Mandatory Military Service in Korea

The Korean mandatory military service, also known as conscription, requires all able-bodied South Korean men aged 18 to 28 to serve in the military for a period of about 18 to 21 months. The policy was first introduced in 1957, following the Korean War, and is seen as a crucial element in the country’s national security and defense.

Credit : YNA

There are several reasons why the Korean government imposes mandatory military service. Firstly, South Korea is technically still at war with North Korea and thus, there is a constant need to maintain a strong military presence to deter any potential aggression. Secondly, given the country’s geopolitical location and historical tensions with its neighbors, the government believes that a strong military is necessary to ensure regional stability and security. Finally, conscription is seen as a way to promote national unity and civic duty, instilling discipline and patriotism in young men.

Under the conscription system, all eligible men are required to undergo physical and mental health assessments before being assigned to a specific branch of the military. The majority of conscripts are assigned to the Army, with smaller numbers serving in the Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps. The training period typically involves several months of basic military training, followed by specialized training for each branch. During their service, conscripts receive a modest salary, food, and housing, and are prohibited from engaging in any commercial activities or leaving the country without permission.

While mandatory military service is a widely accepted practice in South Korea, it is not without controversy. Some argue that the policy places an undue burden on young men, disrupting their education and career prospects, and contributing to the country’s low birth rate. Others point to allegations of mistreatment and abuse within the military, including incidents of bullying, sexual harassment, and hazing.

To address some of these concerns, the Korean government has introduced several reforms to the conscription system in recent years. For example, in 2020, the government passed a law allowing alternative forms of military service, such as volunteering for social service or joining the police force, for conscientious objectors who oppose military service for religious or ethical reasons. The government has also increased funding for mental health services and improved training programs for soldiers.

In conclusion, the Korean mandatory military service is a longstanding policy that reflects the country’s commitment to national security and defense. While it is not without controversy, the government has taken steps to address some of the concerns raised by critics and to make the conscription system more equitable and humane.

HOW DID K-POP AND K-DRAMA BECOME SO POPULAR ?

Prior to going to that point we should concentrate some set of experiences about South Korea also called Republic of Korea. South Korea got it autonomy on 15 August 1947 same as India. However, why it grew so quick that now it is considered as evolved country. At the point when South Korea got it’s freedom around then it was extremely poor. The food that U.S.A used to supply was just sustenance around then for individuals. Pushing forward, in the year 1997 South Korea was confronting major financial emergency. It was such a lot of that individuals didn’t have anything to eat, they were losing their employment and were neglecting to accomplish considerably pitiful assets. Around then Korean government took a credit of 58 billion dollar from I.M.F which should be paid off by 24 August 2001. So without with nothing to do the entire nation comes right into it. They began giving their gold, cash to the public authority.

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SETTING UP THE K-POP INDUSTRY

Yet at the same time in the wake of doing that much they had the option to gather just 8 billion dollar actually left with 50 billion dollars. To take care of the remainder of the cash, they set up Korean inventive substance agency(KOCCA)which objective was to put Korean melody on the map in other nation to bring in cash. They got going by playing a Korean show in a Hong Kong’s T.V station free of charge. This didn’t give cash however offered a brief look at Korean culture in western market which as a trade off benefits them. They before long passed a law in which they will give 1% of state financial plan in culture. Three major organizations accepted the open door and they made the Korean Music Industry.

12 Times K-Pop Groups Made History In The Last Decade | Soompi

Korean music doesn’t have any one performer, it comprises of numerous individuals actually like BTS has 7 individuals. To interface with more western crowd they keep their gathering name in English and they additionally have some English verses in their tunes. These gathering individuals are prepared for quite a long time in singing, rapping and dancing. They buckle down since youthful age to turn into a part in a K-Pop group. However, online media likewise assumed a significant part in accomplishment of K-Pop and K-Drama. Gangnam style was the primary Korean music to contact the worldwide crowd. It was the first run through when individuals paid attention to Korean music however bunches like BTS, BLACKPINK and EXO have mainstreamed it. Till now BTS has added 3.6 billion dollar to Korean economy. BTS has additionally started a mission with UNICEF called Love Myself mission and they likewise gave 1 million dollars to BLACK LIVES MATTER.

