Brian in Jeolla-do wants an apology for 2002:
Thus, in order to properly normalize relations between cultures, it is proper that South Korea and its level-headed citizens apologize for the ugly behavior exhibited in the aftermath of this accident.
Apologize for attacking foreigners indiscriminately, and for holding all military members accountable for the actions of a few. Apologize for assaulting and discriminating against foreigners who were no more related to the accident than Koreans in the U.S. were to Cho Seung-hui and his massacre on the campus of Virginia Tech.
And apologize for fostering an environment of irrational hate and reckless journalism that still can be seen today and which still threaten its foreign residents.
If South Korea is a nation that truly wishes to accept foreigners, foreign culture, and perhaps most importantly foreign investment, it cannot let its crimes of hate and anger be unaccounted for.
And, if South Korea is a mature, dignified, modern nation, it will not let itself be associated with thuggery and discrimination on par with some of the worst campaigns in recent memory.
As a gesture of good faith in these trying times, South Koreans need to recognize the ugliness and irresponsibility of their actions and make atonement.
Hate, anger, thuggery, threats to foreign citizens… sounds like the Boxer Rebellion. I was going to go to Sinchon to have dinner with a friend tonight, but on second thought, perhaps I should just stay home, fortify my apartment and wait for the Marines to arrive.
Personally, I think reflection is more important than an apology (especially in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy), and frankly, to paraphrase something a friend of mine once said during a discussion about what to do with Charles Robert Jenkins following his release from North Korea, five years of Roh Moo-hyun was punishment enough. At any rate, who would issue such an apology? President Lee? The former Uri Party? Hanchongnyon? OhMyNews? And to whom? USFK? The US government? Korea’s foreign community?
That being said, should it be determined that I, as a member of Korea’s long-suffering foreign community, am due an apology for 2002, I must point out that I will refuse to accept any apology without appropriate compensation. Apologizing parties may contact me by email, and I will be happy to provide you with bank account information so that you may put your troubled consciences at ease.
PS: In the interest of promoting intercommunal harmony, I’m willing to show some flexibility about compensation. If you’d prefer not to make direct cash payments, I’ll graciously accept gifts as long as they offered in the spirit of true reflection and repentance. A Nikon D300, for instance, would go a long way to help relieve the han I’ve built up over a decade. I accept delivery at either my home or office.
37 Comments
Oh, yeah. The xenophobic sentiment as grown to such extent that I fled the country…well, at least until I return after having spent a bit of time with my family back home.
PS. I’ll admit it’s nice being able to watch TV shows that are about how we (Canadians) can make more meaningful contributions to the world as opposed to the constant nationalistic drivel and pop-shlock that passes for TV programming in South Korea.
I am unwilling to accept any hypothetical apology that I already have concluded would be insincere/inadequate!
I insist on getting my tenured position back . . . preferably at the university of my choice, or else the apologetic recompense is surely mere pretense, and therefore insincere.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
I’ll settle for a free trip to the Anma. Oh, that and Pawi giving the appology himself draped in a Chinese flag.
An apology? Please be serious. They don’t even apologize to each other.
Reflection? A country where ‘gag’ comedy is on TV 24/7?
The only thing to take away from this story whole issue is to see how long it takes for the next xenophobic issue(i.e. something that includes the US, Japan, English teacher, or global business)that manages to capture the imagination of Korea’s unemployed, underpaid, easy influenced, and politically motivated minions.
My bet: Korean athlete throws temper tantrum at ‘08 Olympics after getting ‘SCREWED’…News at 11.
lo
before accepting any apologies from koreans how about giving some for the treatment of colonized indigenous peoples all over the world and african-americans back home.
the only reason those folks had any civil right afforded them was after years of tireless protest and in many cases- sacrifice of life!
yet when foreigners (i.e sorry to say it but “white” folks) first experience a semblance of racism and prejudice in korea (which is something endemic in human society) they cry and moan but don’t do the hard work.
i don’t usually get emotional with posts but shit man if you want an apology at least go and work for your cause and not sit on your fat ass typing juvenile complaints on a blog.
go march and go do something.
Dear Brian:
I, A Pawikirogi, wish to apologize on behalf of all Koreans around the world for the suffering you have had to endure in South Korea.
