According to the JoongAng Ilbo, the police have asked prosecutors to charge Dongguk University people’s commissar for sociology ™ Kang “If it hadn’t been for those pesky Americans, Korea would have been unified” Jeong-koo with violations of the National Security Law:
The National Police Agency, which has been investigating a Dongguk University professor for his outspoken pro-North Korean advocacy, said yesterday it has asked prosecutors to charge him with violations of the National Security Law.
Kang Jeong-koo has been interrogated on three occasions after publicly defending and praising the regime to the north. A conservative civic group complained to police after remarks last week that had the United States not intervened in the Korean War, the nation would have been reunified within a month.
As you have probably guessed already, I think this is a decidedly bad idea. Firstly, as I have made abundantly clear, I think the National Security Law sucks (see also here) and needs to be abolished yesterday. Secondly, arresting the guy would amount to the offline equivalent of “feeding the troll,” and judging from the tons of media attention this joker has earned, Kang has been sufficiently fed. Thirdly, part of me feels bad for Kang. It’s not his fault he’s a Stalinist. He went to the U. of Wisconsin in the 1960s. Don’t blame him. Blame the Badger.
Meanwhile, OhMyNews went to Dongguk U to get opinions from students. To summarize, most were opposed to arresting Kang and objected to concerns of “brainwashing.” Some of the comments about academic freedom and diversity would have meant more to me if the support for Korea professor Hanh Sung-jo hadn’t been so deafeningly silent after he wrote an op-ed in Japan’s Sankei Shimbun praising Japanese colonial rule. Others objected to a statement made be Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and CEO Kim Sang-yeol suggesting that students who took Kang’s classes might be disadvantaged when applying for jobs:
“Economic circles think that Kang’s comments are very problematic given that they defied capitalism,” KORCHAM president and CEO Kim Sang-yeol told reporters. “We doubt students who take his class have a good grasp of market economy and have a right economic or historic view.”
Jesus, that’s spooky. Almost as spooky as this quote, by Grand National Party floor leader Kang Jae-sup:
“Kang’s absurd remarks rattle free democracy, which we have striven to protect,” said the main opposition Grand National Party’s floor leader, Kang Jae-sup. “He does not have a right to breathe in democratic society.”
18 Comments
No jail, but after conviction, how about making the professor serve a mandatory term as the first-ever “exchange professor” from his university at an (the?) equivalent North Korean university? For whatever length of time the NSL provides as a maximum jail sentence.
Hmm, thinking about this great idea a little further — what does the law say exactly in terms of sentencing guidelines? If there’s provision for a fine as well as confinement, the professor ought to be made to accept a North Korean equivalent-professor salary while “serving” up north.
So he can’t live “high on the hog” with “hard currency” while expounding his views.
Well, they really are dumb. But then, they wouldn’t be the bastion of justice that is the Korean police.
if Kim Sang-yeol said what he did, then I can’t help but empathize with him. Although, usually people mellow out when they grow older. I wouldn’t want to hire people who say, “I don’t want to work for you because you are a capitalist pig” either.
Lock him up for life. He deserve it. If he is praising NK when so many Koreans have died to preserve freedom and democracy, he doesn’t deserve to live.
He needs to get it right on his mouth, so that he cannot speak again. I will do it if I am allowed to. Don’t call me a savage. When you see a guy praising works of a child molester or exploits of a mass murderer, you got to do something about it. YOU CANNOT SIT STILL.
If you don’t understand it, just think it as a Korean thing.
If you don?t understand it, just think it as a Korean thing.
Actually, I just think of it as a “don’t understand what freedom and democracy means at all” thing.
If you don?t understand it, just think it as a Korean thing.
Actually, I just think of it as a ?don?t understand what freedom and democracy means at all?? thing.
Which is still a Korean thing.
“Some of the comments about academic freedom and diversity would have meant more to me if the support for Korea professor Hanh Sung-jo hadn?t been so deafeningly silent after he wrote an op-ed in Japan?s Sankei Shimbun praising Japanese colonial rule.”
I would give this as a brief introduction to earth for any aliens visiting our lovely planet. That is the way it is every where and I guess for all time….
And it would be much better for Korean society to fight things like Kang by actively pointing out the mega problems with his thought rather than making him look like a victim by trying to silence him. Fight ignorance with thought, not handcuffs….
