Vocabularies
- KATUSA
: Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) is a scheme of military duty in South Korea. Under this program, soldiers in the South Korean Army are given posts in U.S. Army bases that are located in several places in South Korea.
- NCO
: An NCO is an abbreviation for `non-commissioned officer'. Non-commissioned officers (in the armed forces) are people, such as a sergeant or corporal, who is appointed from the ranks as a subordinate officer.
- Sgt
: Sgt is an abbreviation for Sergeant. A sergeant is a non-commissioned officer of middle rank in the army, marines, or air force.
- Cpl,
: Cpl. is the written abbreviation for corporal when it is used as a title. A corporal is a non-commissioned officer in the army or United States marine.
- Veterans
: A veteran is someone who had served in the armed forces of their country, especially during a war.
- Garrison
: A garrison is a group of soldiers whose task is to guard the town or building where they live or the place where such troops are stationed.
- Echelon
: An echelon in an organization or society is a level or rank in it.(=hierarchy)
- Infantry
: Infantry are soldiers who fight on foot rather than in tanks or on horses.
- Pass
: Allowing a person to leave the army.
- Key Resolve & Foal Eagle
: Kinds of joint South Korea-U.S military exercises.
Discussion Questions
Su Min
- What do you think are some of the cultural differences between Americans and Koreans in general?
- How do you think these kinds of differences are implemented in the KATUSA military and effect the soldiers?
- How do you think the Korean soldiers should close the cultural gap?
Young Chan
1. As we know, many people tend to apply for KATUSA, just for some stereotypes. Is it really good or not whether a person applies for KATUSA for an easy life style, improving English, or some advantages, though there are many other facts about KATUSA.
2. KATUSA is chosen when he/she gets certain degree of score(e.g TEPS score higher than 690, TOEFL score higher than 83) and he would be drawn by luck. Is it fair? Let's talk about whether it's fair and if not, let's talk about other ideas.
Min Soo
1. what is the main reason people can't understand real life of KATUSA?!
2. have you heard about KATUSA except when your friends got accepted in KATUSA? what was that?
3. Many people find easy way to get their purposes. But it's not take that much time for them to know how their works are hard. what is your experiences like that?!
Tae Hoon
1. It seemes to lean towards the fact that the stereotype of katusa being easy is actually true. What are some stereotypes that are actually true?
2. Would you describe the katusa as easy, or would you describe the ROK as inhumane?
3. Do you think that just because a person had an easier army life, he has no say (or cannot comment about) in how the ROK military should be? Does our current culture among men in korea strengthen this? 4. For people serving the country, how do you feel about the income of the soldiers sacrificing their time? Should KATUSA get paid more or less?
Tae Hoon
1. It seemes to lean towards the fact that the stereotype of katusa being easy is actually true. What are some stereotypes that are actually true?
2. Would you describe the katusa as easy, or would you describe the ROK as inhumane?
3. Do you think that just because a person had an easier army life, he has no say (or cannot comment about) in how the ROK military should be? Does our current culture among men in korea strengthen this? 4. For people serving the country, how do you feel about the income of the soldiers sacrificing their time? Should KATUSA get paid more or less?
