Why is Korea not classified as a deployment?

Both Korea and Germany are considered forward deployed and with Korea, your dwell time is reset. Difference between Korea and Afghanistan is you do not get a combat patch or tax exemption. You do receive a small amount of hazard pay (as of 2014) and really is a form of deployment just not as a combat tour.

A cease fire was established in 1953 between the two Koreas. That could be the reason. On a different note, I purchased many nitro powered RC vehicles while on my two tours there. I absolutely enjoyed Korea

DMZ VET 1982, 1/17 Inf. There was no soju, drinkie girls or family on the DMZ.

Found this deep in the VA Regs.
M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 1, Section A - General Information and Development for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Claims
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Service along the Korean demilitarized zone, which separates North Korea from South Korea, has been a location of hostile military activity since the Korean War armistice of 1953, whereas service on U.S. bases in the rest of South Korea generally has not been.

Korea is/was not a tour like Germany. Since the end of the Korean War/signing of the Armistice Agreement there have been a total of 90 US Military Members killed by hostile action along the DMZ. The last US soldier to die from hostile action was in 1994. As in previous post, soldiers have received CIB’s and CMB’s, Purple Hearts and a Silver Star in Korea along the DMZ. The Korea Defense Service Medal was created based on hostile duty along the DMZ. For many Infantry Units, It was more than just an overseas tour. It was unknown and unrecognized dangerous duty.