As much as he is loath to do it, the Marmot is forced to give one of his favorite whipping boys, Minister of Culture and Tourism Lee Ch’ang-dong, his much deserved props for moving to remove restrictions on the import of Japanese pop-cultural products:
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said yesterday the government would approve imports of Japanese movies, musical albums and computer game software effective Jan. 1.
The announcement is the fourth stage of a five-year plan to open Korea’s market to the Japanese entertainment industry.
Later:
Culture Minister Lee Chang-dong said yesterday the market opening was in line with a global trend toward free information exchange.
Mr. Lee said, however, the government was withholding its decision on whether to allow Japanese television programs to be aired in Korea.
He cited the far-reaching impact of television programming on children, in particular, for the delay in allowing Japanese programs into the country.
Also put on hold is whether to allow Japanese animated films made for theaters — an area in which Korea still lags in comparison.
Whether and to what extent the two industries would be opened to Japanese products would be decided before the end of the year, Mr. Lee said.
We’ll ignore Lee’s retarded statements concerning Japanese pop culture’s effects on children - Korea produces enough violent/sexually graphic shit on its own, and besides, I can’t imagine how Japanese TV might be any more harmful to young minds than the Teletubbies. Lee deserves credit for recognizing that the government cannot continue to choose what its citizens may and may not watch or listen to.
The Chosun Ilbo, however, hasn’t figured this out yet, apparently. Check out this cartoon they ran (hat tip to Seeing Eye Blog) - ironic for a paper that counts among its readers some of the biggest ch’inilp’a in the land.
Note to Minister Lee: Does this mean I’ll be able to get Akira Fubuki DVDs in Korea soon? (WARNING: link not, well, work-friendly)
4 Comments
Does this mean there is a good chance there will be Japanese releases on KOREAN dvd? Right now most Japanese movies are FAR to expensive and Korean dvd manufacturers make some killer discs.
Oh and this is definitely good news. But of course I didn’t know there was a ban till a few days ago.
I know for a fact that Lee really didn’t want to be minister, and you can hear it when upon arriving in office said he would approach the work of minister as someone going to the army - or something to that effect. Rumor has it that he was rather forced to take up the position by the actors he runs East Film with, men that campaigned hard for Roh but wouldn’t be able to do minister themselves because the Chosun has devoted entire editorials to the kinds of things they’ve said.
My theory on the child programing statement:
1) Lee started out as a Korean teacher (elementary or high school I forget), and that is what influenced the statement.
2) He desperately wants to open up the market as wide as can be, but is covering his rear end, since those opposed to opening the market at all can be expected to note the fact that Korean legal standards on what is permissible for young ones is more stringent than it is in Japan, regardless of what might actually be circulating on the market. You aren’t going to hear a minister say “Korea produces enough violent/sexually graphic shit on its own.”
Wait…is the Minister the same who directed Oasis and Perppermint Candy?
Wait…is the Minister the same who directed Oasis and Perppermint Candy?
yesterday, and I couldn’t find much in terms of an attack on Lee for his stance on Japanese cultural imports (but I did notice the rather savage attack on him for another issue here). Believe it or not, I’m with Lee here - he said most of the right things as far as I’m concerned, and he seems to realize that if this country wants to be a regional hub, it can’t ban the cultural products of its wealthiest neighbor.
Yes, the very same. Should have kept making movies.
You aren’t going to hear a minister say “Korea produces enough violent/sexually graphic shit on its own.”
True enough, but you will see it written in a blog - my blog. And I know that Lee was only covering his ass (although I would have preferred he just say nothing) - but I’m sure the Chosun is going to go after him regardless. Coincidentally, I checked out Korea’s Paper of Record
Anyway, I’ll be willing to extoll the virtues of Kim Jong Il if it means I can get my hands on some Akira Fubuki DVDs. I guess importing them uncensored is out of the question, not that the Japanese don’t censor them enough on their own.