Ex–ROK Navy SEAL Ken Rhee Breaks Down the Reality of War with North Korea | Ep. 265

Ex–ROK Navy SEAL Ken Rhee Breaks Down the Reality of War with North Korea | Ep. 265 In this episode of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland sits down with Ken Rhee, a former Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy SEAL lieutenant who uniquely completed both Korean BUD/S and U.S. Navy SEAL training in Coronado. Raised in the U.S. from age three, Rhee returned to Korea driven by family patriotism, rising through Officer Candidate School to become a tier-one operator in the elite Special Mission Battalion (SMB). Rhee contrasts the brutal mental hazing of Korean SEAL training against the physical grind of U.S. BUD/S on Coronado's sandy beaches, while highlighting cultural clashes in discipline and confinement. He delves into ROK SEAL gear mirroring U.S. standards (HK416s, Glocks, Crye Precision kits), the ever-present North Korean threat with its massive artillery shadowing Seoul, and the high-tension skirmishes that nearly sparked war. This interview is a fascinating deep dive into cross-cultural special operations, North-South tensions, and the unyielding SEAL ethos. If you like this, click subscribe, like and share with a friend. ---------- Support Ken Rhee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Rhee    / @rokseal   https://www.instagram.com/01kenseal/?... www.rokseal.net ---------- NAVY SEALS FITNESS APP | HYBRID STRENGTH & CONDITIONING TRAINING Train like a SEAL with Mike Ritland's App. Build real-world strength, endurance and resilience. https://www.coachos-app.com/navy-seals Mizzen & Main Mizzen & Main is offering our listeners 20% off your first purchase at mizzenandmain.com, promo code MIKEDROP20. Beam Here’s the deal: Beam is giving my listeners the ultimate patriot discount of UP TO 40% off. Try their best‑selling Dream Powder and get UP TO 40% off for a limited time. Go to https://shopbeam.com/products/dream-p... and use code MIKEDROP at checkout. TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog’s Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog’s health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike’s bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. https://www.teamdog.pet SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:26 - Readiness for War 00:00:47 - ROK SEAL Training 00:01:13 - Team Dog Food ad 00:04:35 - Comparing ROK BUD/S vs US BUD/S 00:09:53 - Childhood in US and Return to Korea 00:12:24 - Korean Military Over US 00:16:18 - Outsider Perception in Korean Military 00:19:09 - Pipeline from OCS to ROK BUD/S 00:21:14 - Korean Society 00:22:49 - Size of ROK Navy 00:24:03 - ROK Military Mirrors US Structure 00:29:15 - Serving on ROK SDV Team 00:36:38 - North Korean Defectors and Family Risks 00:38:49 - US Media Accuracy on North Korea 00:44:03 - US Military Presence and Korean Views 00:46:49 - Tier One Popularity and Selection in Korea 00:51:39 - SMB CT School: Repelling and CQB 00:55:22 - Regular vs Tier One ROK SEALs 00:56:20 - Cross-Training with US and Allied SOF 00:59:09 - Beam ad 01:00:46 - ROK SEAL & US SEAL Close Ties 01:02:17 - Political Impact on NK Threat Focus 01:06:22 - Countering NK Honeypot Spies 01:07:07 - NK Gear: Outdated, No NODS 01:12:12 - US vs ROK Hell Week 01:14:19 - Selection Process for US BUD/S 01:16:46 - Bangladesh in ROK SEAL Training 01:17:09 - ROK Hell Week: Like Prison 01:18:13 - ROK SEAL Weapons: HK416, Glocks 01:21:27 - US-Made Gear via NIS Funding 01:22:45 - Food: US BUD/S Buffet vs ROK 01:24:48 - Korean MRE: Bibimbap & Soup 01:26:04 - Somalia Pirate Boardings 01:29:30 - 2011 ROK SEAL Rescue: 01:31:42 - SDV Recon on North Korea 01:33:28 - Post-Navy 01:35:26 - PMC in Iraq, State Dept, UN 01:36:39 - UN Bribes in Bangladesh 01:38:13 - Starting ROKSEAL 01:40:42 - Ukraine: First Week of War 01:44:16 - Fighting with Dan Swift in Ukraine 01:50:52 - Korean Gun Laws 01:57:11 - No Self-Defense Laws in Korea 02:03:20 - EDC Tools for Civilians 02:12:31 - Final Thanks #TheMikeDropPodcast #MikeRitland #veteran #military #Geopolitics #MikeRitlandPodcast #KenRhee #ROKNavySEALs #KoreanSEALs #USNavySEALs #BUDSTraining #CoronadoTraining #SpecialMissionBattalion #TierOneOperator #KoreanMilitary #KoreanPatriotism #UkraineWar #VolunteerFighter