Do Korean men still have to go to the army if they move to America before then?

Question

My boyfriend is south Korean and he's currently living in Korea (met him when he was visiting in America) we've been together for a few years. Yes even long distance. And were planning on living together soon because he wants to be an American citizen. If he was born in Korea and lived most of his life in Korea, does he still have to go to the army? We are both 19 and we were thinking if he moved here before he had to go to war would he be able to get out of it?

If this is a stupid question I'm sorry. I was just wondering and I really love him to death and I just couldn't bear to be away from him knowing he's in the army:(

Thank you for your time:)

Answer 1

He is still required to go to the army. He probably already received his first draft notice already, if not within the next year. Every male is required to serve duty for 18 months. Most people serve their time around the age of 18-22.



The alternative would be to not re-enter Korea until he's 45+ years old if he chooses to bail from service. If he bails, he is not allowed to re-enter the country without facing jail time or being forcefully drafted if he's under 35. People can generally delay their service with a legit excuse, like school. If he can get a US citizenship before the age of 35 (max age of being drafted) and not re-enter Korea prior to it, he would technically be able to avoid being drafted. However, he would need a legit excuse to delay his service until then, which can be hard. If he's fine with not being able to go back to Korea for 20+ years, then skipping service and waiting for a US citizenship is probably the best way to go.



Another alternative is to avoid being drafted is to have some type of physical disability. A record of a serious surgery, like a severe wrist injury can wavier your service. Some people actually go to the extent of injuring themselves in order to avoid service. Another method would to be to lose a drastic, or gain, amount of weight. When I mean lose, I mean a LOT of weight. I am not exactly sure what that weight limit is, but it should at least be in the low 40kg range for a average male. Moderately underweight people, or people with slight disabilities like bad eyesight etc, will get public service duty (working at a subway station, or public office etc) instead of the actual army. These people work in the city and go home every night at 6pm. It's a better life than an actual camp, but it's generally harder to fall in this category if you're an average healthy individual.

Answer 2

There is a guy in my school who was born in South Korea and moved here when he was in middle school, and he still has to enlist in the army. I would think if you have American citizenship though you wouldn't have to, but getting citizenship is a long process.

Try searching around Korean government websites and tell your boyfriend to do the same. I'm sure that this is a common question.

Good luck~

Answer 3

Yes, he still has to enlist as long as he is a Korean citizen. The only way he can get out of it is to stay in America until he's too old to serve, or become an American citizen.



My korean friend from New York was still a Korean citizen. He was drafted as soon as he returned to Korea to visit his dad and is still serving in the ROK air force.



EDIT: By the way, he doesn't have to join the Army. They can choose between the army, navy, air force and police force as well. Not sure how that process works though.

Answer 4

If he changes his citizenship to American right before he's supposed to serve he's going to get blacklisted, meaning he can never enter South Korea again. I suppose if I was male and Korean (and I didn't care about entering Korea) I would do that...

But if he has family and he has to serve, then whatever it's just about 2 years and you don't do much anyways. I'm not too sure, but in Korea that's like the passage to man-hood. Like someone would ask "have you served in the military yet" to see if they can take you seriously. Plus it's supposed to make you a better person...

Answer 5

No you don't have too. I know some people and they have been born in Korea but moved here in the U.S that means he is not reguired to go into the army

Answer 6

If he gets a student visa he can delay it till he gets a American citizenship

Answer 7

no he doesnt because my uncle was BORN in korea...then moved to USA when he was in highschool or middleschool :/ and he didnt go to the army... :) so no need to worry just hurry and move to USA so he dusnt have to go to army!! :)

Answer 8

You are lucky to have Korean boyfriend. I always wants one too.