Golfer Bae Sang-Moon in the army now

[Vinsk]

I imagine that by "special", @turtleback meant not deserving of treatment differing from every other man his age. Not insensitive at all. In fact, accurate and an opinion with which I agree.

Meh. You're opinion. Means nothing to me what you imagine or agree with. Turtleback had nothing kind to say and doesn't know him whatsoever. No need for any negativity. Support it all you want.

[David in FL]

Meh. You're opinion. Means nothing to me what you imagine or agree with. Turtleback had nothing kind to say and doesn't know him whatsoever. No need for any negativity. Support it all you want.

What's not kind? Do you think that he does deserve preferential treatment over that of his fellow countrymen? That they're somehow less valuable than he? That they are somehow less "special" to their family and friends than he is to his? :-\

[Vinsk]

I don't think he deserves to be treated any better or any worse than his fellow countrymen in the same situation. I didn't see where he demanded to be treated better. Turtle back felt it necessary to state he isn't special and deserves no special treatment...I think it would simply be better to keep those kinds of opinions to himself. Really does nothing to the thread. Just a negative Nelly....so much hostility in the world and Turtleback is contributing to it. Let's just all be friends and leave one another alone.

[David in FL]

I don't think he deserves to be treated any better or any worse than his fellow countrymen in the same situation. I didn't see where he demanded to be treated better. Turtle back felt it necessary to state he isn't special and deserves no special treatment...I think it would simply be better to keep those kinds of opinions to himself. Really does nothing to the thread. Just a negative Nelly....so much hostility in the world and Turtleback is contributing to it. Let's just all be friends and leave one another alone.

So you agree with what @turtleback said. You just dislike that he said it? Much of the controversy here is about whether Bae should be treated differently given his celebrity status. As such I think @turtleback 's post was completely appropriate and on topic.

[Vinsk]

I think preferential treatment has been granted to celebrities for years. Is it fair? Of course not. But will this ever change? Of course not. I think it's pointless to point out that "X" deserves no special treatment. No kidding , but it will never ever change. Brad Pitt will never wait in line to eat, never go through a 2hr security line at the airport. To make a statement that "X" doesn't deserve special treatment or consideration borders on childish naivity.

[rkim291968]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtleback

I guess that I don't see what is so special about him, as compared to all the other Korean males who have to serve.  And I'm not going to challenge or criticize Korea for doing what it thinks it needs to do for national security and survival.

As to taking 2 years off?  A lot of guys did that and there was still golf, and a bunch of those that served did pretty well afterwards, after WW2.  So I think the kid should be able to overcome this, although the competition is so much tougher now.  I hope so.

It is personally unfortunate for Bae, but no more so than any of his fellow countrymen who have THEIR lives interrupted by this.  There are things bigger than golf.

Rather insensitive to the nice young man. Everybody is special in some way. You don't know his personal life and him getting recognition doesn't take away from his countrymen. Try to be a little more kind in your judgements. This would be a hard thing for any one and each person deserves the empathy of such.

Bae is not known to be a nice young man.  In fact, he took a lot of beating b/c of his stance in joining the army.   1st, he asked for exception to delay his joining army.   IMO, he was buying time until he can be a naturalized US citizen (as he is a legal resident of USA).   Many believe he had no intention to serve the army.  2nd, he hired lawyers to fight the government when his petition for delay was denied.  When it was very clear that Korean fans were turning against him and potentially lose sponsors, only then, he dropped the legal proceeding and decided to join the army.    That is simply not an acceptable behavior for a country which is still technically at war with none other than North Korea.

There are tens of thousands of Koreans who deserve skipping the army.  Young men who have real hardship when they have to go to army.   Bae?  Not so much.   He's already a multi-millionaire with fame to match.   Serving the country other than playing golf in US will teach him some humility.   He can very well come out of the army with stronger boy and mind.

[Vinsk]

Bae is not known to be a nice young man.  In fact, he took a lot of beating b/c of his stance in joining the army.   1st, he asked for exception to delay his joining army.   IMO, he was buying time until he can be a naturalized US citizen (as he is a legal resident of USA).   Many believe he had no intention to serve the army.  2nd, he hired lawyers to fight the government when his petition for delay was denied.  When it was very clear that Korean fans were turning against him and potentially lose sponsors, only then, he dropped the legal proceeding and decided to join the army.    That is simply not an acceptable behavior for a country which is still technically at war with none other than North Korea. There are tens of thousands of Koreans who deserve skipping the army.  Young men who have real hardship when they have to go to army.   Bae?  Not so much.   He's already a multi-millionaire with fame to match.   Serving the country other than playing golf in US will teach him some humility.   He can very well come out of the army with stronger boy and mind.