BTS are encouraging the world to #SpeakYourself in their UN speech

Isn’t it’s extraordinary that the music business which was framed to take care of the obligation turned into the greatest music industry on the planet. This is the primary driver of South Korea’s turn of events.

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Interesting facts about south korea

Appearance and looking good are an important part of South Korean culture. South korea is obsessed with beauty and perfection. South korea ranks among the top 10 global markets when it comes to makeup and cosmetics. 20% to 30 % of women undergo plastic surgery and lot of parents give their daughter a plastic surgery on their 16 birthday. Can you believe it ? About 20% of Korean men put on make-up on regular basis.

South korea retains 1st place for fastest internet speed in 2017.

40% of South Korean do not follow any religion.

Traditional south Korean culture uses red to write the names of dead.

The number 4 is a symbol of bad luck in south korea. You won’t find the ‘fourth floor’ in South Korea.

Taekwondo is the national sport of South Korea

Group blind dating in south korea is called Meeting or So-getting and is very popular way for young University student to meet over dinner and drinks.

Babies in South Korea are considered one year old at birth and following the New Year in South Korea, everybody automatically ages a year. Koreans will always be a year older than you.

You must be of 19 years to drink, smoke or vote in south korea. Adultery is legalized in 2015.

The economy of South Korean is 4th largest in asia and 11th largest in the world.

The Korean alphabet has 24 letters and it does not follow a word order. Above 20% of south koreans have the last name kim.

In south korea, online banking and shopping must be done through internet explorer. This is a law in south korea.

South Korea has the lowest number of obese citizens in the world. Obviously because of their healthy lifestyle.

My source of inspiration 방탄소년단

“Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin color, gender identity: speak yourself.”
-BTS(UNICEF)

Bangtan Boys also known as BTS is a Korean-pop group, currently the biggest phenomenon of the music industry with a huge fandom named A.R.M.Y. It is a seven-member boyband and their names go like this, Kim Namjoon(RM), Kim Seokjin(Jin), Min Yoongi(Suga), Jung Hoseok(Jhope), Park Jimin(Jimin), Kim Taehyung(V), Jeon Jungkook. BTS debuted on 13th June 2013 under Bighit Entertainment.

BTS, through their songs, talk about personal issues and society’s expectations, and commentary on youth. They focus on mental issues, depression, and almost everything that people usually don’t prefer to talk about. Moreover, they are inspiring and touching the hearts of millions of people every day through their lyrics. From the beginning of their career, they told stories that are very much familiar to our stories like teenage love affairs, the desire to achieve everything, society’s expectations on you, depression. So basically, it’s like a guy next door story which we all can relate.

“If you want to love others, I think you should love yourself first.”
-RM

“Don’t be trapped in someone else’s dream“
-V

Back in 2013, BTS was completely unknown to the world they hardly had 200 to 300 people to cheer them up. All seven of them used to live in a small dorm with very little to no luxury, they were discriminated against by the other companies as they come from a small and completely underrated company(Big Hit). They were never invited to big shows, got so much hatred and criticism from the pop community because of their looks, clothes, make-up, and were accused of false plagiarism. But despite the hardships they have faced, they’ve pushed themselves and never lost hope. They fought together, stood against the negativity, and motivated themselves to just moved on to make a better version of themselves every day. They released 22 albums till now each album sharing a different story. They have learned to love themselves for who they are and accept their flaws. Just like that, they want us to love ourselves and end self-hatred and bring peace into our lives.