I apologize for giving you the kinds of girlfriends you could never get here. I apologize for giving you a job. I apologize for giving you a place to stay. I apologize for giving you friends who, per your request, have exclusively been female. Heck, I’ll even apologize for 911 since you are you, Bri.
I hope these apologies will soothe your heart and bring you back to loving us once again. Please allow me to contribute funds to help you pay for medication and any possible therapy.
I wish you well, Brain.
Sincerely
Adolph Kirogi
General Adjunct to the 민족
#5: Just wait until the Paul Yoo/Lone Star verdict comes down from the appeals court next Tuesday. Smart money says it’ll throw out the previous guilty verdict (at least for the serious charges).
I realize that this opinion column was probably written with a bit of irony in mind, but still…
What a Deutschbag.
“yet when foreigners (i.e sorry to say it but “white” folks) first experience a semblance of racism and prejudice in korea (which is something endemic in human society) they cry and moan but don’t do the hard work.”
Americans work very hard, and the statistics bear this out. Koreans may work long hours, but statistics show that they are much less productive and quality standards are generally lower.
According to the International Labour Organisation, the United States is the only country in the industrialised world where working hours are increasing, and US workers also lead the world in terms of productivity.
According to the 2008 OECD Factbook, despite having the longest working hours of the OECD nations, its $23,000 GDP remains far below the OECD average of $31,468. S Koreans work 580 more hours yet earn $8,430 less.
According to China Trade In Services, South Korea’s labor productivity in accounting, consulting, design and other business-related service sectors lags far behind the United States and other advanced nations (about 1/3). Korea remains far behind the ranks of the developed economies.
The National Statistical Office (NSO) said that using Korea’s labor productivity in these sectors as a baseline set at 100 in 1985, the country’s output in the business-supporting service sectors stood at 287.3 in 2005, substantially lower than the United States’ 1,012.7.
Although the Korean govt officials often state that this lag is due to the emphasis on manufacturing, while the labor productivity in the manufacturing sector increased to 702.7 in 2005, it was substantially lower than 1,745.2 in the United States and 1,274.5 in Japan.
“yet when foreigners (i.e sorry to say it but “white” folks) first experience a semblance of racism and prejudice in korea (which is something endemic in human society) they cry and moan.”
No, racism and prejudice is not endemic in human society. That is what is known as a hasty generalization. I’d like to see some substantiation of the argument. In the US, where racism was formerly a greater problem than elsewhere in the world, it is now nearly extinguished. No nation is perfect, but some nations have worked hard toward perfecting themselves, and the US is world leader in terms of social and racial tolerence.
Of course, that is to be expected, as the nation was founded on the very principle of equality. The same cannot be said of Korea, which is arguably founded on the cultural notion of exclusivity.
The reason Westerners are sensitive to Korean racism is not that they are whiners, but because they come from nations in which racism is culturally unacceptable, and they believe this to be a universal moral principle.
Koreans appear to want to excuse their societal evils due to their very special culture. However, nobody is buying this; it’s far too transparent.
Prejudice, wherever it exists is evil. That’s the bottom line that whitey is preaching, having a solid record of social progress to support him/her.
I think the ‘hard work’ she was referring to was:
“years of tireless protest and in many cases- sacrifice of life!”
and
“go march and go do something.”
Pawi can write satire. It didn’t make me laugh, but it was cute.
“No, racism and prejudice is not endemic in human society. That is what is known as a hasty generalization. I’d like to see some substantiation of the argument.”
Um… the fact that it existed in human history as far back as people realized they could write stuff down and all the way up to mid-late 20th century? I mean, it’s 6000 years of that crap that we know of in the world vs. last 30~40 years in U.S. I’d say that’s a pretty convincing argument.
“Um… the fact that it existed in human history as far back as people realized they could write stuff down and all the way up to mid-late 20th century? I mean, it’s 6000 years of that crap that we know of in the world vs. last 30~40 years in U.S. I’d say that’s a pretty convincing argument.”
Dead right. Racism is endemic in all uncultivated human society.
#15-16 —
“…racism and prejudice is … something endemic in human society”
You just proved Mizar5’s point. North Americans generally don’t BELIEVE this to be the case, or at least that it doesn’t have to be the case (At least #16 used “uncultivated”).
