I can finally start live like a human, but Korean military is in my way

UGH...... idk why my life is so complicated and being undocumented is just one of them...

I'm very happy that I may be able to get work permit and get deferred action, so I can start my career and earn money for my college. However, I still need DA. I still need GC. There are two big problems for me. one of them is my Korean nationality. I know that +30 dreams may want to criticize me for being selfish, but I want to live happy life that I want like many others do.

Even though I'm happy that I was born in Korea, I'm unfortunately born male. In Korea, Korean citizens are required to serve in a military for like two and half years(somewhere around there).

Supposedly, all Korean males(except ones who doesn't meet certain requirement such as being handicapped) must serve in military for over two years in between age of 20 and 35 (estimated). If one refuses to serve in military, it is a felony. Until I'm 24, my mandatory servitude will be auto-postponed. However, after that I will have to postpone it myself, and the latest that I can postpone is to 27 if I'm in a graduate school. I'm still 20, and I know that It's far away, but I should be worried.

First of all, I'm not a military person... I study fashion merchandising... Do I sound like I would fit? lol... Also, another big problem is that since I been here elementary school, I do not carry Korean customs. Yes, I do speak fluent Korean, but I know that I'm different, and so do other Koreans.

Another, and the biggest problem is that if I fail to postpone, I will not be able to renew my passport, which means that I'll be like EWI, except I cannot return to my home country without getting arrested. Unfortunately, I have no intention of getting married, and w/out my passport, I can't even if I wanted to because GC cannot be issued through marriage w.out a valid passport.

I'm just hoping that DA will pass over the next three years while I have my passport, so I can get GC.

If I don't get GC, I have to make a choice either to return to Korea, serve in a military, and never come back here, or live here undocumented w/out any place to return for rest of my life.

What the hell did I just read? You need to get yourself together and stop complaining. EWI can still renew passport. At least the British consulate and Chinese consulate let you do that. They could care less of your status here. Plus saying you are unfit to join the military is bullshit. If you are not disabled in any way, you most certainly can learn a lot from the military. Perhaps you will man up your attitude. Other Asians say Korean men are strong and abusive, seems like you are an exception. Things will happen, just get your ass up and contribute!

Dude keep your negative thoughts to your self. I'm not complaining that I have to go to the military. I'm saying is that I don't want to go back just like how you dun want to go back, and my military requirement will force me to go back and I would have to face 10yr ban.

Just don't go back. I see the problem your facing. Find some hot korean us citizen marry her and never go back. I have a Korean friend that would never do that because he loves Korea but I'm not getting that same exact vibe from you.

Yea... even though I love Korea, I decided not to go back the day I came here...

So what are you worrying about. It's not like their gonna hunt you if your in the US right?

Yea I guess your right. Thanks...

This is an interesting topic. How do other male Koreans deal with this situation? What if they are caught and deported? Hummm...

I'm not an expert on this issue, but I know that legal people(F and J visa holders go out to serve and come back to finish school). However, that doesn't apply to undocumented since once they leave, they have to face 10yr ban. So, if a korean male who's 24 does not or fail to postpone their servitude, their passport renewal will be denied. I'm sure that ICE will kick us out even if we don't have passports. From what I know, to get GC through marriage, you need a valid passport. So, the only way for Overstayer to legalize disappears. I honestly, do not know what would happen if i go back after i turn 25 w/out postponing. They might arrest me and charge me for federal felony.

The biggest concern for me is that if I go to military for two and half years without using English, what would happen? Honestly, being fluent in English would be the only strength that I would have if I return.

Also, I think others can give sht about how I complain, but they don't know that Korean military is 180 degrees different from American military. Their environment is especially more brutal since they have the Asian respect thing going on. Also, not to mention that the two and half year servitude is close to free servitude. I think their salary is like 100dollar a month ...

My brother's pretty much in the same situation as you are. He won't go back to live in Korea, he's Americanized, and he will be eaten alive if he sets foot into Korean military because he didn't grow up in the same culture. I just got my passport renewed a few weeks ago and the consul had pretty much confirmed what you said. I guess your options are:

1) postpone it as much as you can and keep renewing your passport while you wait for the actual DA to pass
2) don't go back, give up on Korea, build your life here, get married eventually, etc
3) get married while you can still postpone it and get a GC to officially be relieved of the duty
4) go back, try to serve in KATUSA, live there, give up on the US

I think my brother hopes to carry out #3.