S. Korean Troops Volunteer for Iraq Duty

yahoo ^ | 2005 2/5 | SOO-JEONG LEE

[serurier]

S. Korean Troops Volunteer for Iraq Duty

SEOUL, South Korea - Driven in part by large financial bonuses, about 18,000 South Korean soldiers have volunteered for a mission to help the U.S.-led coalition rebuild Iraq (news - web sites), a military official said Thursday.

South Korea (news - web sites) has plans to send as many as 3,000 troops to Iraq as early as April in a mission making South Korea the biggest coalition partner after the United States and Britain.

Parliament must still approve the dispatch, but all major parties have said they would support it and the military is already preparing by soliciting volunteers and training soldiers as Arabic translators.

On Thursday, the military said 18,000 soldiers have already applied for service and that more applicants were expected before Tuesday's deadline. Volunteers will be winnowed after parliament approves the dispatch.

"I think soldiers want to build experience abroad, and especially among young soldiers, there is a willingness to experience something new," army spokesman Col. Ha Doo-chul said.

Ha added that the high salary for Iraq duty is also a motivating factor.

A sergeant sent to Iraq can expect monthly pay of $1,100, compared to the $15 he would make back home under mandatory military service.

The new dispatch of 3,000 troops to the northern Iraqi oil town of Kirkuk is to include special forces and combat-ready marines. It would come in addition to 460 South Korean military medics and engineers already operating in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah.

The dispatch is unpopular with the public, but President Roh Moo-hyun has backed the move as a show of support for South Korea's top ally, the United States.

[GretchenEE]

If you believe President Bush -- and I do -- we need them, which is why he keeps calling for more help from other nations.

Every nation that sends troops means it costs you less in tax money. If you can't get behind this for any other reason, maybe that would do.

To me, the glass is half full, and filling. This is a big step for South Korea and can only benefit their military strength with so threatening a group of neighbors, while helping us and helping Iraq. I'm glad for it.

[Mamzelle]

I'm glad enough--just exceedingly unimpressed. this gesture mostly draws attn to the lack of help we have thus far received. Considering how many tens of thousands of American soldiers have died to make Koreans free and affluent--seems pretty paltry, and not exactly time for a big party.

But every slow, reluctant, little bit helps.

[Army Air Corps]

"seems pretty paltry, and not exactly time for a big party."

Remember that they have a nutty nextdoor neighbour with more weapons than sense - they cannot afford to send too many combat-ready elements far from their homeland. Besides, the ROK special forces and Marines have reputations that preceed them; if the jihadists have any sense (fat chance), they will take pause.