36 Comments

1. 

   jj

   Feb 2, 2015 at 3:30 pm

   He needs to go do his duty. Enough taking American dollars unless you deserve it. Your not an American so GO!

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2. 

   DH

   Jan 14, 2015 at 6:31 pm

   I am Korean and I know what kind of “military” duty SMB will serve. He will serve as a “Golf Man”. Top Korean male golf professionals serve as golf man at different army golf courses. They teach general officers and play golf with them. His monthly salary during the service will be around 100 bucks. SMB should stay in the US and stay focused on his PGA career.

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3. 

   kiisd

   Jan 2, 2015 at 5:08 am

   SMB is not going to win the Masters anyway…go for the military training

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4. 

   Joe Go

   Jan 1, 2015 at 11:02 pm

   Army drills, Sir! Nice knowin’ ya, Sang; we’ll be here when you get back.

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5. 

   travis

   Dec 31, 2014 at 9:40 pm

   If he played StarCraft he would get an exemption for sure.

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6. 

   Craig

   Dec 31, 2014 at 1:56 pm

   Get over there and serve your country. Don’t be a sissy this is your country . And get out of ours

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   • 

     Jeremy

     Dec 31, 2014 at 5:43 pm

     Wow. Gentleman’s game, dude. Get off this website, please.

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   • 

     Rich

     Dec 31, 2014 at 10:04 pm

     Racist much?

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   • 

     Jimmy

     Jan 3, 2015 at 9:43 am

     And the award for most ignorant American goes to Craig! Congratulations, you are pathetic!

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   • 

     Mlecuni

     Jan 3, 2015 at 4:47 pm

     This website needs some moderators !
     Btw for your information, if there wasnt the military thing of two years for korean males, the top 50 world golf ranking would look like the womens one, trusted by koreans because they are that good.

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     • 

       John

       Jan 4, 2015 at 4:09 am

       No moderators, please. Let’s value freedom of speech.

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       • 

         Mark

         Jan 4, 2015 at 9:32 pm

         Best comment

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7. 

   TD

   Dec 31, 2014 at 1:45 pm

   Nothing says “we place no value on the rights of an individual to live life as free thinking entity, free to choose his own path, that being his birthright as a human being” like forced military service. It’s pathetic. Should my own government EVER tell me I had to enlist, I’d find a new government to reside under. Thankfully here in Canada, the government respects the rights of the individual and our military service is voluntary.

   If the guy wants to play golf, he should be allowed. Forget as a South Koren, he should play golf because he’s a human being and no government should ever have the authority to take away his right to choose.

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   • 

     John Glenn

     Jan 1, 2015 at 2:18 pm

     Nicely said TD, often times to many people fail to see what their own government is mandating and taking away from them with more and more laws and rules to obey to and follow. Unfortunately a lot of people conform to this because of the trickery/manipulation of the truth that somehow you or your children will benefit so people automatically assume it’s okay, which in fact it’s not. I call this average awareness.

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   • 

     John

     Jan 4, 2015 at 4:12 am

     We each have a responsibility to support the society that provides things like golf, security, and opportunity. I say, bring back the draft.

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8. 

   Dan Caraherr

   Dec 31, 2014 at 11:56 am

   Needs to go out and grow a pair .

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9. 

   AndyB

   Dec 30, 2014 at 9:27 pm

   I’m willing to bet he doesn’t serve. Not until after olympics anyway. I see South Korea coming up with some exception or extension for him to be able to participate in Masters, Presidents Cup, and Olympics. If they don’t, I can see him seeking citizenship elsewhere. I see both sides of the situation, but I am leaning towards him not having to serve or choosing not to. If they give exemptions for other athletes, then I do not see why he should not be able to do the same. Now if it was a hard fast rule that everyone does, unless physical or mental disability, then I would say yes, serve, but it takes away from the patriotism of serving your country when athletes are exempted for sports. Besides true patriotism is volunteering for service, not being forced to because of a law and it potentially ruining your life if you don’t obey it. That is what makes serving so special. I know South Korea is different from the U.S. though.

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   • 

     Christian

     Jan 3, 2015 at 12:46 am

     From what I understand it really is a must for every able bodied male to do military service in South Korea, there have been many examples of various superstars, movie stars or other celebrities being forced to do it.

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10. 

    ????

    Dec 30, 2014 at 8:39 pm

    The war is still going on in Korea, it never officially ended. There was an armistice, but has be retracted like 9 times, I think most recent was back in 2013.

    SMB should serve, it is his duty to his country. He is not the only successful person that has had to serve, as you see lots of K-Pop stars and other celebs enter the military to do their time on the reg. Also I am pretty sure KJ and YE would also tell this SM to go and do his time.

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    • 

      dr. bloor

      Dec 30, 2014 at 8:52 pm

      The South Korean government would appear to have the letter of the law on their side, but let’s not pretend that they think it some moral imperative that every able-bodied citizen serve. If you win a gold medal in the Olympic or Asian games, you’re eligible for an exemption. There’s been some conflict in recent years between the military and the Korean Olympic Committee as to whether this practice should continue, but the law is unchanged.

      In the past, this has allowed Shin-Soo Choo to continue his baseball career in the U.S. after putting in all of 20 plate appearances for the 2010 Asian Games gold medal squad. Ironically enough, the government has also exempted athletes who have won Asian Games medals for….pistol shooting. Hell, they even gave exemptions to the 2012 soccer team after winning bronze at the Olympics. You know, third place.

