And in the News…

by Robert Koehler on September 8, 2008

North Korea is reportedly breaking IAEA seals at Yongbyon. Nope, sorry, don’t care.
President Lee will express regret tomorrow for perceived religious bias against Buddhists. Mike Breen had an interesting column on this matter. Frankly, the last time we had a Presbyterian elder in Cheong Wa Dae was not a particularly good time for Korean Buddhism, so I understand the concern, but at the same time, the Buddhist are making it difficult for me to take their protests seriously by exaggerating the offense caused so far by LMB and Co.
Nothing is healthier for a democracy than politicizing the intelligence services.
What? Government-driven city construction not based on business feasibility is likely to fail?
Korea’s blind masseuses want the government to protect their legal monopoly on the profession.
Sorry, but I get a chuckle when the Chosun Ilbo pens editorials about the corruption of the Roh administration.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

1 jean September 8, 2008 at 1:34 pm: If you are implying Rhee Syngman was the last Presbytarian elder to occupy Cheongwadae then you would be wrong as it was Yoon Boseon who renamed the building used as the presidential palace and know as Geongmudae to Cheongwadae in 1960. Gyeong mudae has since moved on to that big pile of rubble in the sky. I can’t remember why, but then , I’m not that interested in either of these two dudes.
Check out this site.
2 Robert Koehler September 8, 2008 at 1:58 pm: You’re right, if I were implying Rhee Syngman was the last Presbytarian elder to occupy Cheongwadae, I’d be wrong. I wasn’t, however, so I’m not:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Young_Sam

It’s OK — I, too, try to forget as best I can that Kim YS was president.
3 jean September 8, 2008 at 2:17 pm: My mistake. When I think of “Presbytarian elder president” Rhee Syngman is at the top of my list.

Kim youngsam represents a lot of other things to me. however, I identify Lee Myoungbak with religious looney so I guess I shouldn’t rely on my own brain so much.

I see you gave a link to Frank’s site, but the theory that Buddhism suffered particularly under the Kim Youngsam is strange.

In fact, a libelous allegation, simply libelous.
4 michael September 8, 2008 at 4:41 pm: The blind masseurs thing keeps going on and on…is it one of those “only in Korea” deals or do other countries have similar arrangements?
5 Mizar5 September 8, 2008 at 9:32 pm: “the Buddhist are making it difficult for me to take their protests seriously by exaggerating the offense caused so far by LMB and Co.”

They lost their credibility with me a long time ago for their unrigorous thinking and blind locstep obedience to the jingoistic left wing. These are antithetical to Buddhism. It is not 2MB who has betrayed Buddhism in Korea; it is a self-betrayal of the basest kind.
6 soondae September 8, 2008 at 11:02 pm: The blind masseuse thing goes beyond korea to at least Taiwan.