So, what DO young Europeans think of first when they think of Korea?

by Robert Koehler on January 18, 2012

in Korean Culture, North Korea, South Korea

Sadly, according to a poll by KOTRA, it’s not K-pop or kimchi.

It’s North Korea.

Which brings us to something Tweeted by friend and former collegue Elizabeth Shim:

So where’s South Korea in the Top 10 Amazon bestsellers in the Korea category? All about N Korea and the Korean War: link

As I’ve said (and Tweeted) 1,000 times, one of the reasons I hate North Korea most is that it has stolen attention away from the Korea that did everything (mostly) right. Seoul engineers one of the greatest socio-economic miracles of the 20th century, and the media focuses its attention on the auto-genocidal douchebags on the other side of the DMZ.

Tagged as: K-pop, Korean Wave

{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

1 CactusMcHarris January 18, 2012 at 1:19 pm: ‘auto-genocidal douchebags’

That says it all (and says it well), but it gives the rest of us douches* a bad name. I would have thought kimchi or Kpop, too.

*aging liberal hippy douche
2 red sparrow January 18, 2012 at 1:26 pm: Simpe fact: bombastic threats about turning the sky into a sea of fire or nuclear annihilation trump k-pop. And kimchi is an acquired taste.
3 Mryouknowwho January 18, 2012 at 2:00 pm: That’s okay. When Europeans think of America, they probably think of

1) warmongering
2) cheerleaders
3) Mickey Mouse
4 Wedge January 18, 2012 at 2:18 pm: Couple of things: 1) Americans don’t really care what Euros, or anyone else, think of America; and 2) most journos I know based here are sick of North Korea, since articles on that dystopian Disneyland are about the only thing their editors publish. Never mind the incredible success story of this place, there’s a whacked-out starving death cult across the border.
5 Brendon Carr January 18, 2012 at 3:04 pm: Americans don’t really care what Euros, or anyone else, think of America…

This is not true. You seem to have forgotten all about how America was failing “the global test” in 2004 and 2008, a deficiency remedied only by the election of one Barack Hussein Obama. Now the world loves America, because of him. Democrats care profoundly what Europeans think of America, for some reason.

Unless, of course, you’re thinking they’re not real Americans. I’m with you there, pal.
6 Wedge January 18, 2012 at 3:41 pm: They told me that if I voted for John McCain the world would continue hating America, and they were right. [Apologies to Glenn Reynolds]
7 wiessej January 18, 2012 at 3:48 pm: Robert wrote:

“As I’ve said (and Tweeted) 1,000 times, one of the reasons I hate North Korea most is that it has stolen attention away from the Korea that did everything (mostly) right. Seoul engineers one of the greatest socio-economic miracles of the 20th century, and the media focuses its attention on the auto-genocidal douchebags on the other side of the DMZ.”

Robert, you can’t do much to influence eons of the evolution of human behavior. In many ways, bad is good…and good isn’t interesting enough to take notice.

Who’s contributions have got more front page news Pol Pot, or Paul Potts? What do people talk about more, Economic Collapse of Economic Recovery? What is a crowd of people more likely to crowd around and see, a building imploded or a tree (even a forest) being planted. What are some people here more likely to write in response to another person’s post – a snide comment, or the elaboration of a fairly good intellectual position?

Unfortunately, people tend not to want to view the world like that feel-good 1970′s Coke commercial, with apple trees and honey bees
and snow white turtle doves.

It’s unfortunate that long ago, the world didn’t pull down the shades on North Korea, turn off the lights, lock the doors, and leave them a note telling them to give us a call whenever they felt like rejoining the human race in a productive way. It’s a shame that some people still don’t want to do that. North Korea has been like that big baby that holds its breath until it gets what it wants – and it has kept people’s attention. Too bad.
8 hoju_saram January 18, 2012 at 7:28 pm: Couple of things: 1) Americans don’t really care what Euros, or anyone else, think of America;

Is this a sheepish admission or a boast? If it’s the latter you’re an infant.

Now the world loves America, because of him. Democrats care profoundly what Europeans think of America, for some reason.

Unless, of course, you’re thinking they’re not real Americans. I’m with you there, pal.

Real Americans sound like cunts. I rather like the other sort.
9 Granfalloon January 18, 2012 at 7:33 pm: Corpus linguistics tells us that in the entire English language, the word most frequently collocated with “Korea” is “North.” Ditto for “Korean” (number two: “War”).

That might change, though, if you tweak the parameters to exclude journalism and mass media.
10 Granfalloon January 18, 2012 at 7:35 pm: Oh, wait. Sorry. I think “War” might be number 1 for “Korean.” Maybe I’ll double check later. Going from memory now.
11 doctoroh January 18, 2012 at 7:36 pm: Real Amercian, as in ‘Real Men don’t eat quiche’?
12 hoju_saram January 18, 2012 at 7:46 pm: Real Amercian, as in ‘Real Men don’t eat quiche’?

I think it’s more along the lines of Real Americans Don’t Speak French.
13 doctoroh January 18, 2012 at 8:33 pm: Thank Christ for that
14 Brand One Car January 18, 2012 at 9:39 pm: Real men don’t eat quimche.