You hit the nail on the head, IHBB. One of the lessons that should be learned from this is that violent protests are not a mature or constructive way to express one’s views and simple rule of law is the best and least emotional rationale for enforcement. Yet, it’s the highly emotional, subjective, and non-reflective “National Pride” reason that’s being sited to go after, prosecute, and deport Chinese thugs.

I doubt the average Korean will see this as anything more than an excuse to hate yet another foreign group.

Then again, Korean culture is not alone: self-reflection is a virtue in universal short supply.

When I got here twelve years ago, police officers were no more respected or liked than they are now. There is a lack of professionalism and a reputation - much if it, I suspect, deserved - for ineptitude. The Human Rights movement here is not responsible for producing police who would rather take a nap in their cars than solve crimes, ticket traffic violators, etc.

The writer basically says that since even Koreans don’t respect authority figures (ie, the police), how can Koreans expect foreigners to take them seriously?

A fairly obvious point, and one of the numerous detrimental side effects of having a completely out of control protest culture that routinely goes soft on roving bands of violent thugs masquerading as protesters as long as there are “pride” or “human rights” issues at stake. Unions, NGOs, students, truckers, and anyone else that feels they have a grievance are given free reign to treat their opponents and riot police like punching bags without fear of being prosecuted for doing so.

Not to mention the fact that these Chinese punks could have easily learned all they needed to know about violence, thuggery, and physically assaulting those you disagree with by simply sitting in on a session of the Korean National Assembly.

This of course does not excuse the behavior of the Chinese goons and their apologists, but it should give the “outraged” politicians and Korean citizens something to think about considering that they themselves are regularly practicing the exact same tactics against those that they disagree with, and demanding leniency and “understanding” for their own violent behavior to boot.

지난 시절 국가권력은 막가파식 시위대의 발호를 수수방관하고, 이를 막는 경찰의 조치를 오히려 ‘인권 유린’, ‘폭력경찰’로 매도하기까지 했다. 그런 나라에서 ‘공권력 확립’ 운운하는 얘기는 허공을 떠도는 메아리에 불과했다. 한국인이 한국 경찰을 우습게 보는데, 한국 정부가 한국 경찰의 손과 발을 묶어 놓았는데, 외국인이 한국 경찰을 무서워할 이유가 있겠는가. 오히려 무서워하고, 조심하는 사람만 순진하고 무식하다는 소리를 들을 뿐이다.

Unfortunately, he’s right.

I resemble that!

“some students upholding justice”

Again, these paleocoms have no understanding of what makes for institutional democracy. It may have been alright for their red guard parents to seize the apparatus of state and dispense ‘justice’ as they see fit, but they need to be taught that in a democracy, these functions are carried out by the organs of the state in order to prevent such mob rule. Send the buggers back.

Det. “Bunk” Moreland

OFF Topic : Are you getting GTA IV soon?