If anyone is interested, many of my old postings that I thought had been lost still exist. Something got messed up, but a kind individual sent me a message on how to access my early writings.

After giving it considerable thought over the past few days, I have decided to close this blog.

I started Rathbone Press with the intention of commenting on stories I perceived as unfair or misguided in the Korean media, particularly with regard to US-ROK relations. But finding fewer and fewer stories these days that irk me, I find myself having less and less to say. If a story does grate me in any way, it is usually on a theme that I have commented on so many times before I do not see the point of commenting again.

I have also been in Japan for one year and find my interests shifting to Japan and elsewhere. I will be likely staying in Japan for several more years, so it is appropriate I think that I spend more time learning about Japanese culture and the Japanese language.

Finally, my wife's complaints about "wasting time" on the blog have meant that I have had to "blog on the fly" to avoid her detection. It is no fun blogging at strange hours while she is sleeping or posting half-thought out, hastily written messages while she is watering the plants or in the bathroom. Also, there's the question of quality. If I cannot do something properly, I don't like to do it at all. Okay, yeobo, you win! No more blog.

Rather than let the blog die a slow and painful death, I think it is best just to pull the plug now and get on with other projects I am working on such as conference papers, editing work, etc. If I do have something new to say on a Korean issue, I will just comment on one of the many other Korean blogs out there or write an article for publication. For now, however, it is time for me, like MacArthur, to "fade away" from the Korea Blogosphere.

All the best,

Owen Rathbone

owenrathbone@yahoo.com

Well, I am finally back from Thailand. The wife and I had a great time, though we were scammed a couple of times. I will give a synopsis of my trip tomorrow, pics included.

For now, I am still a little on edge from the earthquake that happened here yesterday. Actually, I should say "earthquakes." We were in Kobe watching some street musicians yesterday when we felt one tremor, around 7 p.m. That was a very slight rocking movement. Many people did not even seem to notice it, but my wife and I both looked at each other at the same time and wondered if more was to come.

Around midnight, a bigger tremor shook our apartment. Dishes rattled. Screams were heard (Well, my screams, anyway). We were about to duck under a table (OK, I was .... Not the wife), but the quake subsided.

In other areas of Japan, the quake was more intense and did some damage. Luckily, the most intense quakes were off shore and in sparsely populated areas. No one was killed, but nearly 40 people were injured.

CNN has a summary of what happened here.

I was just reading Korea Life Blog. One thing I admire about this blog is the author's upbeat nature and humor. It is easy to become pessimistic about Korea, but the author of the blog, Shawn Matthews, always maintains a positive attitude. Given that most expat blogs tend to be rather negative (mine included), it is good to see a blog such as this one.

Anyway, Shawn is publishing a book on his experiences in Korea. I just had a looksee at a sample chapter posted at lulu.com. If the rest of the book is as hilarious as this chapter, I highly recommend it. It's really funny stuff. Good work, Shawn. And good luck!

Many of you may be aware that I used to write a column for a web site called American Daily. Although I stopped writing the column over a year ago, I still get letters from readers. About half of the mail is hate mail, while the other half is positive or contains interesting information. I have received more letters than usual lately, so for your reading enjoyment I will post some excerpts.

Re: Canadians Need to Grow Up

Letter #1

Owen, you haven't grapsed [sic] the core issue here. It is that we are Canadian, not American and not their brother or sister. We are a country with all the rights and responsibilities that are implied by that standing and we don't want US troops here "helping" us.

We make up our own mind about what to support and not support; and one thing we do not support is American aggression around the world to secure resources for their own use, at the expense of many lives of others.

You have a vote-use it.! You also have a podium that others do not-so use it for Canada and not to support another country's interests. If not, you are free to head south, with all the benefits and liabilities that can be envisioned.

A.H. Young

[Rathbone Press: Yawn.]

Letter #2

IDIOT.....AND THATS FROM A RET`D CANADIAN SOLDIER

David Clinton

[Rathbone Press: Clinton? Need I say more?]

Re: US Needs to Stop Being `Babied' by South Korea

Letter #1

Dear Mr. Rathbone:

Bravo. Bitter, but necessary medicine, for a proud, ancient, developed country that for two long has been blaming all its ills on that country which protects it from 1) assured annihilation from their beloved northern "co-ethnics" 2) the major destination for its billions of USD in exports which have drastically improved living standards for ordinary ROK citizens 3) the selfless recipient of its hundreds of thousands of unwanted adoptees and orphans who don't judge infants based on race 4) the most popular destination for intelligentsia creme de la creme, to take coveted spots at Ivy League schools and use the skills to compete with Uncle Sam following graduation while millions of US urban and rural poor go uneducated for lack of gov't resources and assistance, and 5) (thanks to your expert description), the dumping ground for well-to-do babies to serve as anchors, and further abuse US largesse...

It is surely lonely at the top, as the sole superpower... and everyone faults the speck in DC's eye while Seoul and countless other capitals regularly sport logs in both eyes.

Job well done...

AP

[Rathbone Press: Thanks.]

Letter #2

I am researching the exporting of Korean babies. I was thrilled to find your article and wanted to ask is you could point me in the direction of some of your sources. Where did you find your statistics? What agencies are reliable to find information on the subject? As I am just beginning my research, this is the first time I have heard some of the terms you mentioned, such as "anchor babies." Where can I find more information on these terms and trends? Do you know of any academic scholarship being done on the subject?

Thank you for publishing your thoughts on the subject. I found it fascinating. And thank you for any help you might be able to provide.

JM

[Rathbone Press: A great research topic. Anyone out there with some ideas to help this student? I plan to e-mail her soon.]

RE: Rumblings of Discontent in North Korea

Dear Mr. Rathbone,

Thank you for shining more light on the continuing plight of North Koreans who wish to escape a dangerous regime. You have a few factual errors in the use of Nauru as a transit point for the high-level defectors, but that is highly confidential insider information that was misconstrued by the Australian press and picked up by a number of other organizations that I'm sure you used to do your background research. All in all a solid article that deserves more press play. Best of luck.

Signed,

"Operation Weasel" insider

[Rathbone Press: I am very intrigued. As there was no follow up on the nuclear scientist defection story, I thought this was just a rumor. I should would like to know more if you can fill me in on the story. ]

Michelle Malkin

Related to my column, I also found something really amazing. While doing some additional research on the "anchor baby" phenomenon, I noticed that one of my articles had been cited by Michelle Malkin, one of my favorite conservative columnists. Ms. Malkin has her own blog, which is where my article was briefly cited. I highly recommend reading the blog as it has a lot of insightful commentary.

So I have had two brief brushes with fame -- an insider from Operation Weasel and Michelle Malkin have both read my writings. That is just so "cool."

If you are one of the chosen few who have seen the movie "The Jerk," starring Steve Martin, you will know that one of the most horrific forms of animal abuse in the world is ... cat juggling. All beheadings and discussion of conscious decapitated heads aside, another horror of anti-non-human brutality has reared its ugly head (no pun intended) in Hong Kong. Known for their bloodlust and savagery, the people of Hong Kong have long been following and gambling on the most cruelest of sports -- cricket fighting. Here is an excerpt from a story on this abomination in the Chosun Ilbo:

While doping scandals rock the Olympic games in Greece, police in Hong Kong Saturday busted an underground network of illegal sports gambling. Officers made almost a dozen arrests and seized over 150 athletes, many of them confined to bamboo cages.

The rules were simple, the first fighter to retreat lost. Most combatants allegedly were pumped full of stimulants and fed an exclusive diet of cooked rice, flies and mosquitoes.

Police say hundreds of dollars in bets were seized at the Far East Friends of Crickets Social Club, which was proudly hosting a tournament of fighting insects from throughout the region.

This is a very morbid question, but with all the horrific beheadings taking place recently in Iraq I have wondered what happens immediately after a person is decapitated. Of course, the person dies in excruciating pain, but does he (or she) retain consciousness for a short time? Apparently, the answer is yes. If you are interested in reading more, check out this link.

I feel better today, so I will pull a Ross Perot here and say "I'm back." Well, maybe. I could still shut down this blog. Maybe. The massive letter campaign to keep my blog going (okay, just three positive comments) has had its intended effect.

What brought me back from the dead today was a very thought provoking column by Kim Dae-joong at the Chosun Ilbo. Yes, Kim sometimes says things that tick me off -- but he also gets it right on occasion.