But at least we have seen a fair amount of fighting him with thought in the press……..we just got the handcuffs too, which will make the thought easy to shove aside…
A man can describe in detail how he molested a 8-year old girl. How he watched her in a distance for weeks. How carefully he planned the act. How he baited her with candies. How he undressed her. What she was wearing underneath. How she screamed and what he felt like.
Is it still protected by the freedom of speech? Does he have the right to keep talking? Or, should someone kick him in the face and shut him off?
I will do it!
Some thoughts and the expression of such evil thoughts are not protected by law. And, they shouldn’t be.
Yes. It is protected. I think in some states in the US, perhaps you could prosecute the man for furthering the pursuit of a crime by teaching someone how to break the law, but I doubt it would hold up in court. NAMBLA is sometimes prosecuted but it isn’t shut down and it is defending by orgs like the ACUL. And the KKK has the right to get a permit to march in a parade despite what kind of organization it is.
And you can go and kick him in the face. I would applaud you. And unless you killed him or maimed him, you would be arrested but would end up paying a fine that would would probably think was well worth it. If you did hurt him and had to go to trial or if he sued you, in the US jury system, you would stand a fair chance of having 12 regular citizens deciding they don’t care what the law says and finding you not guilty or liable…..Or do like the jury my sister was on in a civil trial who found they hated the person who brought the case (and his lawyer), I forget what for, and they decided they would find in his favor because that is what the law said, but they awarded $1 in damages…..
I’m not bothered at all with Dr. Kang’s commentary, even though I don’t buy his opinions.
And his academic position should be protected in the name of academic freedom.
I was very upset about Han’s irrational arguments or whatever.
But I did not insist that Han should be prosecuted for his views that irked a majority of Korean people.
The bottom line: Let both Dr. Kang and Han (or Ji Manwon, Han’s disciple) speak up for whatever they want. It’s entirely within one’s boundary of freedom if he or she calls their name on their blogs. But preosecuting Dr. Kang with a bad code will make a shameful and painful memory for us.
One more thing: I wish I were a badger instead of a gator. You know that badgers are the most intellectual people in the USA.
What some people don’t get is that it’s not about academic freedom and diversity. It’s about educational quality and standards. Professors like this should NOT be subject to legal prosecution on POLITICAL grounds.BUT they should be subject to censure and firing on ACADEMIC grounds. Prof Kang was right in saying “we need to be unemotional and debate the issues on the basis of fact.” It’s time to hold this hypocrite to that standard.
Additionally he could be subject to a civil lawsuit on the grounds of willful slander since there never was a clearer case for slander than besmirching a good man’s reputation based on false unprovable assertions.
I would like to see the McArthur family speak up.
What some people don?t get is that it?s not about academic freedom and diversity. It?s about educational quality and standards.
I wish this was merely an issue about educational freedom and standards.
Unfortunately, the chief of the Korean National Police said during a National Assembly audit that he has advised prosecutors to prosecute Kang for violations of the National Security Law. That’s a criminal offense. And unfortunately, under current laws, he might very well be guilty. I certainly understand arguments that as long as the law is on the books, it should be enforced. But if prosecutors decide to go after Kang for simply expressing views that are unpopular, it will simply highlight the fact that the National Security Law needs to go.
Mizar wrote:Additionally he could be subject to a civil lawsuit on the grounds of willful slander since there never was a clearer case for slander than besmirching a good man?s reputation based on false unprovable assertions.
I would like to see the McArthur family speak up.
Amen and amen. This would be the perfect solution. I would love to hear the professor support his idiotic comments and slander in a court of law and pay hard cash to do so. He should lose money for the slander and his job for the shame that he brings to Donguk University.
But if prosecutors decide to go after Kang for simply expressing views that are unpopular
Well, they’re not just unpopular [and dumb, and dangerous], they’re illegal. And that’s the point. This law is one of the last things that can keep Roh and his Commies in line. I say throw the book at him, and remind the little commie dipshits that bad things can happen when you tout dangerous ideologies. Democracy is not about being weak and “understanding”…
Well, as everybody knows, this is far more fundamental topic than just freedom of speech. Prof. Kang represents 60s student activists who fought military rule and denounced anti-communism. They think NK regime is more “Korean”, whatever that means.