Has nothing to do with being a nice young man or not. We no longer have the draft. There's a reason for that. I appreciate your knowledge of his situation, I wasn't aware. In our country we have entitled 20 somethings who feel their parents must pay for their college and they deserve a nice apartment and no dorms, kids who think they should be paid to go to school and Turtleback's gonna give a kid a hard time for hoping to avoid being thrown into the military?

[colin007]

Does anyone know, if he had just stayed here would the U.S. have extradited him back to Korea?

[RJH999]

Does anyone know, if he had just stayed here would the U.S. have extradited him back to Korea?

Yeah I was wondering this as well, because he's not a U.S citizen.

[newtogolf]

I know this happened to Hogan and others in the past when the US had a draft but I feel bad for the guy.  I'd think he'd do more for South Korea playing golf than doing some menial task in their army for two years.  I have mixed feelings about it, I think it's great that everyone must serve regardless of class or vocation but I also feel that the two years away could ruin the rest of his career and the country isn't at war right now.

[rkim291968]

I know this happened to Hogan and others in the past when the US had a draft but I feel bad for the guy.  I'd think he'd do more for South Korea playing golf than doing some menial task in their army for two years.  I have mixed feelings about it, I think it's great that everyone must serve regardless of class or vocation but I also feel that the two years away could ruin the rest of his career and the country isn't at war right now.

He'd do more harm to Korea.  Too many young men are trying to avoid draft as is.  This despite NK's nuclear possession, and their hostility toward SK.   Government making an exception would cause all kinds of issues, social and political.   There are thousands of athletics going through the same issue as Bae and he is not even the best athlete or most popular one with the problem.   Many top soccer, baseball, basketball, and other popular sport athletes go through the same thing, without suing the government like Bae did.

[k-troop]

I agree that Bae doesn't deserve special treatment. Military service is essential for the security and preservation of Korea. It can't really be compared to the U.S., as we don't have existential threats on our borders launching limited attacks on a regular basis. I also doubt he'll be given a menial job. I'm sure he'll be on the public relations circuit, just as many high-profile US athletes and celebs were in WWII and Vietnam. That is, unless he's pissed off the senior leaders in his service enough that they hold a grudge.

[Yukari]

Does anyone know, if he had just stayed here would the U.S. have extradited him back to Korea?

I don't think that is one of the conditions for extradition.

As long as he does not set foot in Korea, there is nothing Korea can do about Bae if Bae does not report to the army.

But once he sets foot in Korea, he will be taken into custody and be drafted into the army.

[colin007]

I think if I had known this might happen I would've done everything I could to get all my family out of there and into the U.S. and just stayed here. I don't think he should do that now, who knows what the authorities might do to his family if he never came back.

[k-troop]

I think if I had known this might happen I would've done everything I could to get all my family out of there and into the U.S. and just stayed here. I don't think he should do that now, who knows what the authorities might do to his family if he never came back.

But he'd be turning his back on his country and extended family...forever. For what? Two avoid two years of military duty--something that hundreds of millions of people have done, and many volunteer to do? I'm guessing those that think military duty is the equivalent of prison or death have never worn a uniform.

[Gunther]

I think if I had known this might happen I would've done everything I could to get all my family out of there and into the U.S. and just stayed here. I don't think he should do that now, who knows what the authorities might do to his family if he never came back.

We are talking about South Korea, not North. His family would have been fine.

[newtogolf]

I agree that Bae doesn't deserve special treatment. Military service is essential for the security and preservation of Korea. It can't really be compared to the U.S., as we don't have existential threats on our borders launching limited attacks on a regular basis.

I also doubt he'll be given a menial job. I'm sure he'll be on the public relations circuit, just as many high-profile US athletes and celebs were in WWII and Vietnam. That is, unless he's pissed off the senior leaders in his service enough that they hold a grudge.

In my opinion that's menial.  He's not going to train to be a soldier on the front lines in the event of war, he's going to help boost morale which he could fit in to his current schedule while still remaining on Tour.

[k-troop]

In my opinion that's menial.  He's not going to train to be a soldier on the front lines in the event of war, he's going to help boost morale which he could fit in to his current schedule while still remaining on Tour.

Your definition might be somewhat different from the ordinary definition. menial adjective 1. lowly and sometimes degrading: menial work.