No unkind words, please, we're in the armed forces

Soldiers may be hardened warriors, but they have feelings, too. Oh Gil-hyeon, 41, a major at the 3d Military Academy of South Korea, conducted a survey in May of 200 enlisted soldiers around the nation, noting the kind of remarks that most hurt their feelings and demoralized them.

The winner was "What on earth can you do without screwing up?" sometimes used by a superior when a soldier makes a mistake. Other remarks such as "You blockhead, what do you think you are doing!" and "Are you learning backward, you dummy?" followed closely.

But it's not just the enlisted men who suffer. The survey also found that superiors get hurt when subordinates respond to orders with doubt, saying things like, "You should know better than that!" and "It's not my fault!"

"Military service is mandatory for all South Korean men," said Major Oh. "It takes more than patience and patriotism to serve the country. Disrespectful remarks demoralize both superiors and subordinates, decreasing the productivity of the army."

by Kim Min-seok