I am going to be stationed in Korea, what do they think of us soldiers?

Question

I am going next January to Korea and I am curious as to what the s. korean people think of us american soldiers. It would be useful to know what to expect from them. Plus any tips in terms of culture, people, habbits and warnings about them would be great.

I have read about the country already but I have found from previous experiences in other countries that you cant trust most of what you read on the internet cause it's either sugar coated or exagerated to put across a point of view. So previous experiences on the area are of more value to me.

Answer 1

You should be briefed about the basics as soon as your get there. So hard to explain everything. Most people in Seoul are used to foreigners and American soldiers. American military doesn't have a great image there, but nothing will happen.

I'm not sure about the air force, but in the army there are Korean soldiers augmented into most units. (KATUSA) They can help you with minor nonofficial details like where to eat, shop etc.

Answer 2

No. Or a minimum of there is not any publically obtainable awareness that shows we do. There could be some guy or woman soldier or small team of infantrymen that ensue to flow to North Korea (the two interior the DMZ area, yet around the border, or around the border from China, or fly in as a tourist, or doing some undertaking alongside the coasts (which may be greater probable to be army Seals, than infantrymen), yet none of those seem probable, to be authentic today or at maximum cases. Of you mean to we've infantrymen stationed in North Korea, or engaging in great operations in North Korea, the respond is obviously no. we don't even have Marine embassy guards in North Korea as we do not have an embassy there.

Answer 3

my boyfriend was stationed in Afghanistan and he has been to many many country's he said that the people across sea's some can be cool but others may look upon u as a burden. I work in the heath care field and i have been taking care of a Korean lady they are very neat people. Very well manored but can have a temper epically if they do not know English. Good Luck!

Answer 4

My husband is not in the military, but he keeps his head shaved.
Many times store clerks and taxi drivers have asked him if he's in the army, and when he says "no," there's this little change. Either their face relaxes a little, or their smile gets wider.
The Korean acquaintances/friends we've made have never mentioned the US military issue. I don't know if that's just being polite, or they don't think about it much.
We've been in Daegu since this summer, and have found many kind and helpful people, a few indifferent people, and one neighbor who seems to wish us ill. Basically like the states.
Good luck on your pcs.

Answer 5

I'm not in the military, but I'm a foreigner who lives in Korea and teaches at a university. I think the general feeling is not terrible anymore, but still not very good towards U.S. soldiers. The best analogy I have heard is that the American soldiers are like police officers, you hate them except for when you need one.

I hope a U.S. soldier answers this question because I would like to know what the feeling is too.

Good question.

Answer 6

You sound like you have been in long enough to know how it goes. If you are still green, drop me an email and I will try to help you out as best as I can.
You have bsically the same groups of people in Korea that you have in the US when it comes to the Military: leeches, indifferents, pragmatists, and the ignorant.
All that ever changes from town to town, state to state, and country to country is the percentages.
I was in Monterey, CA immediately after 9/11. I remember running along the beach in uniform and having to pass protesters shoving their anti-war posters in my face. I just said, "You're welcome."

Answer 7

Last time I checked you are not in any real danger... but they do tend to go hostile when you are rude to others or when there are bad Bush news... Good Luck