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    • 

      Uhuh

      Dec 31, 2014 at 3:17 pm

      On the contrary. Ive worked for both SMB and KJ and It was actually KJ who was advising him on how he might be able to go about avoiding service.

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11. 

    enrique

    Dec 30, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Paul is lost. Unfortunate that he doesn’t see past the 1950’s.

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12. 

    Progolfer

    Dec 30, 2014 at 4:48 pm

    I cannot believe the responses I’ve read regarding this story so far. For those of you saying he should serve, are you kidding me?! He is much more valuable serving his country playing the PGA Tour and as one of the best players in the world than with a gun on his back. On Tour, he can raise money for his country and raise awareness for the war being waged. In a uniform, he is just another individual. Why ruin his life and force him to serve when he can be so much more helpful on Tour? Also, what about the Olympics is 2016? If he serves, he can forget about representing his country in them. Yet another reason showing how corrupt Korea is and yet another topic showing the ignorance of the people commenting on this site. Pathetic.

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    • 

      kev

      Dec 30, 2014 at 5:25 pm

      that opens up a can of worms for everyone else in korea with reason. no one part is bigger than the whole.

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      • 

        Progolfer

        Dec 30, 2014 at 5:33 pm

        If every part was the best it could be and where it should be, the whole would be the best it could be and where it should be.

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    • 

      Kyle

      Dec 30, 2014 at 7:11 pm

      Do you really think him playing on the pga tour is more important than his country? Just because it’s an odd rule doesn’t mean anything. Rules are rules are rules. I definitely don’t agree with the rule, but everyone in South Korea has to abide by it, with few exceptions of course. The U.S. has similar rules themselves where service time is required regardless of being a pro athlete. It happened to a hockey player recently.

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    • 

      Hanguk

      Dec 30, 2014 at 8:54 pm

      Raise money for his country?? Really, Korea is 14th on the GDP list, it is not a 3rd world country. What about the future CEO’s of the people who really bring money to the country (Hyundai, Samsung, POSCO), they shouldn’t serve either because they should be studying.

      Also I highly doubt 18 months in the military is going to ruin his life, put it on hold yes, but ruin it no. Most likely the guy comes from money (it is quite expensive to play here), so even if he is not the same caliber player when he gets out he is going to be comfortable.

      Nobody really talks about PGA players over here anyways, YE was popular after the major win, but you still only see KJ posters and billboards everywhere. Koreans take much more pride in swimming, ice skating, speed skating, and soccer.

      Yes he probably would miss the Olympics and probably miss out on the Presidents Cup (in Korea this year) but knowing that this is something that he had to complete. He should have enlisted in to the Army earlier in his life…

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    • 

      Ignorant savage

      Dec 31, 2014 at 1:54 am

      Some interesting points…

      How much money has he raised for his “country” and where has it gone?

      What has he done with his tour fame to bring attention to the “war being waged”?

      Bummer about the Olympics. But I understand some feel that being a famous Olympian is more important than being a mere soldier defending his country.

      Korea is a democratic country with elected officials, a party system and branches much like the United States.

      Can you please cite some examples of how much more corrupt Korea is as compared to other democratic countries? Maybe cite how low they are in the democracy index? Or how low they are in comparison to personal wealth and education with other democracies?

      Or…. Maybe you could at least Wiki the country in question before calling other people ignorant…..

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13. 

    Jeremy

    Dec 30, 2014 at 3:48 pm

    I think SMB is a much greater asset to his country as a golfer performing at the highest level than just another body to put in the line of fire. Perhaps that should change if South Korea were to find itself in an actual war. But in times of peace there are far better ways to serve one’s country, and he’s doing that.

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14. 

    EH

    Dec 30, 2014 at 2:54 pm

    If he wants to remain as Korean and live in Korea, he has to serve.
    Quoted from Wiki “Exemptions are granted to Korean male citizens with physical disabilities or whose mental status is unstable or questionable.” Bae Sang-Moon is capable of serving in the military for full 21 months. He should serve the country he is representing with pride and honor. Just bad timing for him!

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15. 

    Double Mocha Man

    Dec 30, 2014 at 11:59 am

    I’m a big fan of Sang-Moon Bae. Great kid. And I’m not a big fan of the military and war. But he should serve. Because he’s talented, famous and wealthy (relative to most of his countrymen) should not get him a pass.

    I was in Miami attempting to hone my golf game to a tour level when I was conscripted into the U.S. Army. Lucky for me I had to serve out my two years in Hawaii. And my base had a golf course!

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16. 

    Paul H

    Dec 30, 2014 at 11:50 am

    “Unique situation”? Thousands of Americans died protecting his country. He needs to get home and walk the line, and do his time.

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    • 

      D man

      Dec 30, 2014 at 11:56 am

      Instead of just spouting patriotic nonsense, stop and think. How does this have anything to do with American involvement in the Korean War?

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      • 

        Jimmy

        Dec 30, 2014 at 2:28 pm

        Completely agree. “Patriotism is the virtue of the Vicious” – Oscar Wilde.

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        • 

          Mark

          Jan 4, 2015 at 9:36 pm

          Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel- Samuel Johnson

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    • 

      Awedge333

      Dec 30, 2014 at 6:18 pm

      Yea, military service,….. look what it did for ELVIS!!! 1,2,3,4 Occupation GI Blues. Paul, you are correct!

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