Mandatory military training and halcyon times

After completing his mandatory military training last October, BTS member J-Hope is coming to town in April. His return to live performance is just another example of Korea’s cultural phenomenon seamlessly blending with its unique social systems, including conscription. Only in Korea can you go from crooning love songs to serving in the military and still leave fans scrambling for your comeback tour.

For those who grew up or into swooning over K-pop idols, the idea of seeing them trade glitter for camouflage is both jarring and fascinating. But what exactly does military service mean for Koreans and us in the Philippines? What about the rest of the world?

Korea mandates military service for men aged 18 to 28, requiring 18-21 months depending on the branch of the armed forces. It’s a rite of passage shaped by the ongoing threat from its northern neighbor, where mandatory service stretches an intimidating 10 years for men and seven years for women. It’s just one of the dissimilarities between the two Koreas, with Pyongyang taking “mandatory” to a whole new level, where you qualify for a retirement party upon discharge.

Read more: https://philstarlife.com/geeky/895794-mandatory-military-training-halcyon-times?page=2