I used to like listening to Don Imus back in the States, and granted, Imus says a lot of insensitive stuff about a lot of people, but this is uncalled for — apparently, following a clip of the late Kim Sun-il crying “I want to live!” on Al-Jazeera, Imus in the Morning producer Bernard McGuirk joked that Kim sounded like American Idol clown William Hung. Actually, what he said (or how it’s translated in Korean) is that Kim was just like ‘that retarded Chinese guy from American Idol.” Both McGuirk and Imus reportedly had a bit of a chuckle about it. This was problematic, of course, because a) it was completely inappropriate; and b) a Korean-American — Lim Jeong-hwa in Brooklyn — listening in at the time emailed the Fatherland and reported Don to — horror of horrors — the Hankyoreh. Lim was angry at the broadcast and felt that the dongpo (ethnic brothers) back in Korea needed to be told. The result is a Hani piece entitled, “”Ugly America’… Laughing While Watching Murder Video,” yet another effort in the Hani’s ongoing struggle to make its readers believe that it was President Bush, the U.S. military, Imus and American Internet users who cut Kim’s head off, not Arab terrorists.
Anyway, nice job, Don… could you be even more of a jerk? And in case Ms. Lim is reading this blog, let me just say to you that your dongpo should count themselves lucky that all the nasty crap one reads and hears in Korea whenever misfortune strikes the U.S. doesn’t get emailed back to the NYT and MSNBC.
(Hat tip to Joel)
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12 Comments
Unfortunately, as a fan of WFAN, I also listen quite often to Don Imus. I don’t like him that much. That’s who Don Imus is. I’m sure Lim knew that as a faithful listener. Don Imus is actually pro-Kerry. He says so all the time these days. I bet, though, Koreans think Don Imus is Bush’s pet.
Above by WJK. Fan of WFAN.
awhile ago, after 911 and after the killing of the 2 Korean girls by a US military vehicle, South Koreans on some discussion boards (yahoo.co.kr) posted disturbing messages with phrases such as “Laden Oppa”
Translated, roughly, “Brother Bin Laden”.
Very disturbing to me at that time. They were praising someone, a terrorist, who inflicted mass murder on US citizens.
I wonder if they will praise Brother Bin Laden now that Kim Sun-Il has been beheaded, but the “brother Turkish men” were released with their necks intact.
I read a piece in ohmynews that called for sending in civilian workers to rebuild Iraq instead of sending troops.
Ever heard of Nick Berg, Kim Sun-Il, etc?
It’s actually a safe and responsible thing that troops are doing that rebuilding/engineering stuff. Those coward terrorists in Iraq will have a feast capturing civilian workers for their terror demands.
to my knowledge, some Korean citizens died with the twin towers on 911. They were working abroad with Korean citizenships intact. They make a huge mourning for Kim Sun Il, but I’m sure they forgot about Korean people who perished with 911.
The Hankyoreh (widely thought of as the Rodong Sinmun, Seoul branch - I call it the BukHanyoreh) is more an agit-prop outlet than a real newspaper. That article cites two offensive MSNBC examples in TWO YEARS. Anyone able to read Korean media could find probably two MILLION examples of racism in the Korean media in far less time, including racist cartoon depictions of whites or blacks in the Hankyoreh cartons. What’s more, and issues of taste notwithstanding, Imus and Leno are satirists/humorists and offending Korean media are serious. Pot meet kettle.
American Expats:
New York Times has a guest editorial from some Korean guy/girl
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06.....0HAYU.html
It’s really stupid, but interesting since Korean issues are rarely discussed on the Times op-ed page.
pulgogi - Thanks for posting the NY-Times link. And yes, it’s really stupid.
Does anyone have a link (english) to an article discussing the parents-of-Kim-Sun-Il’s lawsuit against the Korean gov’t? It sounds too true to be made up. But there has to be more to the rumor than I’ve heard…..
‘and yes, it’s really stupid…’ japanese guy
why not tell us what’s so stupid about it? right now, the only one who looks, stupid, scott, is you.
let me guess, an angry lil expat who wasn’t treated special in korea but has a korean wife and half korean children. i’d bet my bottom dollar.
what if, what if you’re wrong, Shin?
Then…who looks ignorant, and prejudiced?
Shin Jong Il has real issues and is best ignored.
The NYT article in case isn’t terrible by the standards of commentary we’ve seen (and the NYT wil print just about any anti-warscfreed), but it does miss the point and is factually off base:
Offending passages:
The first deployment was comprised of military engineers and doctors, but this time we will send combat forces, tanks and heavy artillery. If the government has its way, South Korea will have the third largest number of foreign troops in Iraq, behind the United States and Britain.
So Mr. Kim’s death is only the beginning of another reel. What will follow is more South Korean casualties, then another call for additional troops, then more deaths. Our government keeps talking about the national interest, but what does that mean? The privilege to win more subcontracts to supply pillows and sunglasses to American soldiers only to be taken from the delivery truck, killed and tossed out, headless and booby-trapped?
The NYT piece was the usual Korean aigo chamnah, but Jung was right about the Korea-US relationship being unequal–it’s far too favorable to Korea.
shin jong il -
“why not tell us what’s so stupid about it?”
The article didn’t reach any point, aside from whining. The article was simply a listing of opinions which *almost* became clear, coherent thoughts.
“let me guess, an angry lil expat who wasn’t treated special in korea…”
My experience in Korea was great, the article was horrible - there is a difference, please learn that. I was treated VERY well in Korea, but I am currently living in Japan, and am a very mellow expat.
The reason for my reading here is my interest in moving to Korea. My exposure to Korea/Seoul was excellent and I am deciding if I really want to move there. Poorly written articles are making me rethink my decision.