Comments on: Ask the Korean Dude

By: dda

dda — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:05:09 +0000

Still be better than the answers to questions that weren’t even asked by *la* Docteur Hilty, in Streetwise…

By: seouldout

seouldout — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:07:20 +0000

Ask the Korean Dude? (Korean dudes?! Is there such a thing?) I’d rather see “Ask the Pretend Korean Guy” so that Joh…er..Park Tae Ji…er…Kushibo could continue to weigh in. “Ask the Foreign Moonie” could also be entertaining.

By: kushibo

kushibo — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 22:03:59 +0000

Setnaffa, the protestors are predominantly part of chinbo groups that are, at heart, getting their cues from pro-Pyongyang sources. They operate on a paradigm that is decidedly anti-Washington, anti-Tokyo, anti-Seoul (as in the sense of being opposed to whatever government is in power), anti-capitalist/corporate, and pro-class struggle. The anti-US and anti-Japan protests are only two parts of an overall picture, but since they are typical types of protests mentioned in the English-speaking K-blogosphere, one can easily get the impression that they are pretty much the protests.

As for the US hegemony, that is not unique to Korea. Europeans, even US allies, talk about the same thing. The rest of East Asia, including some Japanese students, talk about the same thing.

And I think you’re right that many in the younger generation don’t understand dictators and how this all works. South Koreans suffer from threat fatigue. Most South Koreans have lived their entire lives with the very real possibility of being obliterated within 48 hours by an antagonist to the north, and they take a very dim view of anyone who ratchets up tensions and thus makes an attack on Seoul more likely: Pyongyang is always doing that, with or without missile launches, but “axis of evil” comments combined with invasion of members of said “axis of evil,” or discussions of pre-emptive attacks by supposedly pacifist countries are easily seen as adding to the risk by a large degree.

By: setnaffa

setnaffa — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:20:18 +0000

I have a serious question: Why do protestors blame the USA for (seemingly) everything? Why don’t Koreans develop a collective backbone and take responsibility for their own actions? Case in point, the so-called “IMF Crisis” was a result of Koreand chaebol leaders bribing government officials to pressure banks into making bad loans. Why aren’t the people responsible in prison? All I hear from young Koreans in the States is drivel about a “US Hegemony”.

Similarly, are South Koreans really more afraid of North Korean missiles and artillery or cheap labor after reunification? I hear people talking about how the US (really the UN) by helping defend South Korea against North Korean aggression prevented Kim Il Sung from unifying the Penninsula; but not about how the Chinese invasion in late 1950 did the same thing.

I think the younger generation doesn’t understand war, dictators, or freedom. I think that those willing to let their country be disgraced are indeed, as Alexander Hamilton said, ready for, and deserving of, a master.

I wish a lot better for South Korea; but if they don’t change quickly, they’ll have unification, Pyongyang style, complete with death camps and executions of dissidents all over the country…

By: sanshinseon

sanshinseon — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 13:56:19 +0000

I subscribe to one pay-discussion-site, The WELL, because
it’s worth it. This site would be worth some cash to me…

BTW, I did subscribe to SEOUL, sent my money in a month ago.
No July issue has arrived yet. Who can i e-mail about THAT?

By: dda

dda — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 11:26:07 +0000

To read it? Maybe not. But to comment on it and slug mud at each others? You bet!

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 09:13:05 +0000

Yeah, like anyone would actually pay to read my tripe.

By: dogbertt

dogbertt — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 09:07:32 +0000

I had been meaning to tell you that at least one Thai restaurant in Itaewon still gives out your mag for free. Unless they secretly snuck it on my credit card…

I suppose it’s only a matter of time before Robert makes this a paysite.

By: shakuhachi

shakuhachi — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 08:43:45 +0000

How about an “ask a white dude in a hanbok” column?

I would be more interested in asking questions of a guy like that. Korean guys are always offering their opinions for free, anyway.

By: aletheia

aletheia — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 08:31:47 +0000

I had been meaning to tell you that at least one Thai restaurant in Itaewon still gives out your mag for free. Unless they secretly snuck it on my credit card…