Today's commentary on South Korea's position in the world (Reaction Reversing to China and Japan) is spot on in this respect. I have said it numerous times that anti-Americanism will only harm South Korea by isolating it and reducing its influence. I have also said that pro-Chinese moves by South Korea will not advance South Korea's interests. The world is a complex place and Korea can only survive if it works with America and maintains good relations with its neighbors. There is no "going alone."

Kim appears to concur with me. He states:

If we could build an upright nation and rediscover an honorable Asia by going against America and running against globalization like so, it might be a different story. The current ruling force made friendly gestures to Japan and China by advocating "Let's go China" and "Let's hold hands with Japan." But we witness today what has come back to us in return are nothing but cold contempt and disrespectable reception. Our surroundings have been plunging into an atmosphere talking again about subjugation and tribute, making an issue of pro-Japanese activities and shouting about anti-nationalism.

We are becoming an orphan and friendless in our foreign relations.We have sort of turned our back to America, have been slapped on the face by China, ignored by Japan and ridiculed by Russia. It is by no means coincidental that China has come up with distortions of Koguryo at this time. Even if the incumbent administration smiled at Japan offering "no further questioning of the past," Japan is prepared to hit the back of our head at any time. We presume ourselves to be a central force in the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programs, but we have long been marginalized.

The United States no longer trusts South Korea. Japan professes itself to be a partner of America. China moves within a line matching up with its own national interests. We alone are under the illusion of being a star in some situation; we're already becoming a missing child in Northeast Asia.

Enclosed in Northeast Asia, we have no future. Sandwiched between China and Japan, indulged in a sense of domination and a sense of superiority, our nation cannot survive. No permanent peace can exist with the two countries that incessantly keep an eye on our sovereignty and territories and talk about submission and a tribute. Our future lies in the world. Our strength lies in vibrant liberal democracy and the market economy. Defeatism bound by anti-Americanism and nationalism devoid of objectives are what China, Japan and above all North Korea are looking for. Through the United States or on our own, we must not be enclosed by the fence of China and Japan, but advance to the world.

From the Chosun Ilbo:

With the government’s plan to dispatch additional forces nearing, the Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon and Defense Minister Yoo Kwang-woong held a press conference and requested that people refrain from traveling to Iraq and nations deemed dangerous. They also asked those who are now in dangerous regions to return home or withdraw to safe neighboring countries as soon as possible. The two ministers warned during the press conference, “Iraqi terrorist groups attempt to achieve their goals in a way of indiscriminately kidnapping and threatening civilians. We cannot say that a second or a third tragedy will not happen.”

The two ministers said, “In the international community, terrorist attack cases are increasing and no area is safe from terrorist threats.” “If you inevitably travel to special countries like Iraq, please actively cooperate with government regulations,” they appealed.

In connection with the 2004 Jerusalem Parade in which 1,500 Korean Christians will participate, the two ministers said, “Despite the serious request of the government, some non-governmental organizations or religious groups are staying in dangerous regions or planning to travel there. The government understands what they pursue, but no goals come before the safety and life of the people.”

One thing both China and Korea are not noted for is their skill at rational debate. Young Koreans' irrational admiration of China and dislike of the US aside, I often wondered what it would be like to see nationalists from both camps in the same room discussing controversial issues that affect their countries. In particular, I have wondered what it would be like to see Chinese and Korean nationalists discuss Goguryeo, the ancient history of which China and Korea both claim as their own. I imagined the debate would go like this:

I was thus not surprised by the following Joongang Ilbo article, which mentions a "war of words" that erupted between journalists from China and Korean officials over Goguryeo. Here is an excerpt:

Prompting the firefight, Hu Xijin, a journalist from the Chinese weekly Huanjiu Shibao, reportedly said, "When I came to Seoul, I was really taken aback by the strong reaction shown by South Korean officials on the Goguryeo issue. The Chinese believe that it is the Koreans who are trying to change history."

Other Chinese reporters and Chinese Foreign Ministry officials present at the luncheon nodded their heads in agreement.

In response, Park Joon-woo, the director general of Asia-Pacific Affairs at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, said, "The reaction shown by Koreans on the Goguryeo issue is obvious. Goguryeo is the root of our nation and the symbol of our national identity. Korean belief in the history of Goguryeo is equivalent to [religious] faith."

Mr. Park rebutted claims Korea was distorting history, saying, "Koreans were brought up learning about King Gwanggaeto and his son Jangsu who led Goguryeo, and it is China who is distorting history."

According to a source at the meeting, Mr. Hu gave examples of other alleged distortions by Koreans, saying "You claim that Koreans invented the printing press and you list Dano [a traditional summer festival] as part of the world's cultural heritage, when in fact, both are at the core of Chinese traditional culture."

A South Korean official retorted saying, "Korea invented the metal printing press, so don't misunderstand. Also, the listing on World Cultural Heritage is not Dano per se but the unique Dano celebrations in Gangneung, Gangwon Province."

After careful study and analysis I have come up with a surefire, no lose business idea. Most of you out there probably have your doubts about investing in Korea given the current economic crisis, or "non-crisis" if we are to believe No Moo-hyun*. However, I would like to challenge the naysayers for a moment. There are growth industries at the moment that offer profits beyond imagination. ... Well, okay, I can only think of one growth industry and the profits look pretty promising.

So what is the growth industry I am talking about? Here it is: The candle making industry. Not those scented candle things. I am talking about good, old-fashioned white candles. The kind that people back home usually just buy and leave in the cupboard for an emergency and never use. Think about it. Over the last year or so not a week goes by without mention of a candlelight vigil or protest. These candlles do not appear out of thin air. Someone actually makes and sells them. Recently, literally hundreds of thousands of insignificant looking candles have been lit up, used up and thrown away. Someone is making a mint. And it could be you or me.

Actually, I am convinced that No Moo-hyun has his finger in the pie somewhere. Why else would he consistently divide Koreans and create the precise conditions necessary for candlelight vigils and protests? I say he has links to the candle industry -- maybe some hidden stocks or a candle factory or two off the books. That's my theory, anyway.

But, whatever ... Here is my idea. In place of the boring standard candle you see in protests, why not change it around a bit? You could make red/white/blue candles with slogans on them, like "Fucking USA," "Fuck Bush," or what have you. Or you could make red pro-Rosamo or pro-Kim Jong-il "brotherhood candles. If No Moo-hyun's fortunes go down, you could start making anti-No Moo-hyun candles. Cover all the angles by making candles for every pro-this or anti-that group and you could make a fortune.

So what do you think? Anyone willing to invest and make a killing?

[*Note: This is the approved CIA spelling. Henceforth "Roh Moo-hyun" will be "No Moo-hyun" on this blog.]

Update: Bloated hasbeen Elton John is coming to Korea . What does this have to do with candles? Maybe we could use "Candle in the Wind" to sell more candles. Then again, using Elton John might result in fewer sales. He has to do charity concerts to get anyone to listen to him nowadays.

I thought the dust had finally settled on the blame game with regard to Kim Sun-il's death in Iraq. In-depth investigations revealed, as I had expected, that it was Kim's former employer, Kim Chun-ho, President of Cana Trading, who covered up the kidnapping. Apparently, he was worried about business losses and gave the lame excuse that he thought he could do a better job of negotiating Kim's release than the Korean government.

But now a "lawmaker" (rainmaker, lawmaker, whatever...) is trying to pin the blame on AP again. We know that the news agency inquired at the Foreign Ministry at least three times. Each time the caller was rebuffed and no one looked into the matter.

The lawmaker in question, Rep. Park Jin of the Grand National Party, now claims the AP had deleted crucial information from the first videotape Kim's kidnapping. This information, he suggests, could have saved Kim's life:

Sources said Park knows it is a normal procedure for the AP to edit a video but he thinks the deleted parts of the videotape have valuable information.

Park played the full-length version of the videotape for lawmakers, in which Kim was speaking to his captors in halting English about other important information, including how he studied Arabic in South Korea and why he came to Fallujah, near Baghdad.

He also questioned a June 21 article written by Robert H. Reid, AP's Baghdad Bureau chief, in which the journalist wrote that Kim seemed to have been kidnapped ``around 10 days ago,'' even though they knew Kim was missing before June 2 when they obtained the videotape.