Korean’s do believe it. That is the difference. They think it will always be that way and that they are always on the losing end of it. And when it happens to you white/black English teacher, no it isn’t bad, it isn’t wrong. No, no, you experience racism because it MUST be that way (translation: “Understand Korean culture”). Oh, no, there’s nothing to say sorry for; after all, race and racism is at the core of human nature.
yet when foreigners (i.e sorry to say it but “white” folks) first experience a semblance of racism and prejudice in korea (which is something endemic in human society) they cry and moan but don’t do the hard work.
i don’t usually get emotional with posts but shit man if you want an apology at least go and work for your cause and not sit on your fat ass typing juvenile complaints on a blog.
go march and go do something.
That’ll be an exciting thing and I’ve been saying this for years also. What we need is waeguk uprising happening in Korea. What we need is a white guy in hanbok stepping up to the plate and fulfilling his destiny as the Al Sharpton of the expats.
To ask for ‘reflection’, as the poster suggested, would have no effect. Protesting something by saying ‘Please reflect on this’ just doesn’t work.
Asking for an apology is stronger, and stronger statements go a lot farther. That’s why ‘extreme’ elements are often needed to move protests along, even if most of the protesters don’t agree with them. Personally, I don’t disagree with the sentiment of the article, though I don’t see what effect it will have in English.
And speaking of foreigners in Korea crying foul over every racist act we see…that’s just what non-whites do in the U.S. as well, and it has had a fair amount of success.
“Oh, no, there’s nothing to say sorry for; after all, race and racism is at the core of human nature.”
That’s quite an extrapolation from what I’ve said. I wonder if all the behavioral psychologists and evolutionary sociologists in the world are not North Americans. I’d say there are too many assumptions being made in your part concerning what I want to say… which seems to be the general trend around here of late.
“Korean’s do believe it. That is the difference. They think it will always be that way and that they are always on the losing end of it.”
Like I said before, thank God some of you were born when you were born and not 20~30 years earlier. I wouldn’t want you guys to lose faith in U.S. as well.
“Pawi can write satire. It didn’t make me laugh, but it was cute.”
You mean . . . it wasn’t sincere? (splutter) I demand another apology. Whenn I say “another,” I don’t mean to imply that the first apology was sincerely an apology. For an apology to be an apology, it must be sincere. Therefore, I’m really just asking for an apology. A first real one. A sincere one. An apology.
If I don’t get an apology, I warn you that I will demand one again . . . and you don’t want that!
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Robert, your destiny awaits…
As soon as somebody can figure out the money angle, this will be a reality…
Expats don’t make up enough people to be a consumer force — from which you can shake businesses or sectors of the economy down.
They aren’t unified enough to provide a goodly sized pocket of cash in membership dues.
They don’t really have any muscle - beyond the internet and editorial writing — along with Korea’s hypersensitivity to negative press…..
……if you can figure out how that can generate money — and how it might be possible for one “leader” to get a his hands on a fair portion of it —- we might get such a leader….
……then, he’ll get deported…..
As soon as somebody can figure out the money angle, this will be a reality…
Actions speak louder than apologies, especially apologies in a nation where people apologize all the time for things that aren’t their fault and w/o sincerity. Don’t ask for a worthless apology; point out to Koreans how utterly irrational and infantile those who are engaging in the protests and anti-Americanism are. They ought to understand shame on some level. Or maybe not.
fulfilling his destiny as the Al Sharpton of the expats
Now that will be a sight to see!
“And, if South Korea is a mature, dignified, modern nation”
You’ve been here how long, Brian?
“An apology? Please be serious. They don’t even apologize to each other.
Reflection? A country where ‘gag’ comedy is on TV 24/7?
The only thing to take away from this story whole issue is to see how long it takes for the next xenophobic issue(i.e. something that includes the US, Japan, English teacher, or global business)that manages to capture the imagination of Korea’s unemployed, underpaid, easy influenced, and politically motivated minions.
My bet: Korean athlete throws temper tantrum at ‘08 Olympics after getting ‘SCREWED’…News at 11.”
I have to agree 95%. My only point of contention is with describing Korea’s minions as “underpaid”. For their work output, they are making too much money….
The burning question for now is, just WHICH Olympic event will provide the spark to throw Korea into a frenzy of indignation…..
Look, when in Korea, do as Koreans do! Right? At least that’s what Koreans and some foreigners say anyway. Koreans do this, now a foreigners is being like a Korean!
