Korea - DMZ Joint Security Area

These Republic of Korea (ROK) soldiers stand guard in what's known as the "ROK Ready" stance. It's a modified Tae Kwan Do ready position which they use to be poised for action and look menacing to the NK guards they’re staring down. They stand half hidden behind the buildings to cut down their exposure to enemy fire. These guys are pretty focused as you can imagine but they’re not ceremonial like the guards at Buckingham Palace who are famous for their rigidity and discipline; these guys look around and move as necessary to maintain constant vigilance. They abide by tourists taking pictures though and even seem faintly amused by it.