DistantNews
Support us
🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Gree: ‘South Korea May Be the Only Country Where You Face Hate After Serving in the Military’

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • South Korean broadcaster Gree, whose real name is Kim Dong-hyun, addressed online criticism related to his Marine Corps service on his YouTube channel.
  • He said he invited former comrades, including seniors and juniors, to show that he had maintained strong relationships during his service.
  • A former senior said Gree’s unit treated him well and did not exclude him based on rank or seniority.

Gree says South Korea may be the only country where a person can still face hostile comments even after completing military service. The broadcaster, whose real name is Kim Dong-hyun, addressed the criticism in a video titled “I’ll Explain the Rumors Myself” on his YouTube channel, Kim Gree.

South Korea may be the only country where you see hate comments even after serving in the military. I didn’t join the military or the Marine Corps to receive favorable comments, but there are still many comments making a fuss even after I completed my service.

· Gree (Kim Dong-hyun)He responded to online criticism about his Marine Corps service.

While answering subscribers’ questions, Gree read comments criticizing his Marine Corps service. “South Korea may be the only country where you see hate comments even after serving in the military,” he said. “I didn’t join the military or the Marine Corps to receive favorable comments, but there are still many comments making a fuss even after I completed my service.”

Gree then brought former Marine comrades into the video, including people who had served alongside him, senior to him, junior to him and above his immediate senior. “I recruited Marines from my unit. I brought in my fellow recruits, seniors, juniors and the most senior person. If I had not served well, would they have appeared?” he said.

I recruited Marines from my unit. I brought in my fellow recruits, seniors, juniors and the most senior person. If I had not served well, would they have appeared?

· Gree (Kim Dong-hyun)He introduced former comrades to support his account of his service.

One of his former seniors said Gree’s arrival changed his view of the unit. “After seeing Gree come in, I thought our unit had no practice of excluding people based on their enlistment rank,” he said, adding that senior personnel also looked after Gree.

After seeing Gree come in, I thought our unit had no practice of excluding people based on their enlistment rank.

· Gree’s former seniorHe described how Gree was treated in the unit.

Gree said he had faced particular pressure because he was the only publicly known person in the unit. His military service had already attracted attention, and he had talked extensively about it on television before enlisting. “If I caused a problem there, it would also damage the image of the Marine Corps,” he said. He recalled being pushed hard during training and added, “Why would I dislike my platoon commander? Because he pushed me hard.”

Why would I dislike my platoon commander? Because he pushed me hard.

· Gree (Kim Dong-hyun)He explained his relationship with the officer who trained him.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog