By SHELTON BUMGARNER
Marmot’s Hole Guest Blogger
Over the course of the week, we found ourselves worrying about everything from the safety of Korean “working girls,” to our privacy to the ultimate fallout of a “drunken brawl.”
Korean working girls are leaving their homeland, trying to live the American dream. They just want to make ends meet, like everyone else, don’tcha know.
In February, it emerged that an organization sold 38 women to brothels in Australia, New Zealand and Canada in conditions of virtual bonded labor. Police say the organization would advance the women millions of won they had to pay back at 60 percent interest and forced them to pay medical expenses for diseases contracted on the job. The women had to sign up to a “code of conduct” that fined them US$300 for arguing with customers and US$50 for showing up a minute late to work.
Proving The Beatles’ views on the subject, before the week was over, we’d be hearing about how Korean men are stirring up trouble — and who knows what else — by going to the South Pacific as “sex tourists.”
Speaking of viruses, we were treated to delightful reports of the DPRK’s chemical and biological arsenal during the course of the week.
NIS also said it believes North Korea has developed about 10 kinds of biological agents, including anthrax and smallpox, and that Factory No. 25 in Chongju, North Pyongan Province, has the facilities to produce biological agents. More about North Korea’ suspected biological warfare capabilities here.
The love-hate relationship between the ROK and the USA also came to the forefront this week, as there were murmurings that the United States is looking for “Divorce, American (Geopolitical) Style.”
The Gaettongnyeo (Dog Poop Woman) and her unwillingness to take care of what her dog had given the floor of the subway made the news in the States, raising concerns of a Big Brother made up of the blogosphere’s Little Brothers.
The end of the week ended with a little give and take between some American GIs and a Korean fellow who claimed he did nothing other than “bump into them” while “crossing the street.”
The Week In Review’s ‘quote of the week’ comes from ROK President Roh Moo Hyun:
???But neither side has the freedom to take the situation to a breakdown,???? Roh told senior South Korean journalists at the presidential Blue House.
???Under no circumstances can the North choose nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can the United States choose military means,???? Roh said.
5 Comments
AFAIC, that “apology” written by the women is a fake (I mean, you can tell by the way the original Korean was written — she must have serious, serious problems if she wrote an “apology” like that).
Dude, for real quality (and uncensored) info you should go to dcinside, not naver!
Some constructive criticism about the WIR feature. We read Marmot’s Hole; we already know what’s on it. I think a WIR would be far more interesting and effective if you were to cull articles on the week’s news from blogs and other news sources other than Marmot’s (or your own Migukin.com).
Yes, I know this might end up sounding like your OOB feature, but the distinguishing mark of OOB might be interesting tidbits that are not necessarily about the mainstream news everyone else is reporting.
Since we’re promoting our own blogs…
North Korea’s Kim Kyegwan has told Christopher Hill during a dinner in Beijing that Pyongyang will return to the six-party talks later this month.
WIR: what’s the point? you’re just wasting fonts…
Investigating
“There is some background noise here ” said President Bush recently as special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald’s concluded investigation.