Korea Blog Aggregator
Just a feed of some of my favorite (mostly) Korea-related blogs.
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» North Korean Suds
North Korean scientists are diversifying. Not only are the busy in secret labs building nuclear weapons to obliterate their neighbors if a conflict arises, they’re also concocting refreshing, delicious beer with a ‘unique scent and fresh taste’. Check out this rather capitalist looking TV commercial for Taedonggang Beer. Any of you Koreaphiles that want to provide a translation, that would be much appreciated. Of course, there’s the fact that nobody in North Korea can actually afford to drink this, but … [Link]
Brian in Jeollanam-do » A trip to Busan's Chinatown.
Last weekend I took a trip to sunny, funny Busan and was talked into doing something other than playing on Haeundae Beach. We paid a visit to Busan's Chinatown, located across the street from Busan Station and accessible via exit 1 of the subway stop of the same name. There are four gates at each entrance. Here's one, with a second one visible at the other end of the street. There's some information in what might be described as English … [Link]
Korea Beat » Lee Myung-bak: “Uh… Yummy”
President Lee dropped in for a conference at a high school in Wonju on the 3rd and ate lunch with the students afterward. [Link]
Korea Beat » Chosun Ilbo Finds Two Unqualified Teachers
Read it and weep, folks. Chosun.com research has uncovered a case where a foreigner who had committed a crime in her native country was able to enter the country and work at a domestic university, and another where a foreign language instructor sent a false academic history to local authorities. But our research showed that when the facts came out, the domestic institutions that employed them did not report them to authorities, did not fire them, and did not receive … [Link]
자아만족 나들이 » 느티나무골육교
수원 영통신도시 중심가에 위치한 느티나무골육교.. 인근에 있는 영통느티나무에서 이름을 따온것 같네요~ 하지만 외관은 수원시의 자랑이자 세계문화유산으로 등재된 수원화성의 모습을 하고 있다는 것이죠. 육교 광장에는 대형 해시계가 꾸며져 있습니다. 영통 신도시 중심가에 있어서 그런지 주변에는 유흥가가 가득하네요^^ 육교 한편에는 산책로도 꾸며져 있습니다. 요즘의 육교는 단순히 차도를 횡단하는 것 이상의 용도로 꾸며지고 있네요. 육교에서 바라본 대로의 풍경입니다. 원래는 왕복 12차선의 큰 길이지만 분당선 연장공사로 인해 차도가 축소되어있지요. 영덕, 수원IC방향.. &……. [Link]
Taki’s Magazine » The Sarah Palin show ends with a twist?
Well, since she’s resigning as governor of Alaska, perhaps she could relocate to South Carolina and contest the 2010 race? After the Vanity Fair hit-piece and the interview with Runner’s World I wouldn’t have expected her to withdraw from the fight to establish herself as a public figure. Nevertheless, in the wake of the whole Mark Sanford fiasco I think many people are going to be a lot more cautious about giving pols a benefit of the doubt when it … [Link]
ROK Drop » Will the US Military Ban Smoking?
