea and being pressed into the military – some of which spoke little or no Korean – including at least one U.S. active duty service member. If they are on a family register in Korea and they don’t renounce Korean citizenship, they are at risk.
A few more months and I’ll be ineligible!
Happy 38th birthday in that case.
What! I have to wait 3 more years? Damn.
Yes, they raised it since the Yoo Seung-Jun thing. Fucker ruined it for everyone.
Oh werd…had no clue.
Did that fucker go to Cerritos or Sunny Hills HS?
I know he went to Tetzlaff for junior high, but not sure which HS.
The draft dodger when to Sunny Hills HS…
SHHS is full of gyopo delinquents. Too many absentee parents busy making tee time at Los Coyotes Country Club rather than properly raising their kids.
Oh… “raising” their kids equals lots of toys, a German or Japanese luxury car and lots of cash in exchange for a report card full of “A’s” but virtually no parental supervision. That’s a toxic, soul corrupting mix.
“It would be sort of interesting if the US was recruiting — actively — outside the country as well. Maybe they are.”
The US Marines are recruiting on Indian reserves in Canada.
“Fucker ruined it for everyone.”
Probably not for the kids of politicians and chaebol execs, though.
“There are many cases of U.S. citizens of Korean ethnicity going to Korea and being pressed into the military – some of which spoke little or no Korean…”
My wife’s relatives were pressured into renouncing the citizenship of their kids when they returned to Korea. They ended up serving in the Katusa.
You are right. It was Lee Hoi-Chang’s son who ruined it for them. I know quite a few who would not have gone otherwise.
The kid’s not a draft-dodger if he’s been living in the States since 9. Just one of many whose residency status fell through the cracks along the way. Isn’t SK military reform supposed to eliminate the draft and turn it into a volunteer force in the near future? That would surely eliminate these kinds of issues.
@someguy
That is fucking fascinating. All the Native Americans I knew from the States were definitely not Marines material. You got an article on this? How did u find out about this?
Basically, if your parents are still Korean citizens — and worse, when immigrating, they didn’t revoke YOURS — you are high chance of getting in 군대. And believe me, I immigrated when I was barely walking, so I read up on all the horror stories of paperwork being misshuffled the night before I went to 목동.
Boy was I scared trying to get my F4! Haha.
Well, Jason doesn’t appear like the brightest tool in the shed. I know the article said he was “tired” from the trip, but this lad got 50 points on the ASVAB. What the hell? I took that test sophomore year in HS cold turkey and got in the 80′s.
@WangKon
Perhaps you have selection bias from perusing this blog, after all only the best and the brightest come here. You have to take into account that there are regular, unenlightened people in the world.
Hey Nix,
Isn’t 50 low by any standard? The average is 62…
It was a jest
By any definition signing up is a pretty odd way of avoiding signing up by draft.
“That is fucking fascinating. All the Native Americans I knew from the States were definitely not Marines material. You got an article on this? How did u find out about this?”
You’re shitting me, right?
Don’t believe the hype about the Marines and don’t stereotype natives.
http://www.macleans.ca/world/global/article.jsp?content=20051226_118680_118680
“I know quite a few who would not have gone otherwise.”
I know a few who moved to the US and became professional students (in the non-traditional way) in order to dodge the draft.
득이돼니까 가는거다. 가수들봐라. 요세 띄워주니까 간다. 사람은 본래 이기적이다.
wjk, was I the cause agent of this sudden barrage of hangul from you???
Can I give myself a pat in the back please?
JW, yeah.
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