http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_d...9102100270.html

Will, that'd be a good thing for both S.Korea and the US.

Now Korea can handle its own military which is good for research and development as well as space exploration technologies. That's the plus side at least.

Don't try to be smart here.
I know you know nothing about Korea.

How many times you've been trolling here?

so all along, we were mere puppets again? hopefully the US did a better job then if we had the full control

huax was describing himself. this korean supporter is a korean hater. he fits in the 50%...

it wont matter, the world will be destroyed in 2012 XD.

I understand the current realities of needing US troops in Korea, but I'm really hoping for the day that US troops are withdrawn from Korea and Japan. Korea and Japan are fully capable of defending themselves against any threat.

Does this mean that the US troops will leave S. Korea? Or does it mean that S. Korea now controls the army stationed in S. Korea?

@Dokiroimaka who is that girl in your avatar? She's pretty

Actually U.S will reduce their number of their troops stationed in South Korea due to they will lose some of their military sites.
There is talk of these empty sites will be turned into commercial or public or sold to private owners.

Site like Yongsan will be hand over to Korean army.
And cost of transfer ain't that cheap, U.S is asking billions of dollars for their facilities and equipment.

Girl in my avatar is third girl from left at below Girl group called Girls Generation or SNSD, I think her name is Taeyon Kim.

Whether anyone likes it or not. The US is saving S.Korea a lot of money by having troops stationed there. Take into account if S.Korea had to pay, feed, supply, and provide living quarters for the number of troops that the US have in S.Korea. Sure they'll cut costs by not providing the same standard of living, but you'd take away all the US military weapons and capabilities also. S.Korea would have to spend so much more to either purchase these equipment or do their own r&d. Again, more money and drain on S.Korea's economy and man power.

^^ ding, ding ding.

And many people here know that.


I'd be fine with most of hte US forces leaving, but I really want the SK military to step up to the plate.

Did you ever do your mandatory time in the military? The reason why it's hard for SK's military to step up is because people are being forced to join. The leaders are up to the tasks, but the soldiers lack motivation and any pride while serving. They just want to do their 2 years and get out, especially the KATUSA soldiers. They hardly take the training seriously and that's a big part to why the SK military is slacking. But I'm sure everyone knows this too.

I think it is a good thing if more US soldiers leave S. Korea. As an outsider I always get the feeling N. Korea feels threatened by the presence of American soldiers. Hopefully this will ease the reunification process of both Korea's.




arrhhh now I remember why a friend and I wanted to visit S. Korea when we were young
I first got introduced to Korean music industry by a video of Park Yi Yoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iy4x9HO4cM
Didn't like the music, but the video clip was awesome.

A few billion should cover US atrocities committed during their occupation.

List of U.S bases in South Korea



Yongsan Garrison or USAG Yongsan is biggest U.S military establishment and head quarter of all U.S bases in South Korea.
U.S is due to hand over this garrison back to South Korean military by 2014 and U.S have promised to pull out most of their arm forces by 2020.

Most U.S bases will be empty by 2014 and only few air bases will remain to support USAF & tactical missions from Okinawa Japan. Actual U.S troops in South Korea is already being reduce by relocating U.S troops to Afghanistan and other trouble spots. In 2004, U.S already said they will withdraw 12,500 troops from South Korea.

So, the solution is paying? I'm for that. But SK taxpayers will have to realize the burden.

Sound like any soldiers in the world, who wants to serve 2 years in military?
KATUSA recruits are these from well off families, they are just doing their time.

Sounds like any other countries in the world. Except French Foreign Legion. These guys are paid fortune for joining the Legion, but then again, these guys are just mercs...

Aren't most militaries in the west, paid service?

On a side note that is absolutely disgusting.

French Foreign Legion gets paid about same amount as PMC mercs or more. Normal western military salary doesn't even match.

Yes, US military duties and police duties are volunteered duties and the people who serve are paid. People still must pass certain exams, have a certain level of education, and meet physcial requirements to join. The fact is, a lot of people join out of patriotism, not because of the money because the money isn't all that great. Serving your country is a respectable and an honorable proffesion in the US while a lot of Koreans don't think highly of the men and women serving in Korea.

Seems like you are just talking out of your @$$ with no sources provided. But that's okay.

By backing Kaizen on this as well, only a small minority of American soldiers are career, most join so they can get money for college or because they have no other options or because they want to shoot people. Only a small minority have joined out of sheer patriotism.

Whatever your opinion is on the reasons why Americans join, the fact is that most Americans have a high level of respect for their soldiers and their law enforcement officers. For example, a lot of American girls are attracted to American men in uniform where as a lot of Korean girls would prefer not to date Korean men who are currently serving.

It's not an opinion this is what I've have been told talking to dozens of American soldiers, at fairs, surplus stores, soldiers with recruitment officers etc. Second off, young people usually don't respect anything, older Koreans most definitely respect the Armed Forces. Most of the moronic leftist students grow out of the stupid "fu-k the system" phase. In regards to law enforcement, given the fact that so many Korean police officers are corrupt and incompetent I wouldn't blame most Koreans for having no respect for them. Also your right about American women going nuts over men in uniform, but thats also because their stupid and looking for a fling. Korean women would not date a soldier because a soldiers pay is near non-existent and most women look for successful and settled men which is why the average marriage age in Korea is so high.

But it was in the interest of the Oligarchs to invest troops into the border. Perhaps to play the charade that is the N.Korea Communist faction/South Korea Capitalist faction phony chess game.


But yes, South Korea does have to step up their game. Increase military spending, search mode for increasing technology, and finally finishing the KFX fighter jet.

In th U.S. military service has always been salaried work, but the benefits used to be even more important than the pay scale. I am nto so sure about that now.
And it has not always been volunteer. Volunteers who passed entrance tests were accepted, but there have been long periods of time when the service was mandatory. Males 18 and over still are required to register with the Selective Service system and if there was a need that Congress could justify, the mandatory draft would be re-instated. When there was a draft, those who did not want to be pulled into the Army were quick to volunteer for the other military branches. As for why people volunteer, it seems to vary with the particular branch. The comment about doing it for the pay and education funding later is right. That is the primary incentive for short timers (a couple of years then out). But career officers often have a patriotic streak and an overwhelming desire to accomplish something tangible, the other draw is skills that can be learned better in the military than almost anywhere else. Many join the Air Force to learn to fly, then leave to become commercial pilots. Its can be a fast track to industry if done right. But there are those who are simply on a power trip. They are in all branches, but some seem to breed it.

As for women being attracted to those in uniform? Some are and many regret it once they get the real picture of being a military wife. They better have something much stronger to base their relationship on or it will be history quickly. And if they are "lucky" enough to be sent to a foreign base with their spouse (its not always the husband who is enlisted!) then the stress level will be even higher. Spouses must behave far better overseas than those living in the U.S. and the community being smaller means its harder to hide problems from your peers and your spouse's commanding officer. Some spouse put that priviledge to good use, while others dont', just as some troops are good examples in foreign countries and other make the press.