Meanwhile, two AP reporters in Seoul _ Choe Sang-hun and Lee Soo-jeong _ failed to attend the second day of the hearing.

Choi Seung-kap, president of South Korean security company New Korea Total Service (NKTS), said his Iraqi business partner successfully contacted Kim's captors Monday afternoon (Iraqi time) and confirmed that Kim is still alive.

"Kim is now detained at an unidentified place in Iraq. My Iraqi business partner is negotiating his release with the Iraqi kidnappers," Choi told the Yonhap News Agency over the phone.

Choi refused to disclose the exact location of Kim's detention, citing security reasons.

He also revealed his Iraqi business partner has met with the kidnappers twice so far. "In the first meeting, he persuaded the Iraqi kidnappers not to kill the Korean hostage at the last moment after promising efforts to have their demands met," said Choi.

"My Iraqi business partner is meeting again with the kidnappers Tuesday, with the results due around 7 to 8 p.m. tonight (Korean time)," Choi said, adding that he may fly to Iraq Wednesday if there is any progress in the ongoing negotiations.

All across Japan the word "Korea" is on everyone's mouths. From children to senior citizens everyone is talking about the Land of the Morning Calm. From morning to evening, cries can be heard in the streets of Tokyo and Osaka: "Korea! Korea! Number one! We love you!" So enthralled are the Japanese with Korea that government officials are expressing worry over the erosion of Japanese culture and the Japanese language. Few it seems can withstand the hypnotic draw of Korea, a country that is much, much better than the US or any Western nation. By the way, did you know BOA is popular in Japan? Just thought you would want to know that.

Surprisingly, the Korean media has only just begun picking up on Japan's cultural envy of Korea. Few Koreans are actually aware of just how much they are adored by the Japanese. The Chosun Ilbo has been in the forefront of Korean papers following the Korean craze in Japan.

The topic today is What is it about Korean Men that Japanese Women Adore?

I learned many things from this article. For example, the Chosun Ilbo says the following:

Japanese women have traditionally married non-Japanese more frequently than Korean women, but there was a strong tendency to favor Western men who spoke English. After Japanese women started falling in love with "Yong-sama," however, the stock price of Korean manhood has gone through the roof, and this would be a reason for Japanese women starting to prefer Korean men.

Recently, the Asahi Shimbun's weekly current events magazine AERA looked at the strong points of Korean men, like their consideration for women, the importance they place on family and their toughness owing to military duty. This contrasts strongly with the character of Japanese men, who have fully adopted Western values that emphasize "personal" space even within the family.

Foreigners who have spent time living in the capital Pyongyang say authorities routinely monitor their movements.

Some have reported that their rooms have been entered while they are out, with personal items being either deliberately or inadvertently moved.

Reflecting the nervousness of the populace about outside interaction, some shops in the capital will not serve foreigners, and even ask them to leave if they try to enter. North Koreans will usually avoid eye contact and often pull their children away if foreigners or their offspring attempt any contact, even a smile.

Overseas visitors also routinely encounter pressure to bow to certain statues of North Korean leaders past and present and buy flowers from official sellers to present as an offering.

Recently I have been encouraged by signs that the Korean media is becoming more nuanced on such issues as the US alliance and human rights in North Korea. But just when you think things may be changing, another article appears that reveals all the xenophobia Korea has become notorious for. Yesterday's article Town dreading U.S. troops' departure from the Joongang Ilbo falls into this category.

In this revelatory piece, reporter Lim Jae-un asks residents of Dongducheon what they think of the departure of US troops from the area to Iraq. We might expect them to be elated, given constant complaints about US forces in South Korea from civic groups and citizens in general. Or we might expect some locals to be dismayed by the potential blow to their economy and in the mood to say a few good things about the US military and the benefits it confers on South Korea.

We do not really hear either of these viewpoints, however. Rather, American soldiers are criticized for impeding the town's development, hurting the image of the people, and dirtying the town in which they are leaving. They are hated for being in Dongducheon yet also hated for leaving. Leave or stay, they are only useful when they spend their money--which they do not do enough of, by the way.

Here are a few snippets from the article:

Mr. Jung, of Big Man, said business owners' options are limited as residents in other parts of the city don't usually shop in Bosan-dong, scared off by the area's seedy reputation."It would be very difficult to turn this neighborhood into one catering to the other residents of Dongducheon since these shops have catered to foreigners (American soldiers) for almost half a century," he said.

"Who else would come here to shop?" said Mr. Lee. "Everybody points a finger at us for doing business in giji chon. Do you think Koreans will come here and sit on those filthy chairs?"

Stigma attached

Even though the neighborhood's businesses will be sorry to see the American soldiers leave, residents in other parts of Dongducheon may breathe a sigh of relief.

"Residents in Dongducheon are afraid of telling other people that they live here," said Mr. Park of the city council. "Even when students go on a group tour, they are reluctant to tell other people they are from Dongducheon."

Young women in particular feel the stigma of living in Dongducheon.

"My friend told me that when her boyfriend's mother found out that he was dating a girl from Dongducheon, the mother told him to stop dating her," said Roh Go-eun, a 20-year-old student working at a cellular service center, Lee's Telecom.

Coming to the defense of the city's women, Park Eun-young, a co-worker of Ms. Roh's, said, "I have never been to this part of town before I started working here. Most women working at the bars are not natives of Dongducheon."

A couple of years ago several clubs, including one above Lee's Telecom, were raided by police for hiring Russian women as prostitutes.

Fearing the planned relocation of American troops, Dongducheon citizens have rallied several times to get the government to make up for lost years of development that resulted from various restrictions imposed because of the presence of the U.S. military bases.

"The physical development of Dongducheon has been abnormal because U.S. military bases limited the city's development," Mr. Park said.

I was recently contacted by the sister of David Glynn Gearon, a British man who died in Korea in June under mysterious circumstances. According to Diane Blower, the sister, the family has been unable to get clear answers as to the causes of Mr. Gearon's death. As with the Matthew Seller's case, the police have apparently wrapped up the case quickly and are unwilling to delve into the matter. The British Embassy has recomended that the family hire a private detective to investigate further, but the family lacks the means to pay for such help.

What is particularly troubling is that David Gearon was dead for one month before his family was informed. This lapse of time is extremely suspicious or in the very least callous and insensitive. I can't imagine what the family must be going through.

On the off chance that someone may know something or be able to help out, I will post a letter from Ms. Blower about her brother. If anyone can help in any way, I am sure it would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the letter, which was originally posted on Dave's ESl Cafe:

My brother, Mr. David Glynn Gearon, worked in Seoul, Korea as an English teacher for The Jung Chul Academy of English, Gayang - 3 -dong Seoul.

I am David`s only sister and on the 1st July I was informed that my brother David died in Korea and we have had major problems trying to get his body back to the UK.

David was 44, and we have been told he took his life by jumping off a bridge over the River Han. He died on the 3rd June, so therefore he had been dead for a month before we were informed, which you can imagine has been devestating news.

I was always in contact with David via e-mail, and why he would take his own life is a mystery to us all. The last time I spoke to Dave he seemed fine, and something must have gone terribly wrong for him to do this.

Please, please, if there is anything you could help me with I would appreciate it. I would like to find anybody that knew Dave in Seoul, any friends that he may have had who may be able to tell me how he was, and if they were aware that David had any problems. Anybody that Dave worked with, friends that he would have made etc.

I now have no brothers or sisters to share my life with, and my life feels empty. There are so many questions and at present no answers. David`s work place have not contacted me either, so I feel I have been left in the dark.

If you could put a message on your web site asking if anybody knew David to contact me it could help. I am fine with you including my e-mail address so people can contact me directly. My e-mail address is:

diane.blower@tesco.net

I have written a great deal on this blog on how Korean youth hold distorted views of America. An article on Fox News suggests that Canadian teens are not so different. According to a recent poll, some 40% of Canadian youth believe that the US is a force for "evil," a word usually associated with the likes of Hitler or Osama bin Laden.

Check out the article [url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126401,00.html]here[/url] .

What can I say except that I am not surprised. In Canadian high schools and universities it is a national pastime to blame the US for the world's ills and crack jokes about "ignorant Americans." I would hope that most Canadian teens grow up and learn to think on their own, rather than swallowing the pap of leftist educators. I know I grew out of it.

