Imagine seeing a phenomenal bboy out-performing and out-classing everyone on the international stage. With that kind of skill, you'd want to see more of them, see what other moves they can execute, see them grow and witness their trophy cabinet fill up; to be inspired and to be taught by them.
Then out of the blue, they disappear, only to return two years later to find they have either retired from competitions or have lost a lot of their impressive abilities. It's quite a sinking feeling not being able to see them execute those same moves again or be at the top of their game like before. But this is the reality for most South Korean bboys.
Most of you probably have a good understanding of what it means for South Korean bboys to have to go through their mandatory army service while at the peak of their game. For those of you who are quite vague about the subject, in short, it basically means losing most of their extraordinary arsenal of movements. Dancing in the army is absolutely prohibited.
Lately I’ve been finding myself touching this subject again and again – with Physicx finishing his military service, with Born halfway his, and with the North Korean issue threatening everyone. I thought perhaps it’s time to re-visit this subject.
Why should they serve the army in the first place? North and South Korea are, in effect, still at war. What we see of both countries today is only an armistice - the agreement to suspend fighting for a certain amount of time. Both Koreas have not agreed to end their civil war yet and therefore, military presence in both Koreas are vital. This means in South Korea, any able bodied men of 17-35 years of age have to serve the army for at least 2 years.
Here is an an article I found which covered this issue well, it enlightens us on a matter that we take for granted - the freedom to dance. We can understand why, for their love of dance, South Korean bboys would try "dodging" their military conscription. Surely, to stop dancing at such an untimely manner is undesirable, and I can feel the sentiment in which they would resist, but we can't always forget our responsibilities too.
Then out of the blue, they disappear, only to return two years later to find they have either retired from competitions or have lost a lot of their impressive abilities. It's quite a sinking feeling not being able to see them execute those same moves again or be at the top of their game like before. But this is the reality for most South Korean bboys.
Most of you probably have a good understanding of what it means for South Korean bboys to have to go through their mandatory army service while at the peak of their game. For those of you who are quite vague about the subject, in short, it basically means losing most of their extraordinary arsenal of movements. Dancing in the army is absolutely prohibited.
Lately I’ve been finding myself touching this subject again and again – with Physicx finishing his military service, with Born halfway his, and with the North Korean issue threatening everyone. I thought perhaps it’s time to re-visit this subject.
Why should they serve the army in the first place? North and South Korea are, in effect, still at war. What we see of both countries today is only an armistice - the agreement to suspend fighting for a certain amount of time. Both Koreas have not agreed to end their civil war yet and therefore, military presence in both Koreas are vital. This means in South Korea, any able bodied men of 17-35 years of age have to serve the army for at least 2 years.
Here is an an article I found which covered this issue well, it enlightens us on a matter that we take for granted - the freedom to dance. We can understand why, for their love of dance, South Korean bboys would try "dodging" their military conscription. Surely, to stop dancing at such an untimely manner is undesirable, and I can feel the sentiment in which they would resist, but we can't always forget our responsibilities too.
Not all eligible men would live at the barracks when they serve the army, some who have sustained injuries or have any form of illnesses may be excused or suspended to low intensity training. This means doing public service and still be able to go home at night. For bboys, this would mean having the opportunity to keep dancing. However, if injuries are suspected to be self-inflicted in order to dodge one's mandatory service, they will instead, serve 3 years in jail. Lately, South Korean bboys have become much smarter and have built a plan around when it would be the most ideal to serve the army and still be able to compete.
I only have the biggest respect for bboys who are determined and driven enough to pick up their skills again after those two years. It’s only to say that the culture ran so deep in their identity that it takes more than those two years to condition them away from it.
Keep dancing all :)
