Multiracial military to be helpful for social unity

The outward appearances of Korean soldiers are expected to change greatly in the years ahead as the number of soldiers from multiracial families is increasing in the military. The change of Korean military will not be confined to contour of faces and colors of skin. Their view toward the fatherland, nationalism, and North Korea, current main enemy of South Korean military, will also undergo drastic change in ten to 20 years.

The Army will produce its first multiracial non-commissioned officer (NCO) next month. Han Gi-yeop, 21, is under training at the Korean Army Training Center. They are set to become non-commissioned officer on July 4 after finishing his 12-week training period. Han was born from a intermarriage between Korean father and Japanese mother.

The Korean Army has no non-commissioned officers from multiracial families at present, there are already soldiers with multicultural backgroudns; 179 in the Army, nine in the Air Force and five in the Navy. In expectation of having a growing number of multiracial soldiers, the Army is considering taking new system to help them adapt to a new environment.

According to the statistics from a pertinent ministry, the number of those to be subject to physical checkup to see if they are healthy enough to be conscripted will reach 1,165 this year and the number is expected to jump to 3,045 in 2019 and 8,000 in 2028. At this rate, the number of those to enter active military duty will exceed 12,000 in 2028, according a military authority.

Han and other trainees from multimracial families as well as those having the right of permanent residence of foreign countries visited the National Cemetery in Taejon June 7 and paid respect to those who sacrificed themselves for their fatherland.

The Korean Army Trainining Center arranged the visit as a move to teach them what patriotism means. “It was an important occasion for us to feel sorry for not having a sense of respect for the patriots until now,” they said.

Until two years ago, it was not possible for those having strikingly different skin color to serve in the military according to the pertinent law stipulating to exempt them from active military duty for fear of being target of bullying in the barrack due to their different appearances.

However, the law was repealed at the end of 2010, making it possible for those from multiracial families regardless of their skin colors to serve in the military from Jan. 1, 2011. A retired Army general said that the military is in need of being prepared for having soldiers with different contour, color and way of thinking. Relevant measures should be sought to protect them from being bullied by fellow soldiers due to various reasons involving their lack of ability to speak Korean fluently and different appearances.

It is an unavoidable for the military to accept those from intermarriag to the military services in a positive manner at a time when the muticultural families are increasing here. In addition to that, the military has no other choice but to augument the shortage of military manpower as a result of declining birth rate among the Korean families with those from multiracial families.

Som sociologists point out that the multiracial military is also needed for social unity in the country where people with a variety of racial backgrounds are living together.

news@theasian.asia