Monthly Archives: December 2006

Foreign teacher sacrificed to the Dokdo gods

I guess many of us saw this coming.  Gerry Bevers at Occidentalism has been fired:
For those who are interested, I was informed by E-mail on December 23rd that my university, where I have worked for the past six years, would not be rehiring me as an English instructor.

The email notice that Gerry received stated that his views [...]

For Once, Seoul City Is Right

It was too good to be true and, once again, the Roh administration proves this to be true in Seoul. What was promised to be a park and wonderful greenspace for Seoul City has been tagged as a site for development, i.e., commercial and residential space that has a park. As per previous discussion [...]

They should have shown them some Lee Hyo Ri videos

Two North Korean solders who were rescued by the South Korean navy on December 9 were sent back home Wednesday per their request.

Uri finally breaks up

Like many people who have been following Korean politics, I have known for a while that Our Open Party (Uri) would not last.  To be specific, I having been saying that the party would break up by the end of 2007 since at least May of 2006.
Of course, it did not take a genius reading [...]

Bribing Etiquette

Noting to do with Korea specifically, but worth mentioning since the topic comes up in Korea frequently…
This weeks edition of the Economist has a fascinating look at the culture of corruption. What is said, what is done, etc. I will always remember the line from an immigration official while looking though my passport and the [...]

New York Times on the joy of Korean saunas

Korean-style sauna-spas, or jjimjilbang, are apparently getting a following in the United States. Check out the feature on Korean saunas in the Fashion and Style section of the New York Times, although if you live in Korea, I doubt you’d find any of it particularly new.

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(MUST READ) B.R. Myers on why South Korea continues to give

B.R Myers has penned an absolutely brilliant op-ed for the WSJ’s Opinion Journal on why South Korea is soft on North Korea—it’s the ideology, stupid. Be sure to read it in its entirety (it’s short, anyway). Here’s is some of what to expect:
This support [from South Korea to the North] is not meant [...]

(MUST READ) The life of Peter Chang

Retired Korean-American Navy man Peter Chang passed away on Nov. 28 at the age of 103.
The Mercury News has a great write-up on this fascinating man.

Roh bitchfest continues

This has gone way past pathetic.
And that’s all I care to say about it.
It makes me sick to think we might be looking at 12 more months of this.

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So, I gather he was upset at the cops, then

Money Today is reporting that a U.S. soldier is being charged after he paid an unexpected visit to an Itaewon police station to assault the police officers investigating some USFK buddies of his.
Or so he is accused.
According to prosecutors, 22-year-old Pvt. D. dropped in on the police station in Itaewon on Nov. 11 after hearing [...]

Tanks a lot

Everything you wanted to know about ROKA tanks but were afraid to ask.

So, you wanna seduce a Japanese woman, eh?

If you’re having trouble scoring with the J-girls, MyNippon has posted some helpful hints on how to get into the pants of the Japanese woman of your dreams. Take notes, children:
Since Japanese women do not typically admit that they wanted ‘IT,’ you have to help them believe it by coordinating events in a manner [...]

No More Snacks . . .

Hwang Hye-sung, master chef of Joseon Dynasty royal cuisine and Intangible Cultural Property No. 38, died Friday (Dec. 15). She was 86.

New Jersey Gets Competition

Residents of East Gyeongju burned used tires at a street market in Yangbuk village yesterday to demand that the headquarters of the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Corporation be relocated to their village. - Photo and caption, Dec. 26, 2006 Joonang Daily
Imagine that chamber of commerce meeting: “OK to prove we have a nice clean [...]

GTA and Neil Diamond

Daily Life Notes: a) The more I play GTA: San Andreas, the more I’m convinced it’s the most brilliant game ever produced; b) I’ve got Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man” stuck in my head. Must be the trombones.

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The Dalai Lama: an Ethnic Grievance Pimp?

Interesting look (from 1999) at the Dalai Lama:
Whatever feet of clay Gandhi, King, and Mandela might have had in real life, these three icons were or are genuine integrationists. In this respect, the Dalai Lama has hardly anything in common with any of them. The Dalai Lama is, if anything, closer to militant separatist oriented [...]

It’s official: President Roh is a tool

President Roh is saying he won’t be anyone’s doormat.
Note to President: Too late. You already are.
Seriously, even I think the guy has been treated unfairly in some respects, but it doesn’t help matters that you have to cringe each and every time he opens his mouth. This mess with Goh Kun is only [...]

Busan Nine in KT

The fun in Busan has made the Korea Times, although I’m not sure if “Expats Risk Expulsion for Satire” was the best headline that could have been chosen.

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The Grinch that Stole the Songnyeonghoe

I would have loved to have been at the Ministry of Gender Equality when this idea got approved:
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is giving away cash and gift certificates to men who pledge not to frequent hostess bars for their year-end parties.
The ministry has been holding the event, which ends today, on [...]

Meet an Ass-hat

All this holiday time has given me a chance to crack more of my Lone Star research to give something coherent for you all on the issue. However today I stumbled on a piece of reporting that gets an Ass-hat award.
I present you the writing of the Korean Time’s Kim Jae-Kyoung on September 16, [...]

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