Truth be told, I think the whole problem lies in willful ignorance. Teens tend to "hate" what they know. They know the US--it is familiar and powerful, so they "hate" it. They do not know much about dictators in impoverished countries or history, so the US is a natural scapegoat. Of course, the fact that Canada depends heavily on the US for its standard of living and very existence is conveniently omitted. Some 90% of Canadian exports go to the US. So much for the "evil" Americans.

In case anyone was wondering why I haven't posted anything in awhile, I was away in Hong Kong. I just got back and will do some more blogging soon.

If you have been reading the comments section you will see mention of an event in Korean history called the Cheju Uprising. A reader by the name of Elzoog has brought up the uprising, which occurred in 1948-49, to basically lay the blame on the US for the some 30,000 people who perished.

As for me, I have read several articles on the event but have yet to find direct or convincing evidence that suggests the US was involved in a major way. A lot of articles based on hearsay have been written, but to date no convincing evidence that Americans ordered the killings of Koreans or caused the event has emerged. Instead, what we usually have is a lot of musings such as in this article:

Although he concedes that no documentary evidence exists that the Americans knew what happened, Yang Jo Hoon, a prime ministerial appointee who heads a committee established to collect testimony about the killings, believes with many others here that the Americans must have known of, and perhaps even ordered, the crackdown. A team of South Korean researchers is in the United States now seeking proof of an American role.

There were similar massacres by American and South Korean troops throughout the summer of 1950; one former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency operative witnessed the systematic slaughter of 1800 political prisoners at Suwon, shortly after the war broke out:

I stood by helplessly, witnessing the entire affair. Two big bull-dozers worked constantly. One made the ditch-type grave. Trucks loaded with the condemned arrived. Their hands were already tied behind them. They were hastily pushed into a big line along the edge of the newly opened grave. They were quickly shot in the head and pushed into the grave.

The effective political leadership on Cheju until early 1948 was provided by strong leftwing people's committees that first emerged in August 1945, and later continued under the American Occupation (1945-1948). The Occupation preferred to ignore Cheju rather than to do much about the committees; it appointed a formal mainland leadership but let the people of the island run their own affairs.

Much other evidence demonstrated active American involvement in attempting to suppress the rebellion: the daily training of counter-insurgent forces, interrogation of prisoners, and the use of American spotter planes to ferret out guerrillas. One newspaper reported that American troops intervened in the Cheju conflict in at least one instance in late April 1948, and a group of Korean journalists even charged in June that Japanese officers and soldiers had secretly been brought back to the island to help in suppressing the rebellion.

I was recently invited to present a paper at a conference held on Cheju Island. After asking some Cheju experts about the availability of documents on the Cheju Incident of 1948, I was told that most of Korea's records were destroyed. Ironically, I later met a group of Cheju people painstakingly searching for documents on the Cheju Incident in the U.S. National Archives II.

On March 1, 1948, the people of Cheju held a ceremony to commemorate the March 1 independence movement. While marching peacefully, the people demanded the withdrawal of the United States from the Korean peninsula. The United States responded with a barrage of gunfire from all directions. On that day, six people were killed and many more were injured.

Mobilized by their anger, the people of Cheju organized a committee to respond to the incident, and subsequently held a massive strike throughout the entire island which lasted for eight days. In response, the United States declared Cheju "the second Moscow" and labeled its people as communists. Furthermore, the United States brought in military forces from the mainland to suppress the protest. Indiscriminate torture and terrorist actions were unleashed on the people of Cheju. Many Cheju-Islanders were killed and even more were arrested. This was the beginning of heinous atrocities committed against the people of Cheju by the United States over the next seven years.

Questions are being asked about the role of the United States and its continuing influence on the government of South Korea that has hidden and continues to hide the truth. Even today, human bones occasionally surface from the sand and are discovered by children playing on the beach.

Members of the "Zayitun" unit said they are confident in carrying out a successful mission in Iraq.

Their uniforms are ironed, their boots are spit-shined and their duffle bags are all packed.

Some 3,000 members of the "Zayitun" unit, Korea's additional forces to Iraq, have officially announced the completion of their preparations and that everything is squared away.

Besides the basic equipment such as bullet-proof vests, kevlar helmets and K-2 rifles, the soldiers will be bringing the "tools" to bridge the cultural gap between the two countries.

From Korean martial arts Taekwondo, to eastern medicine and traditional games, various items are expected to bring the two nations closer together.
One of the most interesting items on the list includes the "ppungtwigi" machine, the traditional popcorn maker.

The soldiers expect this will surely help them bring down the barrier between them and the Iraqi children.

This from the Chosun Ilbo: For Young Koreans, U.S. 'Main Enemy'

A recent survey showed that the Korean people's anti-communism has decreased while anti-Americanism has notably increased. Prof. Koh Sang-doo of Yonsei University cited the joint questionnaire report on Korea's policy toward North Korea and the U.S., which is produced by Research & Research and Gallup Korea in coming up with the above analysis.

In 2004, Research & Research carried out a survey to find out which country is the key enemy of Korea. And according to Koh, people aged between 20s to 40s picked the U.S. (57.9 percent in their 20s, 46.8 percent in their 30s and 36.3 percent in their 40s) as Korea's biggest enemy, but people over 50 said North Korea (52.5 percent) is the key enemy.

All generations agreed that National Security Law must be reformed (72.4 percent in their 20s to 30s, 70.2 percent in their 40s and 49.8 percent in those over 50s).

In addition, Gallup Korea ran a survey in 2001 and 2003 to investigate what people thought about the possibility of North Korea invading the South, and that there was no big change in the reply for people over the age of 30 (30.6 percent to 31.1 percent in their 30s, 32.6 percent to 32.0 percent in their 40s and 26.8 percent to 30.5 percent in those over 50), but there was a significant decrease in younger generations (52.3 percent to 30.9 percent in their 20s).

"The Korean people's structure of consciousness has become very flexible so that it cannot be identified with the concept of anti-communism and many Koreans treat the U.S. as the number one enemy, which tells us that anti-Americanism is notably increasing," added Prof. Koh.

US Protects Grateful South Korean Citizen in Iraq

Reporter Fabricates Quotes, Dishonestly Tries to Pin Blame on US for Death of Kim Sun-il. No One Buys It

Heroic Japanese Citizen Jailed By Shifty Chinese for Rescuing N Koreans. 'Thank You for Being a Friend,' say South Koreans

Humble Koreans Surprised and Delighted by Japanese Acceptance of Korean Films, Offer to Reciprocate and View Japanase Films in Same Manner and Let Go of the Past

I am a little late in getting this letter from the Big Ho up. Anyway, I will post the full text of his call against censorship, which I support wholeheartedly.

Fellow blogger,

I am sending this message to the bloggers on my blogroll (and a few other folks) in the hopes that some of you will print this, or at least find it interesting enough for comment. I'm not usually the type to distribute such messages, but I felt this was important enough to risk disturbing you.

As some of you may already know, a wing of the South Korean government, the Ministry of Information and Culture (MIC), is currently clamping down on a variety of blogging service providers and other websites. The government is attempting to control access to video of the recent Kim Sun-il beheading, ostensibly because the video will have a destabilizing influence. (I haven't seen the video.)

Many Western expat bloggers in Korea are in an uproar; others, myself included, are largely unsurprised: South Korea has not come far out of the shadow of its military dictatorship past. My own response to this censorship is not so much anger as amusement, because the situation represents an intellectual challenge as well as a chance to fight for freedom of expression. Perhaps even to fight for freedom, period.

South Korea is a rapidly evolving country, but in many ways it remains the Hermit Kingdom. Like a turtle retreating into its shell, the people are on occasion unable to deal with the harsh realities of the world around them. This country is, for example, in massive denial about the atrocities perpetrated in North Korea, and, as with many Americans, is in denial about the realities of Islamic terrorism, whose roots extend chronologically backward far beyond the lifetime of the Bush Administration. This cultural tendency toward denial (and overreaction) at least partially explains the Korean government's move to censor so many sites.

The fact that the current administration, led by President Noh Mu-hyon, is supposedly "liberal"-leaning makes this censorship more ironic. It also fuels propagandistic conservative arguments that liberals are, at heart, closet totalitarians. I find this to be a specious caricature of the liberal position (I consider myself neither liberal nor conservative), but to the extent that Koreans are concerned about what image they project to the world, it is legitimate for them to worry over whether they are currently playing into stereotype: South Korea is going to be associated with other violators of human rights, such as China.