All I have to say is good luck with this: A complete ban on tobacco in the military is needed but would likely take about 20 years, according to a new Institute of Medicine study commissioned by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The ban is possible if the DOD begins to “close the pipeline of new tobacco users entering the military” and slowly cuts off supplies of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, the Committee on Smoking Cessation in Military … [Link]
ComingAnarchy.com » Microstate Madness – Europe in 2020
Building on one of my favorite subjects, devolution, the decline of the state and the proliferation of microstates, I’ve put together a map of the future of Europe in 2020. It is purely speculative and in no way a firm prediction, but rather a sketch of the possibilities and list of the most likely cases. It is by no means exhaustive and you’ll notice seemingly obvious states such as Wales, Sicily, Crete and others are not listed. This is in … [Link]
Gypsy Scholar » Bernstein on Kolakowski's "Big Lie"
Richard Bernstein(Master Media Speakers Bureau)I guess that mainstream media ain't dead yet, or I wouldn't be learning so much from it. Yesterday was Ignatius applying Dostoyevsky to Putin; today is Bernstein applying Kolakowski to Iran.I first read Leszek Kolakowski in Martin Jay's U.C. Berkeley seminar nearly 30 years ago, and except for excerpts since then, I've read little . . . though I keep promising myself to read more because every time that I read words that he wrote, I … [Link]
One Free Korea » Kremlinology Update
Kim Jong-Il’s third son, the likely successor to the North Korean leader, has been appointed acting defence chief under his ailing father, a Japanese newspaper reported on Saturday. Kim Jong-Un started supporting his father as acting chairman of North Korea’s National Defence Commission, the evening edition of the Mainichi Shimbun said, quoting unnamed sources close to North Korean leadership. [AFP] I don’t believe one word of it. Even if Kim Jong Il were incapacitated — a possibility I certainly wouldn’t … [Link]
Foreign Dispatches » The Megan Fox of Politics
After reading about yet another dumb utterance issuing from the mouth of Transformers starlet Megan Fox, and subsequently reading yet another revealing article about the snowbilly from Wasilla, a revelation struck me: Sarah Palin is to American politics precisely what Megan Fox is to American film-making, a woman who's certainly pleasant to look at (though by no means nearly as dazzling as all the press hype would have one believe), but who only succeeds in making everyone outside of her … [Link]
Far Outliers » A Costly Victory in Sri Lanka
Writing in The Atlantic, Robert Kaplan offers an awfully grim retrospective on how Sri Lanka won its 26-year war against the Tamil Tigers.Though it was only a one-day news story in the United States, a momentous event occurred last spring, with worldwide military significance. After 26 years of heavy fighting, the Sri Lankan government decisively defeated an ethnic insurgency, killing all of its top leadership, whose bodies were displayed on national television. Massive victory parades followed.The Tamil Tigers were no … [Link]
ROK Drop » Picture of the Day: Guus Hiddink In Incheon
Hiddink named goodwill ambassador of Incheon fest: Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo, left, and Guus Hiddink, who led the South Korean national football team to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, pose with a soccer ball after the appointment of Hiddink as goodwill ambassador of the Global Fair & Festival Incheon 2009, in Songdo, Incheon, Tuesday. The event will open Aug. 8. Incheon has invited representatives of business and government as well as urban planners worldwide to explore futuristic urban … [Link]
Roboseyo » Ooch! Forget Zombie movies…
I've just fallen in love with bollywood. [Link]
One Free Korea » After the Collapse
Michael O’Hanlon of Brookings, who (imho) did his best work on Iraq, refocuses on what happens after Kim Jong Il goes off to meet Saddam. Unlike me, O’Hanlon thinks a major U.S. troop presence in North Korea is inevitable. I think it’s just about the last thing we need: The notion that the United States could somehow outsource most of this DPRK stabilization mission to its South Korean ally falls apart the minute one begins to consider the immediate stakes … [Link]
ROK Drop » USFK Officers Linked to Improperly Hiring Civilian Contractors
Here is an update on the USFK contractor issue: A new Army Audit Agency report says officers responsible for deciding whether civilian contractors qualified for status of forces agreement visas in South Korea were sometimes not properly trained to make those decisions.Many contractors who thought they were working in the country legally have lost their jobs in recent months when officials began looking into SOFA discrepancies. The report also said that decision-makers wrongly assumed that contractors qualified for SOFA status … [Link]
Taki’s Magazine » German Charm
Poor Michael Jackson. His last words were: ‘Take me to the children’s ward.’ But it was nice of the jockeys in Santa Anita to wear a black mourning band in honour of a man who rode more three-year-old winners than anyone. Mind you, I thought the great Paul Johnson was the best when I happened to tell him over the telephone of Jackson’s untimely death: ‘Was he a member of the Beatles?’ Er, well no, dear Paul, but he was … [Link]
西儒 ─ The Western Confucian » WHEN, in the Courſe of human Events…
… it becomes neceſſary for one People to diſſolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to aſſume among the Powers of the Earth, the ſeparate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Reſpect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they ſhould declare the cauſes which impel them to the Separation. WE hold theſe Truths to be ſelf-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they … [Link]
Brian in Jeollanam-do » The fourth installment from Choi Hui-seon in the Chosun Ilbo.