“In the middle of the road, at the moment you want to give up, shout out even louder: “So what?”
-BTS

And now, their efforts paid off. They have won 370 awards including National awards, Billboard awards, Asian artist awards, the American Music Awards, etc. 549 nominations including the Grammys. And attained 26 Guinness World records and broke the records of Michael Jackson and The Beatles. They got covered by TIME magazine as “The next generation heroes”. They are the brand ambassadors of Hyundai, FILA, Louis Vuitton, Samsung, Coca-Cola, and many more. BTS delivered a speech at the UN general assembly as a part of the “LOVE MYSELF” campaign that they have launched in 2017 and partnered with UNICEF’s “End Violence” program. BTS generates 4 trillion Korean won as economic value to their country per year and 1.42 trillion won as added value per year, according to the 2018 report( Hyundai Research Institute). BTS contributes 1.7% of total Korean consumer goods export.

“Love myself, love yourself, peace.”
-Suga

“Find your name, find your voice by speaking yourself.”
-RM

Their growth is phenomenal.

From small dorms to spacious hotel rooms.

From congested practice rooms to a multi storey building.

From 200 fans to millions of ARMYs.

From a few lightsticks to an ocean of purple lights.

From small-town boys to Global leaders.

From ordinary teenagers to legends.

“In the dark night, don’t be lonely, Like the stars, we shine, Don’t disappear, because you’re a great existence, Let us shine”
-BTS(Mikrokosmos)

“Purple is the last colour of the rainbow colours. So means I will trust and love you for a long time.”
― Kim Taehyung

They have achieved everything they wanted but always stay the same as they were a few years ago. This is a story of models, dancers, singers, philanthropists, the next generation leaders, and more importantly our well-wishers.

Their journey is worth telling, as an ARMY I will not stop narrating this story to the world.

credits to the right owners of the pictures used.

The Rise Of Hallyu

The Korean Wave or as it is more popularly known the ‘Hallyu Wave’ is the rise in the popularity of South Korean culture globally.

The word ‘Hallyu’ finds its origin in the chinese word Hanryu meaning “Korean wave”. The Korean wave refers to a global awareness of several aspects of South Korean culture, such as television and film (especially “K-dramas”), K-pop, manhwa, the Korean language, and Korean food.

Hallyu first started gaining prominence in the 1990s and was originally only limited to Japan and China. That all changed with one movie. Released in 1999, ‘Swiri’ is a North Korea/South Korea espionage film. The film was not only popular in China and Japan but soon gained popularity in several South East Asian countries as well. This momentum was carried forward with dramas such as ‘Autumn In My Heart’ and ‘Winter Sonata’ and films like ‘My Sassy Girl’. The popularity of these entertainment products generated a lot of hype about Korean culture’s exploding prominence.

The Korean government’s decision to relax the prohibition on Koreans travelling abroad in the early 1990s was perhaps the most crucial element that ultimately paved the way for Hallyu. This allowed a number of Koreans to go to the western world, primarily the United States and Europe. These western-educated Koreans carried with them new business approaches, new nuances and interpretations of art, movies, and music, as well as new means of expression. This resulted in a massive pool of young, energetic, and highly competent people eager to explore prospects in Korea.

At the same time when the restrictions were repealed, Asia (including Korea) was experiencing the terrible Asian financial crisis of 1997-98. The Asian financial crisis was a perfect storm of bad debt, lender anxiety, and regional economic difficulties.Because many worldwide stakeholders still felt Korea was in terrible health after the crisis, the nation lost foreign direct investments, tourism, and faced global mistrust. To address the issue, the then newly elected president Kim Dae-Jung and the Korean head of global PR agency Edelman co-authored a book geared towards foreign investors titled “Korea: On Course – and Open for Business.”

Since the 2000s, the Korean Wave has seen a steady increase in popularity but that all changed with the growing use of the internet and social media. Hallyu has been spreading for over 20 years, but K-pop in particular has grown more visible to worldwide audiences in the last five to ten years. K-pop is a noticeable and distinct addition to the domain of pop music for three reasons: very high-quality performance (particularly dancing), an exceedingly perfected aesthetic, and a “in-house” technique of studio production. The international breakthrough of “Gangnam Style” was followed by a boom of K-Pop idol groups such as Big Bang, Girls’ Generation, 2PM, EXO, Wanna One, BTS, Twice and Blackpink.