Of the many hypocrisies associated with the decision to censor, the central one is that no strong governmental measures were taken to suppress the distribution of the previous beheading videos (Nick Berg et al.). This, too, fuels the suspicion that Koreans are selfish or, to use their own proverbial image, "a frog in a well"-- radically blinkered in perspective, collectively unable to empathize with the sufferings of non-Koreans, but overly sensitive to their own suffering.

I am writing this letter not primarily to criticize all Koreans (I'm ethnically half-Korean, and an American citizen), nor to express a generalized condemnation of Korean culture. As is true anywhere else, this culture has its merits and demerits, and overall, I'm enjoying my time here. No, my purpose is more specific: to cause the South Korean government as much embarrassment as possible, and perhaps to motivate Korean citizens to engage in some much-needed introspection.

To this end, I need the blogosphere's help, and this letter needs wide distribution (you may receive other letters from different bloggers, so be prepared!). I hope you'll see fit to publish this letter on your site, and/or to distribute it to concerned parties: censorship in a supposedly democratic society simply cannot stand. The best and quickest way to persuade the South Korean government to back down from its current position is to make it lose face in the eyes of the world. This can only happen through a determined (and civilized!) campaign to expose the government's hypocrisy and to cause Korean citizens to rethink their own narrow-mindedness.

We can debate all we want about "root causes" with regard to Islamic terrorism, Muslim rage, and all the rest, but for me, it's much more constructive to proceed empirically and with an eye to the future. Like it or not, what we see today is that Korea is inextricably linked with Iraq issues, and with issues of Islamic fundamentalism. Koreans, however, may need some persuading that this is in fact the case-- that we all need to stand together as allies against a common enemy.

If you are interested in giving the South Korean Ministry of Information and Culture a piece of your mind (or if you're a reporter who would like to contact them for further information), please email the MIC at:

webmaster@mic.go.kr

Thank you,


Kevin Kim
bighominid@gmail.com
Big Hominid's Hairy Chasms

(Blogspot is currently blocked in Korea, along with other providers; please go to Unipeak.com and type my URL into the search window to view my blog.)

PS: To send me an email, please type "hairy chasms" in the subject line to avoid being trashed by my custom-made spam filter.

PPS: Much better blogs than mine have been covering this issue, offering news updates and heartfelt commentary. To start you off, visit:


The Marmot's Hole
Ruminations in Korea
About Joel
Oranckay
Budae Chigae
Flying Yangban
Rathbone Press
Blog of the Pythi Master

Here as well, Unipeak is the way to go if you're in Korea and unable to view the above blogs. People in the States should, in theory, have no problems accessing these sites, which all continue to be updated.

PPPS: This email is being cc'ed to the South Korean Ministry of Information and Culture. Please note that other bloggers are writing about the Korean government's creation of a task force that will presumably fight internet terror. I and others have an idea that this task force will serve a different purpose. If this is what South Korea's new "aligning with the PRC" is all about, then there's reason to worry for the future.

I am still in shock. Who woulda thunk it?

Earlier this week the Hankyoreh, in an editorial called US Didn't Tell of Kim's Capture , blasted the US for the death of Kim Sun-il. No surprise on that count. Enraged at Washington as usual the hatemeisters claimed:

The US military was involved from the early stages of events, but never even thought of informing the Korean government.

Had our government learned of events early on and gotten to work then the situation now would be significantly different. Interestingly enough, on June 18, immediately after Kim Seon Il was kidnapped, the Korean government announced it was going ahead with deploying troops to Iraq, and the armed group holding him is demanding the decision be withdrawn. From the perspective of his captors, he has just become a lot more valuable. The situation became that much more complicated.

If perhaps the US government chose not to tell the Korea because it was worried the news would negatively affect Korea's troop decision, then the US is deserving of criticism from Korea and the whole world. Even if it was a strategic decision made by US military officials there in Iraq, it trampled on the least of principles involved in an alliance. The US has a responsibility to make a clear explanation regarding this issue.

It's so dumbfounding you're at a loss for words. The identity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials who received a telephone call from the Associated Press asking whether Kim Seon Il had been kidnapped has been revealed. Before even engaging in its own internal inquiry, the foreign ministry talked about how public confidence in its work was at stake, and demanding of the AP that it reveal the name of the official it spoke with, threatening it with "all possible measures" if it "doesn’t reveal the truth." Talk about international embarrassments, that's about as bad as it gets. The foreign ministry and the whole of the Korean government have become the laughing stock of the international community. The Korean people are so ashamed they almost want to find a mouse hole to hide in.

Even more surprising is that the AP talked with more than one official. It talked with public relations, and also with the Middle East office, so you're just shocked. Furthermore, the AP says it also contacted the Korean embassy in Baghdad in addition to the ministry offices in Seoul. That being the case, Korean ambassador Im Hong Jae was lying when he said he was never asked anything by the AP. One can't help but suggest the ministry is engaged in a deliberate cover-up.

What is most distressing and enraging is the fact that had the ministry not ignored the AP's call, Kim might have been able to avoid his tragic end. His name was clearly on the list of Korean citizens in Iraq that the foreign ministry in Seoul was maintaining, and it has a system in place through which you can identify a Korean overseas with just his three syllable name. Had one of the officials who the AP talked to been alert and prompt enough to do something, it would have been enough to save Kim's life. Instead, the foreign ministry was negligent. Its first responsibility is supposed to be the protection of Korean nationals, so as dereliction of duty goes this is as bad as it gets.

This case has left public confidence and trust in the government at the lowest of possible levels. It's not a problem confined to the foreign ministry. How can you call the government a government when its negligence leaves the precious lives of the people to die?

The Chosun Ilbo today comments on the Korean world view and how Koreans have failed to draw lessons from tragedies such as the Korean War choosing to distort events for pyschological reasons. The newspaper states:

The truth and historical lessons embedded in the lives of people who experienced the Korean War have not been passed on to the later generations. We have failed to accept the greatest tragedy of our history as it is but instead, have intentionally distorted the facts, harming the present and the future of the South-North Korean relationship and the alliance with the United States.

Under the wing of US protection, some Koreans (especially younger ones) have developed a naive idea of how the world works. Kim's death has shocked some Koreans into wanting to go back into their cocoon. But, with Korea's relationship with the United States maturing and its place in world affairs becoming more important, the time has come for Koreans to realize that you are not going to win over everyone with good intentions.

Korea is still reeling from the news of Kim Sun-il's beheading by militant Islamic terrorists. Although Koreans have universally condemned the shocking killing, how they are interpreting its meaning varies. Some Koreans are calling for the complete cancellation of their country's August troop dispatch while others are demanding that Seoul remain committed to its plan to assist Iraqis with rebuilding and democratization efforts.

A lot of news today. Daum News has posted a video of Kim Sun-il from several weeks ago talking to his abductors. In the video, Kim's kidnappers ask him questions about who he is, when he was born, where he was from, and what his job was. Kim appears fairly composed in the video clip, unlike in later videos which show him frightened and under great duress. You can view the Daum video here.

In other news, Korean netizens have tried to crash the shock site Ogrish.com for its gruesome advertisement asking for Kim Sun-il's execution video. The netizens were unable to disable the web site and Ogrish.com has threatened to prosecute hackers.

As anticipated, the actual beheading video is now posted at Ogrish.com. [Warning: Very disturbing images.] Korean authorities and Internet portals have pledged to block distribution of the video, but such efforts are unlikely to be efffective now that it is up on a foreign web site.

There are those in Korea who say the video should not be circulated so as not to dishonor the memory of Kim Sun-il. People in this camp have a point: human life should be respected. However, it is ironic that the same individuals were silent when Nick Berg's video was posted all over the Internet and Korean television aired footage of Berg's beheading. Apparently, for many people, the beheading of an American is acceptable to watch while that of a Korean is not. Either all such videos should be made freely available or none should. Making exceptions for Koreans implies the lives of other people are somehow less important -- this is an inconsistent and unreasonable viewpoint.

My take on this issue is that the Kim Sun-il video should be allowed to circulate. It should be viewed by as many people as possible to see the horrors terrorists are capable of. We should watch the video as individuals on our own free will and in a respectful and reflective way. I am, of course, against those who would make light of the situation or take perverse delight in Kim Sun-il's suffering. Out of respect for humanity, however, we must not live in denial nor refrain from observing what Kim Sun-il's captors have done. By turning away, we will only allow such evil in the world to continue. We have to know and confront who the enemy is, however disturbing are the images we may see.