The fourth article in four days from "intern" Choi Hui-seon is atop the Chosun Ilbo homepage tonight, this one looking at "unqualified" native speaker English teachers.* Update: Translated by Korea Beat. [Link]
Taki’s Magazine » Hands Off Honduras
Last Saturday, Honduran soldiers marched into the presidential palace, bundled up President Manuel Zelaya and put him on a plane for Costa Rica. The ouster had been ordered by the Supreme Court and approved by the Congress, as Zelaya was attempting an illegal referendum to change the Honduran constitution so he could run for another term. Will someone please explain why this bloodless transfer of power to the civilian legislator first in line for the presidency, in a sovereign nation, … [Link]
西儒 ─ The Western Confucian » Abolish the Unconstitutional "U.S.D.A. Organic" Label
A report that "consumers, who at times must pay twice as much for organic products, are not always getting what they expect," thanks to Washington's interference — Purity of Federal 'Organic' Label Is Questioned. The debate is "over whether the federal program should be governed by a strict interpretation of 'organic' or broadened to include more products by allowing trace elements of non-organic substances." Restated, "The argument is not over whether the non-organics pose a health threat, but whether they … [Link]
ROK Drop » US to Stop Food Aid to North Korea
This is an issue I have a tough time with because at least a little bit of the food aid does eventually make it to some of the common people though the military and regime elite get first dibs on the food: The U.S. will not resume food aid to North Korea unless there is a guarantee that the food will be distributed properly among North Koreans who need it. U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters Wednesday, “We … [Link]
Roboseyo » Going to Canada Tomorrow. Expect Light Posting
I still have lots to say… but I'll be saying it to my friends and family while I'm on vacation in Canada. Expect light posting on non-controversial topics, because I don't like moderating comment threads while I'm on freaking vacation. Unlike Christmas break, I've been just plain too durn busy putting out fires, slogging things out, negotiating crazy crap, and handling a few personal-life earthquakes, to set up a bunch of "future posts" that will come up in my absence. … [Link]
ROK Drop » Taft-Katsura Again
– I updated the post at the end – In trying to track down some material on a famous Korean patriot of the late-19th – early-20th century, I ran across this paragraph at Wikipedia for the colonization of Korea by Japan: A separate agreement was signed in secret between the United States and Japan at this time, subsequently aroused anti-American sentiment among Koreans decades later.[12] The Taft-Katsura Agreement exchanged what amounted to a lack of interest and military capability in … [Link]
Brian in Jeollanam-do » The "Dokdo Cruise English Camp."
Called both "Dokdo Cruise English Camp" and "The Dokdo Cruise Camp" (독도 크루즈 어린이 영어캠프) it's run through the Korea Times newspaper. It's for elementary school students in grades four through six, and though the page says there will be foreign elementary school students as well, I haven't found anything else about that on the Korean-language page. It costs 770,000 won; that's about US$608 or 58,367 yen. There will be four sessions of 120 students in July and August, each … [Link]
AMPONTAN » Apt observation
IN THE BOOK Jiminto wa Naze Tsuburenai no ka (Why Won’t the Liberal Democratic Party Collapse?), former LDP and opposition Democratic Party of Japan member Hirano Sadao makes a perceptive observation during his roundtable discussion with Murakami Masakuni and Fudesaki Hideyo about the type of people who populate the DPJ. He adds that the same could be said for Japanese society as a whole. Here it is for your consideration. (Note: The Jomon period, from prehistory to 200 BC, is … [Link]
ROK Drop » Where are the Western Human Rights Protesters Now?