Korean films and filmmakers have increasingly piqued the curiosity of international cinema communities. Train to Busan, has gained international acclaim as a must-see Korean film due to its intriguing subject matter and good narrative structure.Films such as ‘Parasite’ and ‘Minari’ have won several accolades worldwide.

Korean skincare products have also grown in popularity throughout Asia. Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care have risen to the top of the Asia-Pacific beauty industry. K-dramas and K-pop boosted exposure of Korean beauty goods and brands, which increased demand among Indian women, resulting in the establishment of several specialist e-commerce businesses. Korean consumer brands are expected to be in great demand in India by 2020, with items ranging from food to cosmetics and toys, in addition to household gadgets.

The Korean Wave’s budding global surge has not only boosted South Korea’s economy but also enhanced its soft power and cultural diplomacy. People all over the world are interested in the Korean Wave’s future because the continued flourishing of a local culture in global cultural marketplaces might send an inspirational message of acceptance and inclusiveness. The Korean Wave’s rise may also be an indication of changing relations between Western and non-Western cultures.

The Up and Coming Korean Brands

Happiness for a parent is when he is recognized by his child’s name. Just so, when a small country, in terms of size and resources, gains something big, a name in the whole world only because of the various companies it is home to, nothing could measure up to that.

For a long time, Korea was just a country with a population of 76 million, located in Asia, known for its cultural heritage and cuisine. However, in recent times the Korean Products and brands have become very popular in all corners of the globe. Invading our homes are LG, Samsung, Hyundai, 87mm to name a few. Being a gadget freak, I have my home filled with gadgets ranging from a Samsung Galaxy Tab, an LG microwave and washing machine, and even a Hyundai Grand i10.

The popularity of these brands is such that even global media such as Time and Fortune feature them too. Not only the well-known brands, but the smaller ones too are also set to make a mark in this giant world, few of them being Lock and Lock, Aurora, Pororo, and Woongjin.

Similar to naming a newborn, branding is the most vital marketing step for an organization, creating its identity, and generating long-term business perspectives. And that, I think, has been achieved by many brands of Korea very beautifully. With the fandom of Samsung merchandise overshadowing the popularity of Apple products, Korea has successfully ventured into the arena of technological advancements. Founded in 1967, the world’s largest maker of memory chips, smartphones, and television Samsung Electronics has a user-friendly interface and one could be easily taught how to operate a Samsung mobile phone.

Now, these advancements are being highlighted worldwide by hosting events like the Big Bang Alive Tour and the Golden Disk Awards, which receive global press coverage and have helped to build up a positive brand for Korea and its products.

Some of the leading automobile producers, no doubt, are from South Korea. World’s largest shipbuilding company is Hyundai Heavy Industries and the world’s fifth-biggest carmaker, Hyundai Motor Company is the top automaker in South Korea, producing pieces like Grand i10, Santa Fe, Veloster, Universe, and Genesis, with a variety of trims and body styles.

Korea has developed in terms of fashion too. When Wonder Girl’s star Sohee, one of the most fashionable young stars in the country is campaigning for 8seconds, there must be something in that brand. “Spain has Zara, Korea has 8seconds,” said “In Style Korea” fashion editor Sujin Yang. A signature 8seconds will have you looking at a pair of neon tribal print leggings paired with Space Age silver bomber jackets and a retro polka dot blouse. With colorful and creative displays, the stores are some of the most fun places to visit in Korea. Next in line is the Lucky Chouette, the variegated, street-inspired, and accessible line by Kim Jae Hyun.

The obvious analogy that one could make is that South Korea is set to one day replace Japan in terms of makers of high-quality brands. This in turn can mean that Samsung is on a trajectory to become Sony and Hyundai will one day have as loyal a following as Honda. Nevertheless, since brands are more global than ever before, it is getting harder to identify a global brand with a single country. That could help ascendant brands as they gain a global presence. As it is newcomers from China and India are already stalking them, fueled by fast-growing middle classes eager to display their newfound wealth through luxury goods and premium brands. With this growth rate, the day is not far when South Korea would be leading the world with all its advancements and technologies, supported by the hard work of its people.

Image Courtesy: GOOGLE

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