An international student asked me this. "Why are there so many older guys in the same year as us?" It's a common sight in Korean university classrooms. We call those guys '복학생' (students who have returned to school). It means students who took a leave of absence and then came back to school. ## In the past: leave of absence for military service Korean men are required by law to do military service. So many students took a leave of absence after finishing their first or second year and went into the army. When they came back a few years later, they were older than the juniors in the same year. In Korea, the way you speak and address people changes depending on age. So the juniors naturally called that senior a "returning-student hyung." ## Now: There Are More Reasons for Taking a Leave of Absence The length of military service is shorter than it used to be. Even so, the number of students returning to school hasn't gone down. That's because there are more reasons to take a leave of absence. Jobs aren't easy to get, so they take time off to build internship experience or prepare for certifications. Some students also work to earn their tuition. Many female students take a leave of absence too. So these days, military service alone can't explain returning students. ## What remains, and what to check The culture of honorifics and forms of address has stayed the same. When a returning student sits next to you, they might ask, "What year did you enter?" They might ask you that. It's not rude; they're just trying to decide how to speak to you. Leave-of-absence rules differ from school to school. For international students, taking a leave of absence can also affect your visa. Before you take a leave of absence, ask your school's international office first. You can check the visa rules in the guidance from the Immigration Office.