Greg Sheridan makes an excellent point about where are all the protesters in support of Iran’s democracy movement?: THE missing actor in the tragic and gruesome story of Iran since the stolen election of June 12 has been the Western human rights lobby. Where is it? I can help Mr. Sheridan out with this question, the western human rights lobby is hiding out in the same area as they have for decades in regards to the human rights violations committed … [Link]
Todd's Posterous Blog » Good read: Android versus iPhone Development: A Comparison
http://greensopinion.blogspot.com/2~ expected, Android developer tools win, hands down. Permalink | Leave a comment » [Link]
Monster Island (actually a peninsula)* » 혹시…
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Far Outliers » Japan's Puppet States in China
From The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West, by Niall Ferguson (Penguin Press, 2006), pp. 481-483:Japanese atrocities may have played some part in the refusal of Chiang's government to contemplate a negotiated peace after 1937, despite German efforts to broker a truce. Of more importance was probably the manifest inability of the Japanese to inflict a decisive defeat on Guomindang forces, despite the poor leadership, low morale and appalling under-equipment that afflicted the latter.* … [Link]
The Chosun Bimbo » I've Got A Pair of Twos
Brian provides more useful commentary on "The Poker-8". One can't help but agree with comments from Kushibo that in the audio provided by Korean Media Watch a certain amount of arrogance comes across from the protagonists as well as what seems to be a willing ignorance of Korean law concerning gambling. Brian: I've listened to the interview and read through most of the commentary available, and I have to say that while I've demonstrated a sympathy to foreigners being mistreated … [Link]
ROK Drop » Jeff Goldblum Dies, Eulogizes Himself
Here is some sad news if you haven’t heard it yet, Jeff Goldblum has passed away due to an accident while filming a movie in New Zealand: The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Jeff Goldblum Will Be Missed www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum It is good to see that Jeff Goldblum is able to keep a good sense of humor about this nonsense. [Link]
西儒 ─ The Western Confucian » July Third Readings for Patriots of Little America
"Make no mistake," warns Chalmers Johnson, "whether we're being bled rapidly or slowly, we are bleeding; and hanging onto our military empire and all the bases that go with it will ultimately spell the end of the United States as we know it" — How to Deal with America's Empire of Bases."As we celebrate our independence, and the birth of a nation born in the struggle against a rapacious imperial power, let us remember to respect the independence of others," … [Link]
西儒 ─ The Western Confucian » The Truth About William F. Buckley's Purging of Joseph Sobran
Excerpts from Bill White's The Purge of Joe Sobran And The Axis Of Evil posted by Stephen Hand — The Old Skull and Bonesman Knew Who Buttered His Bread, Or: "You Don't Need Those People". Subscribe in a reader [Link]
西儒 ─ The Western Confucian » Love Me, Love Me, Love Me, I'm a Left-Liberal
Thomas E. Woods, Jr. discusses "a left-liberal site that manages to consider itself cheeky and iconoclastic while endorsing only the most exquisitely conventional, establishment-approved opinions" — Establishment Chic. Dr. Woods' pithy cut slices to the core of what it is to be a left-liberal. It has been my experience that every left-liberal considers himself "cheeky and iconoclastic" while espousing "only the most exquisitely conventional… opinions." It is especially true when it comes to social mores, in which the left-liberal unquestioningly … [Link]
西儒 ─ The Western Confucian » President Obama and Wall Street
The third-party candidate who got my vote in '08 reminds us that "when it came to the collapse of the corrupt Wall Street casinos and the bailout of these gamblers by the American people[,] Obama chose the very Wall Streeters and Wall Street servants who were involved in, condoned, or profited from the speculative binges that led to the biggest government bailout scheme in world history" — Ignoring Propethic Predictors.Andrew Cockburn gives us "one more, probably unnecessary reminder of the … [Link]
Brian in Jeollanam-do » Suncheon school principal stabs himself outside the house of a local newspaper reporter.
Strange story out of Suncheon, as a 59-year-old principal of an elementary school in Suncheon went to Gwangju late Wednesday night and stabbed himself in the stomach outside the house of a local newspaper reporter. The principal was being investigated by the Suncheon Office of Education for having an affair with a teacher, based on some purchases made on the school credit card says CNB News, and went to the reporter's house after the investigation wrapped up at 10:00 PM, … [Link]
Brian in Jeollanam-do » 3 students in Gwangyang tested positive for TB in May.
News comes out now that three students at a Gwangyang high school were found with tuberculosis during testing back in May. [Link]
Korea Beat » Chosun Ilbo on Warpath Against Unqualified English Teachers
Via several reader requests, I certainly hope this is the final article from “intern reporter” Choi Hui-seon. A native speaker instructor entered the country and taught English using a diploma forged in Thailand, and is even selling diplomas forged in korea to foreigners who are staying illegally, and the police need to crack down on him. This native speaker instructor is also uploading movies and comments denigrating Korea and Koreans on his blog and Youtube. 31-year old Mr. A, who … [Link]
Brian in Jeollanam-do » School in Jeonju closed because of swine flu.
