Comments on: Well, to answer your question, Tony… http://www.rjkoehler.com/2003/10/14/well-to-answer-your-question-tony/ Korea... in Blog Format Fri, 5 Dec 2008 08:32:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Rex http://www.rjkoehler.com/2003/10/14/well-to-answer-your-question-tony/#comment-343 Rex Fri, 17 Oct 2003 15:16:35 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=147#comment-343 In Asia saving face is about as important as an ajossi drinking soju at lunch. He can't just up and quit; in true Korean fashion he has to make it look like somebody else's fault. In Asia saving face is about as important as an ajossi drinking soju at lunch. He can’t just up and quit; in true Korean fashion he has to make it look like somebody else’s fault.

]]> By: David Mercer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2003/10/14/well-to-answer-your-question-tony/#comment-342 David Mercer Thu, 16 Oct 2003 02:40:08 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=147#comment-342 Well if he is so unconfident and disliking of his own rule, why doesn't he just resign/call early elections, or however such a sucession would work. It all seems silly to me... Well if he is so unconfident and disliking of his own rule, why doesn’t he just resign/call early elections, or however such a sucession would work.

It all seems silly to me…

]]> By: Tony http://www.rjkoehler.com/2003/10/14/well-to-answer-your-question-tony/#comment-341 Tony Wed, 15 Oct 2003 16:59:13 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=147#comment-341 Thanks for the lowdown, though I wasn't expecting a whole post on it. I have to say, from my perspective on the other side of the ocean, that I haven't been all too impressed with Roh. I just have to keep reminding myself that the maturation of a democratic system is often a process of lurching erratically forward. Regards, Tony Thanks for the lowdown, though I wasn’t expecting a whole post on it.

I have to say, from my perspective on the other side of the ocean, that I haven’t been all too impressed with Roh.

I just have to keep reminding myself that the maturation of a democratic system is often a process of lurching erratically forward.

Regards,
Tony

]]> By: Rex http://www.rjkoehler.com/2003/10/14/well-to-answer-your-question-tony/#comment-340 Rex Tue, 14 Oct 2003 23:13:35 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=147#comment-340 Actually, I think Noh is playing the old Korean mindgame to a "T". In general it seems like Korean people are so ambivalent towards each other that they'll step over a dead fellow Korean to get on the subway without batting an eye. However, they are very adept at lining up behind each other when if seems something outside is out to get them (witness last summer's "We all hate America" party). Noh, Roh, is a Korean's Korean; he lacks self-confidence and has a huge inferiority complex and since his approval ratings are diving like Japanese Zeroes on a tasty aircraft carrier he's going to play the Korean jedi mindfuck and pull the rest of the country into line behind him by saying "you must not like me and I can't do my job if you don't like me". This referendum is perfect as it's a no lose situation for him; if he fails to get he law changed to allow for this he can throw his hands up and say he tried to do the people's wishes, it delays the decision to send troops to Iraq (yonhop news just reported him as saying he can't in good faith make such a critical decision if he doesn't know the country's behind him) so he can throw his hands up there as well; in no matter the outcome he's saving face and as we all know a Korean will do anything to avoid apologizing for a mistake. Mr. Noh decision can continue to sit on the fence and not help his country in any way while looking like a wronged man. Korea is truly a great place (hard to put sarcasm into something you time). Actually, I think Noh is playing the old Korean mindgame to a “T”. In general it seems like Korean people are so ambivalent towards each other that they’ll step over a dead fellow Korean to get on the subway without batting an eye. However, they are very adept at lining up behind each other when if seems something outside is out to get them (witness last summer’s “We all hate America” party). Noh, Roh, is a Korean’s Korean; he lacks self-confidence and has a huge inferiority complex and since his approval ratings are diving like Japanese Zeroes on a tasty aircraft carrier he’s going to play the Korean jedi mindfuck and pull the rest of the country into line behind him by saying “you must not like me and I can’t do my job if you don’t like me”. This referendum is perfect as it’s a no lose situation for him; if he fails to get he law changed to allow for this he can throw his hands up and say he tried to do the people’s wishes, it delays the decision to send troops to Iraq (yonhop news just reported him as saying he can’t in good faith make such a critical decision if he doesn’t know the country’s behind him) so he can throw his hands up there as well; in no matter the outcome he’s saving face and as we all know a Korean will do anything to avoid apologizing for a mistake. Mr. Noh decision can continue to sit on the fence and not help his country in any way while looking like a wronged man. Korea is truly a great place (hard to put sarcasm into something you time).

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