In other news, expat bloggers in Korea have been following the story closely. Below is a quick summary of what they are saying:

The Marmot discusses Korean anger directed at Muslims and threats to burn down mosques as well as the general reactions of Koreans and bloggers to the beheading.

Budae Chigae links to a disturbing story on the just discovered videotape of Kim Sun-il from May (?). Apparently this tape (the first video I linked to above), was given to the Associated Press in early June. AP was not sure if Kim Sun-il was in danger at that time, but informed the Korean Foreign Ministry about the tape. The Foreign Ministry claimed to be unaware of the video and abduction.

Joshua at One Free Korea Blog does not think the beheading will improve US-ROK relations. He argues:

For all those who think that the murder of Kim Seon-Il will bring Korea and America closer together, I dissent. A wave of hatred against muslims and a desire to seek collective vengeance don't add up to shared values and interests. If anything, this will only deepen Korean resentment of the U.S., particularly given the universe of difference in our views on North Korea. In fact, I still suspect the Uri will continue to stall the Iraq deployment until the war is over.

Condolences to the family of Kim Sun-il. In part because their son suffered a horrible death, and in part because he has now become a pawn in the Hate-America fest of Korean NGO's whether they like it or not.

They will see his face plastered on websites, protest posters, and "memorials" as a victim of George Bush and the Great Satan for the rest of their natural lives. Anyone who's been in Korea for more than a week saw this coming from the minute the kidnapping story broke.

This morning I had planned to write an article called "What if...?" on what could happen if Kim Sun-il were executed by Islamic militants. I had presumed that Kim still had time to live and even might not be killed. But when I turned on my computer and read the news I saw that Kim had already been murdered.

Below are some articles from major Korean dailies on the grisly killing:

South Korean Hostage Executed by Militants in Iraq (Korea Times)

President Roh Issues Statement on Execution (Korea Times)

Korean Hostage Murdered in Iraq (Korea Herald)

Kim Sun-il Executed by Captors in Iraq (Chosun Ilbo)

An Unpardonable Act of Barbarism (Chosun Ilbo)

South Korean Hostage Executed by Militants in Iraq (Yonhap News)

Koreans Shocked, Angry at Death of Hostage in Iraq (Yonhap News)

President Roh Condemns Killing of Hostage (Yonhap News)

The Dongang Ilbo was completely in the dark on this story: Kim Sun-il Appears to be Fine

So too was the Joongang Ilbo: Kidnap Victim Held By Iraqis Reported Alive

Since we cannot ask "What if..?" the question now is, "What will happen next?" On that score, I foresee two major changes.

First, I think the terrorists miscalculated what effect the murder would have. They likely expected Koreans to call strongly for an end to the August troop dispatch and withdraw Korean troops out of Iraq. Many Koreans will continue to make such calls. On the other hand, we should see some sweeping changes in the general public's attitude toward the war on terror. In this respect, the killing will probably push more Koreans into the pro-dispatch/anti-terror group. This would mean we could expect more and more Koreans calling for a strengthening of South Korea's resolve to take on the terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere. The broad masses of Koreans who have until now sat on the fence and not spoken out against terror or voiced support for democratization efforts in Iraq will now more clearly choose sides -- and it will not be against the war effort.

Second, I think South Korea will finally start taking the threat of terrorism seriously. Previously, terrorist acts had always been someone else's problem. Now, Koreans can see that, regardless of whatever good intentions they may have, they are a terrorist target as much as any other country. This rude awakening will be a positive development in that now necessary precautions will be taken so fewer citizens will be put at risk at home and abroad. Until now, South Korea has been a disaster waiting to happen. The beheading of Kim Sun-il has revealed that lack of preparedness and complacency can be extremely dangerous.

As for what implications the killing will have for US-ROK relations, it is too early to tell. On the one hand, we can expect NGOs and "progressives" to become more anti-American in their words and deeds. On the other hand, with more people moving into the pro-dispatch group we may see a greater appreciation for the role America has played in securing South Korea's freedom and more sensitivity to what Americans have experienced post-911. We may see a moderate strenghthening of the alliance, but whether or not that will be longlasting remains to be seen. In the very least, however, a stronger commitment on the part of South Korea in Iraq will bode well for the US.

Whatever way you examine it, South Korea has lost its innocence. The tragic death of Kim Sun-il has set in motion a train of events that will force the nation to re-examine its position in the world and make choices that it previously did not have the power or will to make. Let us hope that this tragedy is not in vain and that instead of recoiling and turning away from the world Koreans make this their "finest hour" and show the greatness that they are capable of.

UPDATE I: Some Korean political analysts apparently are expressing the same view as this blog on what the beheading will mean for Korean society. See: Beheading Firms Korean Resolve

UPDATE II: Yahoo News reports that the US launched airstrikes on militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the wake of the beheading.

As I expected, Roh Moo-hyun is showing signs of indecision. Rather than demonstrating resolve and refusing to give the kidnappers what they are asking for, Roh is apparently backpedaling and signalling that he may renege on South Korea's promise to dispatch troops.

This from Yonhap News:

South Korea on Tuesday stepped back from its position to abide by its pledge to send additional troops to Iraq in an apparent effort not to adversely affect the ongoing negotiations to set free a South Korean kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents who demanded South Korea's withdrawal of the troop dispatch plan.

The United States on Tuesday faced allegations that it had intentionally kept South Korea in the dark about the abduction of Kim Sun-il, the South Korean interpreter working for a subcontractor to U.S. forces in Iraq.

According to South Korean government officials, it had become aware of Kim being kidnapped on June 21, at least three days after he was taken hostage by an al-Qaida-supported terrorist group.

Choi Seung-kap, president of South Korean security company New Korea Total Service (NKTS), said his Iraqi business partner successfully contacted Kim's captors Monday afternoon (Iraqi time) and confirmed that Kim is still alive.

"Kim is now detained at an unidentified place in Iraq. My Iraqi business partner is negotiating his release with the Iraqi kidnappers," Choi told the Yonhap News Agency over the phone.

Choi refused to disclose the exact location of Kim's detention, citing security reasons.....

"My Iraqi business partner is meeting again with the kidnappers Tuesday, with the results due around 7 to 8 p.m. tonight (Korean time)," Choi said, adding that he may fly to Iraq Wednesday if there is any progress in the ongoing negotiations.

CNN has just reported that a South Korean national has been abducted by an unidentified terrorist group in Iraq. According to CNN, the group has threatened to behead the man, identified as Kim Sun-il, unless South Korea withdraws all of its present troops in Iraq and cancels plans to send additional forces. The South Korean government was given 24 hours to comply.

This development is very bad news, given that the South Korean government, after months of deliberations and infighting, just decided to finally send 3,000 additional soldiers to Iraq. It also comes at a time when factions within the Uri Party and civic groups are stepping up efforts to block or at least throw a wrench into the planned dispatch.

It remains to be seen how Koreans will react to this abduction. The government cannot now renege on its promise to send troops without doing even more grave damage to its already tarnished reputation as an unreliable ally. If it any way stalls the latest dispatch (which will not take place until August), the enemies of Iraqi democracy and political stability will be emboldened and see kidnapping as an even more viable means of achieving their ends.

On the other hand, if the government does not cave in to pressure it will find itself in a difficult position. The hostage will likely be killed and this may give rise to more protests against the dispatch, even though the deployment is largely symbolic and humanitarian in scope and in a region where troops or help are not urgently needed.

At this time leadership is urgently needed. Unfortunately, this is something Roh sorely lacks. His poor statesmanship and lack of decisivesness have deepened divisions in Korean society that the terrorists are only too happy to exploit. Had Roh followed through with a firm and modest comittment to Iraq early on, he would not have drawn attention to South Korea. But given the terrorists' desperation and the impending changeover to a democratic government in Iraq, the much-delayed dispatch is now very ill-timed. Islamo-fascist forces will make all efforts to thwart democratization and kidnapping foreign soldiers and citizens is but one tool at their disposal. Naturally, they will focus on one of the weakest links in the chain -- South Korea.