In the core of their belief, these activists are willing to embrace NKs as their brothers and they will work toward Korean unification, even if it is under communist form of government. They envision Chinese or Vietnamese style of government, one party rule.
When the justice department announced the arrest of Kang, these outdated activists are becoming desperate. The attorney general, Chun, ordered DAs not to arrest Kang. Meanwhile, Rep. Moon asked them to go easy on Kang. While this is going on, pres. Rho is announcing civilian forum to decide everything including military, economy, laws and international relation. He is, in fact, destroying the congress and denouncing Korean form of government and Korean constitution.
The end of these student activists is near. Korea has suffered too long under these birdbrained college dropouts. It is time for real professionals to run Korea.
Prof.Kang and his supporters should be put into prison. THAT IS WHAT KOREANS WANT. People have seen enough sick things from these “radical”s. Korean people, not these commies, will rule Korea.
Tens and thousands of Koreans died to save Korea from the tide of Communism. During Korean war, young Koreans gladly gave their lives to keep this country free from Communist rule. They sacrificed their lives so that other Koreans like myself can enjoy freedom and economic prosperity. It was a noble act.
Fifty years later, a jerkoff like Kang dare to say these young people died for nothing? They should have just given up and let Kim IlSung unite the country?
This brain-damaged joker should be burned in the stakes. And, his eyes dug out. Tongue chopped off.
If Prof. Kang thinks that Kim IlSung was correct in starting the Korean War, why doesn’t he just go over to North and join the “rightful” Korean government? Why doesn’t he act on what he believes?
As I wrote before, I respect a real communist for his conviction’s sake. I despise a fake like Kang, who loves to enjoy all the benefits of free market society, yet praises communism as the better form of government.
Like a professed animal lover who eats a double hamburger after “Love Animals” rally, Prof. Kang does not know what is talking about. Or, he is a hypocrite.
“..I would like to see the McArthur family speak up….”
I don’t think there is anyone to do so, at least anyone with any interest in controversial politics.
The widow died several years ago; she was involved in activities that memorialized her husband into the 1980’s, but nothing controversial politically. There was only one son, who would now be in his late 60′ if he is still alive. I gather he is (or was) a completely private person. To my knowledge he has never made a public appearance of any sort. Don’t know if he ever married or had children.
Gen Douglas MacArthur had a brother who was a US naval officer and who died of appendicitis in the 1920’s. There may be descendants on that side of the family. I have a vague impression I have seen one (a nephew or great nephew) appear on TV, but only to make a historical comment for a documentary.
Uh Baduk. I can only commend you for your utter hatred for communist foolishness, but I think that your zeal for justice goes too far. If Korean conservative forces start to use machiavellian logic, end justifies means (and let’s be honest, they’ve been trumpeting this logic and using it as a shield for justifying every single f8k-ups they engaged in since 1950), it gives that much more strength to the credibility to the opposition.
You know, when I was 9 and in Korea, my building janitor ajussi used to warn me never say anthing bad against Chun Doo Hwan, because if I do, “they” will take my parents away. Where would he have gotten this idea from? People in Kwangjoo have every right and reason to distrust the ROK government.
Junggoo’s madness comes from the extreme backlash from the conservative extremism. What better way to throw some cold water into the situation then offer more open access to North Korean information?
The failure of the Sunshine policy isn’t only in that it fails to change DPRK’s behavior, but also in that DPRK has succeeded in giving a filtered message to SK. SK has a responsibility to her citizens to show what DPRK is really about, and what better and fair way then to show case their screwed up media and entertainment? You blare their boring crap 24/7 and the excitement will wear off. But most importantly, people will discuss how utterly idiotic everything over there is==that is, it’s not just an abstraction, but a real idea.
I’m just saying ROK needs an increase of freedom not less, if it’s suppose to join the modern world.
NSL is a case in point. Everyone in Korea assumes that the KCIA, ooops, I mean NIS has more expertise in wire-tapping opposition politicians rather than suspected DPRK agents. There is a whole slew of google hit lists that lists NIS blunderings on this regard. NSL is a double edged sword that is blunt on the side facing Kim Jong Il and razor sharp on the side that is facing ROK citizens.
The quest to put Jungoo behind bars is understandable, but such actions remind me of the emotional madness of Hanchongryun kids then something a rational policy maker would make.