Besides, it’s ok for everyone except “white” people to be racist.
Korea is a good example of this.
It’s ok to put up NO FOREIGNERS/AMERICANS signs, but it’s not ok to put NO KOREAN signs. Don’t you people get that.
How many Koreans have seen NO KOREANS signs in the US in the last four decades? I’m sure there are many examples.
Victimhood is a beautiful thing!!!
#28 “The burning question for now is, just WHICH Olympic event will provide the spark to throw Korea into a frenzy of indignation…..
My guesses would be archery, gymnastics, tae kwon do, or judo. (In other words, the only events they have any history of doing well in.) A Chinese archery conspiracy anyone?
#29 - “How many Koreans have seen NO KOREANS signs in the US in the last four decades?”
None, but I saw a “Koreans only” sign (written in Korean) in Vancouver eight or nine years ago. Don’t think this is the norm for Korean-Canadians or Korean expats in Canada, but I remember it really annoying me at the time. My Korean wife-to-be wasn’t impressed either, but I still managed to bitch about it long and loud enough to piss her off for the rest of the day!
You know, I do not really give a rat’s ass if Koreans hate “Whitey.” But if they are going to hate “Whitey” then it would behove them to stop using “Whitey” for their own protection. It would behove them to let “Whitey’s” military, along with all the bells and whistles that goes with it, GO HOME. It would behove them to stand up and act like adults.
Just a thought.
‘The reason Westerners are sensitive to Korean racism is not that they are whiners, but because they come from nations in which racism is culturally unacceptable, and they believe this to be a universal moral principle.’
a bullshit lie. if the expat wasn’t the object of mild racism in korea, he wouldn’t be saying anything about it. all you need to do is look to japan for that; the japanese are horribly racist to third world peoples plus koreans but you don’t hear ‘whitey’ whinning about that, do you? universal moral principle? good to see king done took care of that.
don’t fool youself. america’s racial harmony came about because white america really had no choice. that’s what happens when your population is 30% minority.
Pawi loves my posts. He loves to prentend indication at the hard facts by labling them “bullshit lies.”
Ad hominem arguments exhausted, he then floats the lioe that there is are foreign criticisms about Japan. Apparantly, he’s never spoken with Tom Coyner.
there are a couple million foreigners in the us that want the same thing koehler
bumfromkorea, about racism and prejudice supposedly being “endemic in human society: “Um… the fact that it existed in human history as far back as people realized they could write stuff down and all the way up to mid-late 20th century? I mean, it’s 6000 years of that crap that we know of in the world vs. last 30~40 years in U.S. I’d say that’s a pretty convincing argument.”
No, that’s a logical fallacy, for the same reason that investors are notified that past performance is no indication of future results. The argument willfully ignores the fact of progress, the dynamicism of culture. The brutish behavior that was commonplace in the middle ages, treatment of women as property, child labor, witch burning, slavery religious persecution - none of these things are culturally abhorant today although they arguably existed for the greater part of mankind’s history. It has been noted that the pace of change over the past 30 - 40 years has far exceedeed that of the past.
Ray Kurzweil writes about the accelerating pace of technological chanve in “The Law of Accelerating Returns”. This has obviously had a cultural impact:
“An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-sense “intuitive linear” view. So we won’t experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century — it will be more like 20,000 years of progress (at today’s rate). The “returns,” such as chip speed and cost-effectiveness, also increase exponentially. There’s even exponential growth in the rate of exponential growth. Within a few decades, machine intelligence will surpass human intelligence, leading to The Singularity — technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history. The implications include the merger of biological and nonbiological intelligence, immortal software-based humans, and ultra-high levels of intelligence that expand outward in the universe at the speed of light.”
“My guesses would be archery, gymnastics, tae kwon do, or judo. (In other words, the only events they have any history of doing well in.) A Chinese archery conspiracy anyone?”
Korea got their asses handed to them on the 2007 Taekwondo world cup.
It’s especially bad when they cheat in international domestic tournaments
“My guesses would be archery, gymnastics, tae kwon do, or judo. (In other words, the only events they have any history of doing well in.) A Chinese archery conspiracy anyone?”
Korea got their asses handed to them on the 2007 Taekwondo world cup.
It’s especially bad when they cheat in international domestic tournaments