The Marmot said that Dongguk University professor Kang Jeong-koo had already won because of the attention his pro-Kim Il-sung comments had received and their emergence as a political issue before next week’s by-elections.
Kang might be happy but some of his current and former students certainly are not. It seems that Kang might be hurting their job prospects:
A student identified as Lee, who signed up for Kang?????s class last semester, was quoted as saying he worried about his job prospects after seeing a web posting from a Dongguk graduate now working with a large business conglomerate. The graduate said he came across a note cautioning company staff against hiring Dongguk University alumni, Lee told the paper.
I don’t think that Kang should have to serve time for his loony comments (heck, Bruce Cumings writes basically the same kind of drivel all the time and many us Korea-bloggers eagerly link to anything he puts out). I would also like to see Article 7 of the National Security Law amended or scraped*.
On the other hand, if the powers that be at Dongguk where looking for an excuse to can Kang, this news would certainly be it.
*Please note that I do not think that the National Security Law itself should be abolished.
UPDATE: I’ve corrected the spelling of Cumings’ name.
8 Comments
Never mind Professor Kim—what kind of country is it where an employer should care squat about what class a new employee took, aside from how it impacts on his future ability to do his job? OK, yes, most grads aren’t ready to do the job they were hired for, but is the workplace like a dojang where everyone should bow and salute the founder’s grandfather and the flag at the door? These companies have more urgent business to attend to than worry about what their new employees were doing while hungover in college.
This is very important issue for an employer. Many companies do business with the US and Europe. If DdongKug students, who have learned anti-American philosophy from the likes of Kang, get hired, they will have an attitude toward westerners and western companies.
This is and will become more of a problem as these anti-American youths get into Korean workforce. They will exhibit their “attitude” when it is absolutely of no use in business world.
Just like the Billy Joel’s song, “an waitress practicing politics…”(from Piano Player), these students will only create problem for their employers. These youths need to be re-trained in Korean history and in Market economy.
Those companies that have no resources to expand in re-educating these would-be Commies should not hire Ddong university students.
I believe it is “Cumings”, with one “m”.
UP
LOL!
UP
While you’re at it, you might also correct the spelling of “scrapped”.
While you’re at it, put some Cumings work up so we can mock it.
the funny thing about it all is that everyone’s acting so childishly about this. who is actually taking responsibilities for any of this? anybody? and where are the thousands of professors who think otherwise? why aren’t they writing against them? don’t let the fiery public dictate everything.
cuz the young folks in college, where no one apparenly does any work in korea, can believe anything.
This is what I mean by the administration sets the tone in Korea. Many professors are against the birdbrained Kang, but as long as his view(pro-North) is applauded by the present administration very few people will counter Kang.
Koreans are traditionally afraid of speaking out. If they do in the wrong time, they may lose their job and may gain unwanted enemy. They are not as brave as Americans.
But it also tells you something about the future. As soon as the administration changes and more moderate government comes in, anti-American movement will lose steam and likely to be gone from Korea for good.