Comments on: Gov’t Tells US to Speak Carefully

By: EU citizen

EU citizen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:14:38 +0000

As a European citizen I have watched the on going US beef crisis with some bemusement. However I would say that given S.Korea would gain far more from a proposed EU/Kor FTA than that of the US, and equally given the quite biased nature of the current protests I would urge EU citizens to oppose any such deal. Equally I would ask US citizens to oppose the US/Kor FTA. America is big enough, strong enough, and has the resources not to trade with Korea. Quite simply you are giving away the keys to the kingdom.

Americans should also be aware of the fact that the Korean government has already set aside money to make their agricultural sector more ‘competitive’ after the deal is done. There is nothing free or fair about this deal. Hard working Americans will lose out. Why exactly should you act in the benefit of a people that quite clearly detest you.

Show your hand.

By: What’s Wrong With You, Jackson? Don’t You Know Anything About Korean Culture? | The Marmot's Hole

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:03:05 +0000

[...] Kim needs to credit GNP chairman Kang Jae-sup for originating this argument during a June 5 meeting with US ambassador Sandy Vershbow. I’m sure the ambassador had to summon every diplomatic energy in his being not to crack up [...]

By: abcdefg

abcdefg — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:42:56 +0000

A comment such as 85 is nothing but very offensive. “The more people see kyopos for what they are, the better”??

Then again, it’s reflexive. For in its turn it reveals what kind of jackass dogbert really is. Balance indeed.

By: Jeongsoo

Jeongsoo — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:26:38 +0000

A few years back, mad cow was detected in one of the cows in japan. What did the US do? It banned all beef imports from japan.

So, with that, I don’t understand all this controversy with preventing the import of US beef to korea? I can’t believe all you americans are so angry about this? If koreans don’t want US beef, we shouldn’t have to eat it.

Like wise, since this hurts US exports, america should tariff or block the importation of some koreans goods also. Tariff korean cell phones or cars. economically, korea will suffer more.

By: swlee

swlee — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:50:19 +0000

Thanks Scott.
“You folks are so out of touch it’s hilarious.”
too true.
Remember him, Robert?
He was run off this blog too.
Maybe you should take his advice and get out more.

By: globalvillageidiot

globalvillageidiot — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:29:12 +0000

“Is YoungRocco2 trying to stage a comeback?”

I was thinking the same thing.

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:44:10 +0000

PS: I also delete comments is I get requests from particular friends/acquaintances. Philosophically consistent? Nope. But hey, it’s my blog.

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:33:39 +0000

swlee — It might surprise you that the majority of people banned from this site have been anti-Korean (often during regular Korea-Japan flame wars). But then again, I have no intention of justifying who I ban to you.

By: swlee

swlee — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:22:43 +0000

I want to step in here and ask why it is always Koreans that are banned on this site? Isn’t this a site about Korea? Aren’t people here interested in Koreans?
I am constantly chastised here for not thinking like the majority of commenters here, a discourse largely dominated by white males, and a few western educated gyeopos who are let onto the porch.
Pawi, dongguchingu, myself, and many others try to punch above our weight but are unfairly treated.
This sites reputation as an anti-gyeopo site is rapidly being eclipsed by its reputation as an anti-Korean site.
Sure pawi, donggu (and perhaps even myself at times) go too far sometimes, but isnt that human, and shouldnt we let it pass in these excited times. Although the guy was a little rude, he was funny.
If Robert had any principles regarding his philosophical stance, he would remove his ban of donggu and allow a bit of much-needed balance back to this blog.

By: drivebybaeksu

drivebybaeksu — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:02:58 +0000

You folks are so out of touch it’s hilarious. The biggest party of the year and most important social movement of the past two decades here is happening nightly and all you can do is bitch and whine at each other like little girls. Here’s a cut-and-paste description of what’s really happening on the ground in case you’re actually interested or give a fuck:

I was out there at Kwanghwamun again last night (Thursday) and if Korea is ever going to have its “Woodstock” this may be it. There were several large drum circles with like 30 drums, people dancing in the center and hundreds looking on; several other folk-type bands playing Crying Nut or Deli Spice songs (with the odd anti-ChoJoongDong ditty thrown in which was kind of incongruous but whatever); and another band with an accordian player and even a foreign drummer, along with a violinist and guitar player. The mood was much more festive and there was a sense of joy or jouissance as the French say: All the college kids were out in force and mostly in their own circles, either drinking around a fire or even more funny, the girls from women’s schools doing their sort of cute little cheerleader synchronized dancing (”Bring it!”). So there was a variety of people and styles (even quite a few red devils in their glowing red horns) but the dominant mood was much more festive despite the highly decentered assemblage of people, and since they are going through the weekend we’ll see if this turns into a full-scale Woodstock-like cultural event that really flips this society upside-down (it was also notable that the police did nothing to break things up even though about 10,000 people were still occupying Kwanghwamun when I left at 5am). I did meet a cool (Korean) activist/NGO guy and we had a good long talk: I asked him if this was a movement (undong) or revolution (hyongmyong) and he said he had no idea what to make of this thing yet but he seemed rather ambivalent about its future or long-lasting potential as am I (at one point he pointed to people putting anti-gov’t stickers on the police buses and said “They’re just playing, they’re just having fun.”). Anyway, the big day is next Tuesday where they’re hoping for 1 million people; alas, given the dearth of drugs here and seriously crowd rocking bands, any comparisons to Woodstock or true cultural revolution may only be superficial at best. The jury’s still out on this thing.