Like most military forces in the world, the South Korean military has different branches or divisions: the Army (ROKA), the navy (ROKN), the Air force (ROKAF) and the Marine Corps (ROKMC). There is also the reserve forces. Near the demilitarized zone in the North Korean border, these forces are mostly concentrated. The military is so important that all males are required to serve for two years. Some Koreans believe that the 2 years mandatory service should be shortened or even completely abolished. The government has actually allowed some male students who were about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and with a master’s degree to skip the 2-year military service so that they could focus on their studies and further their knowledge on their chosen specialization.
Korean Military at Work
July 2, 2008
When the need arose, South Korean sent its military troops overseas to assist the American military. In the past 50 years, The South Korean military has been involved in the major conflicts that the U.S. has been a part of. All in all, South Korean has deployed around 320 thousand troops to fight with American, Australia and South Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War. Just recently, 3,300 troops were sent to help re-build the destroyed towns in northern Iraq.
(to be continued)
More About Korean Pop Music
Koreans who disagree with the negative claim about Teuroteu, believe that the music was invented years before the Japanese occupation. The name Teuroteu is derived from the Korean word which means “foxtrot” or “trot” which is a ballroom dance that characterizes the simple beat of the genre. Because of Western pop music, Teuroteu has gradually lost its popularity, with the onset of local young pop Korean stars taking the music scene by storm. However, recently there has been a revival of the genre by artists like Jang Yoon Joeng and popular child actress Lee Jae Eun who recorded “trot” albums.
A Look into South Korean Military
Capital Korea
July 1, 2008 
It is said that the holiest Korean shrine in Korea is the Buddhist temple in Gayasan National Park. The temple was built in the ninth century and houses the Buddhist scriptures which are printed in eighty-one thousand wooden blocks. The scriptures, however, are not available for public viewing and can only be glimpsed through the slatted windows.
Seoul is the capital city of South Korea. It is also the political and economic center of the country which showcases modern architecture harmoniously infused with traditional and ancient structures. Tall buildings made of steel and glass stand side by side centuries-old architectural marvels which have been carefully restored. The mix of old and new provides a magnificent spectacle in South Korea. For instance, one of the most beautiful palaces in Seoul is the Summer Palace which is a fantastic work of art.
Teuroteu Korean Pop
The oldest form of Korean pop is called Teuroteu. It is said the this music developed before the Japanese came and invaded Korea. There are those who say, conversely, that the music developed during the Japanese occupation and thus was a result of Japanese influence derived from drinking songs also known as “enka.”
Korean Pop Music
Throughout Asia, Korean Pop music has been a highly commercial industry. Heavily influenced by Western Pop music, Korean pop music is a product of young fashionable stars with the latest looks, swinging dance moves and an uncanny ability to fuse the western pop music with Korean rap, Korean soul or Korean “RnB”. “Korean wave” or “Hallyu” a new word coined by Asians came to symbolize the contemporary Korean music and pop stars that have taken the world by storm. Korean influence in Asia has now become prevalent and undeniable.
