With a string of less-than-pleasant incidents involving U.S. troops in Area 1 making the news recently, GI Korea gives us some much needed insight into the realities faced by the men in 2ID and some explanations as to why these incidents may be occurring. It’s a long post, but definitely worth your read, especially in light of recent events.
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4 Comments
Very interesting perspective-thanks.
The account from the “GI Korea Blog” is but one reason I keep saying that the Korean code of law needs revision because the same sort of mis-application of law occurs for Koreans themselves — even without the participation of foreigners. One would think that any activist would petition for changes (instead of taking down a statue of General MacArthur!) to a law code that, though revised in the early 60’s, was handed down to Korea during the occupation of Korea by Japan.
I’m afraid that if justice is blind, she is also much abused in Korea and in need of reform.
Also, regarding the misapplication of law in Korea, the Chosun Ilbo did mention that the Uri Party wanted to pardon 6.5 million people — the rough number of people living in Laos. It seems that president’s ratings have fallen below 30 percent approval and the Korean economy has drifted into a recession that may be prolonged. This sort of breaking open the jails seems more an activist’s plotting, designed to create a more pro-Uridang sentiment amongst the downtrodden (petty law-breakers, political crooks, etc.).
I have read of emptying the jails to get a vote way back in even pre-Tammany Hall days but I never thought I would see such in a modern day democracy.
I would be tempted to suggest instead of eating dog meat to keep cool in summer, Koreans should feed their politicians to the dogs, during this next election cycle. This would also be a very cool thing to do.
Hope I’m not too long winded here. I was in Korea 75/76. Half my time was spent down south, on a hilltop between Kunsan and Iri. The other half (Apr 76 - Dec 76)was spent at Camp Humprey. I saw all kinds of violence in those days - American vs. Korean, American vs. American, Korean vs Korean…etc. For the most part, the worst treatment I saw Americans get was usually located at Itaewon. All the old fashioned stupid treatment was dished out by the Koreans who knew how to play the system.
I realized that this isnt just a Korean thing so far as the Korean MP goes. You are going home (soon) and his fellow Koreans - they will be around a long time. Doesnt mean you will lose every time, but you will more often than not. Cabs were not an issue at Camp Humphrey in those days, you could walk anywhere in Anjung-ri to the front gate, and get an “American” cab there. I never had a bad experience with a Korean cab driver in a kimchi cab, but your mileage may vary.
I understand that Anjung-ri has expanded enormously in the last 29 years, so maybe you can not walk that far any longer. The wildest, most violent place I saw in Korea was in “American Town”, just a couple of miles outside Kunsan Air Base. My best friend got his teeth knocked out by two American soldiers, and for no reason.
In the old days, there was no internet, no cell phones to call home. It was land mail, and that took a while. It was much lonlier in those days to be in Korea. I found that if I went off the beaten path, I met a better class of Koreans. GI towns are no more a reflection of Koreans than border towns represent the real Mexico.
In my day, if you were mistreated by Koreans, the commander simply put the place off limits for a week or so. That spoke volumes to the Koreans who lived off of the GI ‘Bills’.