The wisest course would be for Roh not to accede to the kidnappers' demands. He should stand firm behind South Korea's pledge to send more troops. If this path is not taken, more Koreans in Iraq will be endangered as more abductions will surely follow to capitalize on divisions in Korean society. Korean citizens, for their part, should condemn the kidnapping, demand the captive's release and stand firmly united against terrorism. Demonstrating against South Korea's ally the US will only undermine rebuilding efforts in Iraq and worsen the present situation for the Iraqi people.

UPDATE I: Ruminations in Korea has a post on the subject. Jeff provides a link to a video with the captive pleading for his life. You can view the video here. The Command Post also has a post on this incident. Some comments there compare this hostage with the courageous Italian who was abducted and slain a few weeks ago. Hat tip to Infidel for that link.

UPDATE II: More Held Hostage in Iraq Than S. Korean Employee: Company Head

UPDATE III: The Joongang Ilbo asks Koreans to stand behind the dispatch and the government to do all it can to win the release of the hostage. The Chosun Ilbo asks Koreans to not be deterred from their troops' mission in Iraq.

The Marmot and Budae Chigae also provide excellent overviews and commentary.

The Japan Times has published an article by Richard Halloran, a former correspondent for the Washington Times and Business Week, on the US plan to alter its global troop arrangements. South Korea gets a mention.

On Japan as an ally, the article states:

Japan is seen as a steady ally despite constitutional constraints on its military actions. Said one U.S. officer: "The Japanese have done everything we asked of them in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Politically, the delay of President Roh Moo Hyun's government in Seoul to dispatch troops to Iraq has generated a perception that South Korea may not be a reliable ally. Some American officers have wondered privately whether South Korea could be counted on if the U.S. got into hostilities with North Korea or China.

Pro-China leanings of many South Koreans, especially those younger, has caused some South Korean specialists in international relations to caution that their nation should not weaken what one called its "maritime alliance" with the U.S. in favor of Korea's traditional role as a vassal of China.

A subtle factor in American strategic thinking is Korea's continuing anti-Japanese posture even though Japan's occupation of Korea ended nearly 60 years ago. In U.S. military planning, Japan and Korea are part of the same area of operations and Korean animosity toward Japan is seen as a hindrance to U.S. action.

Lats month, in commenting on China and the North Korean refugee issue, I had this to say:

A recent report suggests China has sent on average 150 NK refugees back to North Korea each week over the past year. In total, some 8,000 defectors are thought to have been forcibly repatriated....

I am still wondering what happened to the refugees on the hunger strike in China a few weeks ago. Did the South Korean government win their release? As usual, I have not read a follow up story.

Ambassador Li said, “We learned that North Korea does not punish defectors even when they are returned home nowadays if they are not political dissidents. We sent back those defectors because they wanted to do to meet their families. Also, we do not want this incident to cause problems in intra-Korean relations.”

Diplomatic Policy Director Lee Sun-jin summoned the Chinese Ambassador in Seoul, Li Bin, to express regret. In a meeting with him, Lee said, “We cannot believe that the Chinese government sent those North Korean defectors back to the North according to their free will.” He also strongly demanded that China make sure those defectors sent home will not be persecuted, and in the future take more advanced measures when it comes to North Korean defectors.

The Korea Times reports that the impending USFK reductions are already resulting in job losses for Koreans. Unionized Korean workers are predicting that 40 percent of 18,000 employees will lose their jobs once the reductions take effect.

While it is not exactly clear how many Korean employees with the USFK will lose their jobs, it certainly is evident that a fair number of people will be laid off since their services will no longer be required. 12,500 US soldiers is a significant number, and many Koreans' livelihoods hang in the balance once the GIs leave.

If the South Korean government makes good with its promises to bolster the nation's defenses to make up for lower American troop numbers some jobs should open up. But the days of drawing a salary from Uncle Sam are drawing to a close for many Korean civilians. Although the US has pledged to invest some $11 billion to upgrade the ROK's defenses in the near future, the investments will likely be mainly in technology and not create many jobs for Koreans.

According to the Times, the unions are up in arms and preparing to protest the exodus of US troops and the lack of government compensation for dismissed workers.

Roh Moo-hyun could not be reached for comment.

The Chosun Ilbo has just posted an article about Western men's love affair with Korean women. Among the husbands of Korean wives, we get the obligatory mention of Woody Allen, Wesley Snipes and -- the soon to be new member of the club -- Nicholas Cage.

I enjoyed reading the quotations and the author's and others' attempts to explain that which cannot be explained: Why do Western men apparently dig Korean babes so much?

One explanation in the article is that Korean women are "submissive." I laughed at that one. I think I am the "submissive" one in my marriage now. As my wife is as stubborn as a female Kim Jong-il (No, she doesn't look like him -- though I fear I am starting to resemble the Dear Leader in the looks department), I just let her do whatever she wants. I am too exhausted to fight anymore. Whatever illusions I may have had about "submissive" Korean women have been discarded long ago. Maybe the issue is that many Korean women like "submissive" or easily bossed about Canadian men. I don't know...

I also liked the "Korean women are not materialistic" angle. I challenge anyone to go to a Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Hermes store in North America -- when you can find one -- and note the ethnicity or nationality of the women in the store. In the case of Vancouver, I did not see a single Canadian women in the Louis Vuitton shop when I visited. Almost every woman was Korean or Japanese. The Canadian women were somewhere else -- maybe Salvation Army or Walmart. Or maybe they were out kickboxing or roping steers.

But Korean women do have something. They are feminine even though they can be strong. They do not feel the need to act like a man or compete with men. They seem confident about who they are. And they take pride in their appearance. I am generalizing, of course, but I think there is something to what I am saying.

Actually, when I look at many fashionable Korean women (sans the market ajuma types) I am reminded of the 1950s. I think back to film stars such as Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood and the then svelte and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. I cannot think of a single caucasian Hollywood actress today that I find attractive. I mean, take Pamela Anderson, for instance. How any man could be attracted to a walking STD dispenser with false, oversized flapping boobs is beyond me. Today's Hollywood, unfortunately, mirrors well what is wrong with American and, by extension, Canadian women.

Many Korean women -- admittedly, not all -- have an elegance that Western women used to have but have lost. Just a walk down a busy street in Seoul is a feast for the eyes -- a glimpse back to a time when Western women too had style, grace and class. But how to define what it is exactly Korean women have, I can't say except to use the French expression 'Je ne sais quoi'.

David Scofield has penned yet another gem -- this one on Robert Kim, "patriotic" hero of Korea. As it turns out, the Korean media -- surprise, surprise -- have left out some significant details about his case.

My wife is lurking behind me and about to hit me with something, so I will just post the article below. No time to comment other than to say this: "Awesome article." Ouch! That smarts!

South Korea's 'heroic' spy
By David Scofield

South Korea's media and elected officials have been heralding the patriotic virtue of a Korean-American released on house arrest after serving seven years in a US prison on espionage charges - a national celebration of deceit that may further cloud the "future of the alliance". Meanwhile, the ninth round of the US-South Korea Future of the Alliance Talks dragged on - concluding on Tuesday without reaching a resolution on contentious issues concerning the timing of a US Forces in Korea (USFK) withdrawal from Seoul and the allocation of land south of Seoul for the development of a unified USFK facility.

In 1997, Robert (Chae-gon) Kim, a naturalized US citizen since 1974, was convicted of using his position and access to highly sensitive, top-secret information at the Office of Naval Intelligence to locate and pass off top-secret intelligence on North Korean submarine movements and Chinese naval deployments to South Korean naval attache Baek Dong-il. Evidence has it that he offered his services to the South Koreans in a bid to build trust and potentially pave the way for more lucrative acts of duplicity in the future.

According to US Federal Bureau of Investigation wiretaps, Robert Kim and his brother Kim Yung-gon devised a plan to "acquire", reverse engineer and sell a secret US military computer system to the South Korean government, a plan that if successful would likely have ensured the two brothers a huge windfall for their efforts. Robert Kim acquired export permits and licenses that would have allowed the Kim brothers to export stolen, sensitive technology to South Korea under the guise of normal technology trade. These licenses were ultimately revoked by the US Department of Commerce in June 2000.

Espionage in intelligence agencies is not new. Money, blackmail - the motivators are many, but the gall of Kim claiming his treasonous behavior was motivated only by love of his birth country is frustrating, not supported by fact, and wholeheartedly accepted by the South Korean press and relayed as truth to the Korean people, many of whom consider Kim a hero and a patriot - nationality notwithstanding.

