Odds and Ends

by Robert Koehler on November 3, 2009

Looks like from 2012, all fuzzy foreigners — and even not-so-fuzzy foreigners — will be fingerprinted and photographed. Says a Ministry of Justice official, “We think the new policy does not necessarily discriminate against foreigners. Koreans are also required to provide their fingerprints and personal information when they apply for resident registration cards at the age of 17.”
More “Korean Wave in North Korea” news. Why does this sound odd to me? “‘It’s silly to say North Koreans are so naive that they think South Korean dramas represent actual life in South Korea. They know it’s entertainment,’ said Simon Cockerell, the general manager of Koryo Tours in Beijing, which leads tour groups to North Korea.”
The JoongAng Ilbo looks at the various proposals to combat sexual offenses against children.
Dongguk University is calling Yale out for playing low with the media.
Matt VanVolkenburg — yes, that Matt VanVolkenburg — tries to put foreign sex crime stats into context. A small point: I can’t really say that banning foreigners found guilty of raping Korean children from re-entering Korea is a bad thing (not that he says it is, of course), even if it fails to put foreign crime rates into context.
Korean rice beer, or makgeolli, is apparently making a comeback. And it’s good for you: “Dr. Lee Dong-ho at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital says drinking makgeolli is as good as taking a nutritious supplement, except that it is an alcoholic drink.”
Interesting story about a Zambian kid who just got into Seoul National University.

{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

1 dda November 3, 2009 at 2:21 pm: Koreans are also required to provide their fingerprints and personal information when they apply for resident registration cards at the age of 17.

Resident registration card?!?!
2 JW November 3, 2009 at 3:22 pm: What do you mean except that it’s an alcoholic drink? Doesn’t he know that moderate consumption of alcohol is good for the heart???
3 Granfalloon November 3, 2009 at 4:17 pm: I totally agree with Mr. VanVolkenburg. In fact, I said the same damn thing a year and a half ago on this very website (comment #28):

So my hat is off to Mr. VanVolkenburg, for saying it in a far more public forum.
4 Granfalloon November 3, 2009 at 4:20 pm: Sorry. Must have had some sloppy code. Let’s try that again:
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/15/one-in-10-drug-smugglers-a-foreign-english-teacher/
5 dda November 3, 2009 at 5:30 pm: @JW Alcohol brings a slew of problems, and for some people alcohol is an absolute no-no…
6 Darth Babaganoosh November 3, 2009 at 6:38 pm: JW, not all alcohol has the health benefits of, say, a daily red wine.
7 Jim_Kim November 3, 2009 at 8:15 pm: Vanvolkenwolfsteinburg’s stats are what we would expect. The claim made by politicians and pundits that foreign sex crimes are such an incredible problem reminds me of most of the scholarly research I read here – emotional assertions before facts and actual research.
8 tmc1233 November 3, 2009 at 9:15 pm: I’m still trying to figure out the apparent outrage at waygooks when the case in Ansan was a Korean guy.
9 CactusMcHarris November 3, 2009 at 11:26 pm: Thanks for the information about the Zambian kid – good on the young man.
10 pawikirogii November 4, 2009 at 1:50 am: ‘Why does this sound odd to me?’

it sounded odd to me too, but look who he works for. in that context, his
statement makes perfect sense.
11 Mizar5 November 4, 2009 at 3:05 am: Nice article, Matt.
12 Granfalloon November 4, 2009 at 9:47 am: tmc1233:
Not sure I follow. Do you suppose foreigners should only feel outraged when something horrendous is done by a foreigner?
13 setnaffa November 4, 2009 at 10:00 am: Just gotta love Weird Al… http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/393094
14 WangKon936 November 4, 2009 at 10:02 am: Yeah, but Weird Al is from Lynwood, CA…

The Canadians can’t have him dammit!
15 rmeurant November 4, 2009 at 10:20 am: S Korea taxi drivers can watch TV

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8339680.stm
16 Granfalloon November 4, 2009 at 10:50 am: tmc1233:
Re-read your comment. Misread the first time. I understand. My apologies.
17 PineForest November 5, 2009 at 7:33 am: I’m wondering why this is considered news. I first went to Korea in 1995 and I was summarily fingerprinted; a photocopy of my passport also went in with my visa app package if I recall correctly. So this is nothing new.
18 vince November 5, 2009 at 12:51 pm: North Korea story: As a longtime peace activist and progressive, Christine Ahn was used to being on the ideological fringe. But even she wasn’t prepared to be red-baited and called a supporter of dictatorship. http://www.eastbayexpress.com/news/understanding_north_korea/Content?oid=1224351
19 vince November 5, 2009 at 12:53 pm: One Free Korea. A post entitled “The Alternative Reality of Christine Ahn” criticized her viewpoint, labeled her a “North Korean apologist,” and detailed facts about her life and her beliefs. Ahn was creeped out. “I mean it was so freaky to have this ten-page article about me,” she said.
20 vince November 5, 2009 at 1:08 pm: From the article: “The ongoing US military occupation of South Korea…” Egads. Such a poor choice of words I may not bother to read the rest… “The ongoing US military presence in South Korea” is more acceptable.