From the Chosun Ilbo:An elementary school in North Jeolla Province has decided temporarily to close its doors after a confirmed case of swine flu there. A sixth grader contracted the virus after a school trip to Australia, but teachers and students who accompanied the boy have tested negative. This marks the first school closure in Korea over the H1N1 flu virus.But, the Korea Herald says the school is in Jeollanam-do. [Link]
Korea Beat » “Escaping North Korea” Author on Daily Show
Mike Kim, founder of Crossing Borders and author of the new book “Escaping North Korea”, was recently interviewed on The Daily Show. It’s an excellent interview, and Jon keeps the jokes to a minimum so that Mr. Kim can talk about the amazing work he does. Give it a watch/listen. Update: See also Mr. Kim’s speech at the Royal Asiatic Society via The Marmot’s. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c Mike Kim thedailyshow.com Daily … [Link]
ROK Drop » Video of A Global Treasure: Changdeokgung Palace
Here is a short video about the UNESCO listed World Heritage Area in Seoul, Changdeok Palace: This video is actually a preview for the Global Treasures: Changdok-Kung DVD: To learn more about Changdeokgung I highly recommend reading my prior posting about this historic and beautiful palace in Seoul. [Link]
西儒 ─ The Western Confucian » The Prophet Gustav Mahler
"Saturated with lachrymose melodies, dirgelike rhythms and the ghastly, fatal oompahs of sad waltzes," begins David Schiff, "the songs and symphonies of Gustav Mahler prophetically mourn the victims of twentieth-century catastrophes the composer died too soon to witness, or perhaps even imagine" — Mahler's Body. The man whom his Catholic wife Alma called a "Christgläubiger Jude" (Christ-believing Jew) is one of the few stomachable modern composers, as evidenced below by the Korea Brass Choir's scaled-down we-don't-need-no-strings-and-wo~ arrangement of the funeral … [Link]
西儒 ─ The Western Confucian » Famine Again in North Korea
A report that "the United States said yesterday it will not provide food aid for Pyongyang without assurances that it reaches the North Korean people" — Food aid for North at a ‘critical’ level.A report on those who know that "[n]ot in bread alone doth man live" — Caritas Korea: North Korea in need not only of food but also education and human rights. Subscribe in a reader [Link]
Brian in Jeollanam-do » Chosun Ilbo reports 10 foreign English teachers busted for gambling, drugs.
Near the top of the Chosun Ilbo website this morning, accompanied with the three Choi Hui-seon articles, is news that "drug-taking foreign English teachers" have been busted in Seoul for gambling and, well, taking drugs. This has been circulating on some other blogs, so visit The Marmot's Hole, Monster Island, and Korea Beat for more discussion. Michael Hurt, the man behind Korean Media Watch, has interviewed those busted, and posted the .mp3 here. Monster Island has blogged his reaction to … [Link]
Gusts Of Popular Feeling » Controversial rulings in teen prostitution cases – eight years apart
Back in July of 2001, a Korea Times article titled "Court Ruling on Underage Prostitution Draws Backlash" looked at a controversial court ruling and contained an interesting fact at the end:The case of a 15-year-old middle school dropout and runaway, who sold herself to five adults on separate occasions in September last year, highlights the problem.The five adults, who met the girl through an Internet chat room, were indicted earlier this year on "Wonjo Kyoje" charges. Prosecutors said the accused … [Link]
Monster Island (actually a peninsula)* » LG and blackface
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ROK Drop » “What Were We Fighting About?”, North Korean & American Pilots Meet
Here is a great post-Korean War story via Spelunker over at the ROK Drop Forums: With smoke, machine gun fire and debris all around him, North Korean military pilot No Kum-Sok gave little thought to his opponents who were trying to shoot down his MiG-15 during the Korean War.All he was thinking about was survival. But 56 years later, No Kum-Sok and one of his former adversaries, Wes Tillis of Vero Beach, who flew B-29 fighter planes for the United … [Link]
Taki’s Magazine » Establishment Chic
Wonkette, if you have the good fortune of not knowing, is a left-liberal site that manages to consider itself cheeky and iconoclastic while endorsing only the most exquisitely conventional, establishment-approved opinions. If you’re not located somewhere along that fantastic spectrum of genius that ranges from Chuck Schumer to Arlen Specter, Wonkette will expose you to the world as the misanthropic imbecile you obviously are. In order to remain as predictable as possible, Wonkette’s writers have decided they really don’t like … [Link]
Monster Island (actually a peninsula)* » Unsolicited advice for the Poker-8
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