That Robert Kim is guilty of sedition is incontrovertible. He was not tried and found guilty, but rather pleaded guilty to "conspiring to gather national defense information" when confronted with the mountain of evidence investigators had compiled. He pleaded guilty and cut a deal on sentencing; a deal that in 1997 reflected the strong desire of the US government to maintain the perception of a strong US-South Korea alliance, vital to maintaining the deterrence component of the 1994 Agreed Framework with North Korea.

But these facts are conveniently avoided in the South Korean press, and by extension, ignored by the South Korean people. Robert Kim, with a nudge and a wink from the South Korean government, is being portrayed in all media sources, left, right and center, as a patriot who selflessly sacrificed for his homeland. There has been no discussion of his financial problems: the US$200,000 in credit-card debt the assistant US attorney asserted during Kim's bail hearing; the export license he acquired; the highly sensitive technology he was hoping to sell to the government of South Korea; to say nothing of the fact he's still clutching his US citizenship, apparently in no hurry to settle in the land of his true patriot love, South Korea.

The intentional exclusion of relevant facts related to his case by South Korea's media and government is an example of a national tendency to bifurcation, a bipolar approach to the world that portrays issues as starkly "good or bad", with any act committed in defense of Korea's "pride" being good. Reality and logic take a back seat to a system of institutionalized myth-making that makes a hero of someone like Robert Kim, a national myth that bears little resemblance to the truth, and casts the "alliance formed in blood" with the United States in doubt.

The government of South Korea does not seem at all embarrassed about the celebration of Kim's "espionage in the name of Korea". Indeed, sitting lawmakers, the press and various civic groups have been very vocal in demanding that Kim be allowed to return "home", regardless of his US nationality or the fact that he's spent the past 30 years living in the United States.

While Robert Kim sits out his house detention at his home in Virginia, his South Korean support groups are kicking activities into high gear in anticipation of his eventual return to Korea - though the Korean patriot has not indicated he'll be giving up his US citizenship any time soon.

The chairman of President Roh Moo-hyun's Our Open Party pledged his party's support for Robert Kim and his family - Robert's brother Kim Song-gon is now a sitting member of the party. Robert Kim "Aid Associations" have been sponsoring "white envelope" meetings, hoping to collect more than $4 million for South Korea's spy - a retroactive salary of more than $500,000 a year for the seven-plus years Kim spent in prison. The National Assembly is hosting a public exhibition of his pictures, while newspaper editorials express hope that Kim will "come home" and tour South Korea's schools giving lessons on how to be a patriotic Korean - a guide to duplicity and advice on how to use a position of trust for personal gain, all while wrapping the whole vile exercise in the flag of patriotism.

Robert Kim is not a patriot of any country. He is a deeply corrupted American of Korean ethnicity who used his position of trust within the United States government to further his own agenda. He made it known to his South Korean handlers that he would be more than happy to violate both laws and any remaining ethics or morals he may have had in order to build trust and buy him the credibility necessary to broker even larger, more lucrative illegal transactions in the future.

The nation's reaction to Kim and the insistence that he was somehow noble in his quest to enrich himself through espionage is absurd and deals a further blow to what remains of the "future of the alliance".

It will be difficult for Korea to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Unites States, Japan, and Germany in the near future. But, it seems that Canada can be easily caught up with. Canada’s population is much smaller than ours, and its gross national product is not more than twice ours. As the world’s twelfth to thirteenth largest economy, “passing Canada” is not a dream-like task. It is more practicable goal than becoming the “central country of northeast Asia” which needs to pass China and Japan. Seeing the summit meeting of the powerful countries, I am thinking that joining the G8 should not be the long-term goal of our country. But isn’t it just pleasant to imagine?

The Marmot has posted a well-thought out piece on anti-Americanism in Korea. Specifically, he comments on this article by Lee Sook-jong, from the Sejong Institute.

Our Friendly Neighborhood Rodent has this to say:

Personally, I think the best way to abate anti-Americanism in South Korea is not through reassuring Seoul, but by letting it fend for itself. So much of the anti-Americanism simply comes from naivete about the way the world works.

And South Koreans aren't to blame for this -- we are. Some of this is simply the natural result of being a hegemon -- in the end, it's the U.S. which must shoulder the ultimate responsibility of ensuring that the international system runs smoothly because we built the system.

American policy makers should act to abate the anti-Americanism in Korean society for two reasons. First of all, negative feelings towards the US among Korean civilians could harm the traditionally robust US-Korea alliance. Close cooperation and trust between Washington and Seoul is more necessary than ever if the current nuclear crisis is to be resolved. And as the US moves soldiers from South Korea to Iraq, it must prove its continued commitment to South Korea’s defense so that South Koreans feel confident about the alliance’s future.

Secondly, left unchecked, anti-US sentiment could transform domestic politics in South Korea. Inflated by South Korea’s currently unstable political scene, anti-American sentiment mixed with strong nationalism could empower political leaders who would create tension and create a chasm in the alliance. If an empowered progressive force in South Korea radicalizes its position towards the US, the divided Korean society is likely to be engulfed by chaos.

Budae Chigae has just posted a good summary concerning the USFK troop reduction and relocation issues. The post is well worth a read as it provides some helpful background on South Korean reactions to the plans.

One thing I have been thinking about lately is how North Korea is perceiving the US plan to withdraw 12,500 of its troops and move other forces away from the DMZ and out of Yongsan. If you regularly examine the KCNA web site, you will see a lot of shrill cries for the USFK to exit completely. But these calls for complete withdrawal are mixed with other hysterics that claim the US is preparing for a pre-emptive attack on the North.

I have offered my viewpoints elsewhere on why the North expresses such contradictory views. Mainly, my argument is that the North does not truly wish to see US troop reductions. This is because the whole totalitarian society is geared for war and justifies its existence based on the US "threat." With the US not appearing as a "threat," the possibility of actual reunification could be raised more and more -- but, as I have also argued, the North does not want reunification as it would undermine the communist apparatchiks' power and spell the end of Kim Jong-il et al. The only way North Korea would wish reunification would be on its terms and under its leadership -- something which is currently not in the cards.

With US troops withdrawing out of South Korea, Kim Jong-il also loses a bargaining chip. We know the idea of the "tripwire" is obsolete and highly insulting to US troops. However, the threats the North could make to the USFK have allowed the Stalinist state to extract billions in food and economic aid from the US over the years. The amount of aid has declined under the Bush Administration, but US troops in effect served well as Kim Jong-il's hostages. If fewer US troops are threatened by Kim's bluster, the reclusive North Korean leader may reason that he can expect even fewer concessions from his hated American enemy.

Where does this all lead us? My theory is this: If the North does not wish to see US troops actually leave (as it could lead to more calls for reunification and leave the DPRK with less bargaining power) it will make moves to stall US withdrawal. This it can do in many ways -- traditional methods include rocket tests, border and naval skirmishes with South Korean troops and sea vessels, and pledges to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire." Other options are threats to sell nuclear material or devices to rogue nations or terrorist groups or conduct underground nuclear bomb tests.

While I am all for a complete withdrawal of US forces from South Korea, I still do not expect it to transpire anytime soon. I do see the US making some major efforts to remove troops -- such as the proposed 12,500 troop reductions. I also see the USFK shifting away from the DMZ and Yongsan.

But I am also expecting North Korea to make some highly provocative counter-moves. On the surface, one would think the North Koreans would welcome any apparent reductions of US ground forces on the Peninsula, but undereath the rhetoric the material and political interests of the North's ruling classes are ironically served well by a strong US presence in the ROK.

I hope I am wrong and we will see a speedy exodus of US troops from the ROK and -- even more optimistically -- talks between the Koreas for actual reunification at some point in the not so distant future. But I strongly suspect -- as many other observers, no doubt -- that neither scenario will come to fruition. Instead, the North will do everything in its power to keep the USFK in the South and -- through nuclear and other forms of blackmail -- keep attention focused on its demands for economic assistance and regime recognition.

In brief, we should welcome any announcements calling for US troop reductions or redeployments but keep in mind that the North will work hard to disrupt such challenges to the status quo. My prediction is that the greater the possibility of massive US troop changes, the bolder and more dangerous will be the counter-moves made by the North.

As always, your comments are welcome.

UPDATE: Right on cue.

UPDATE II: Right on cue again -- NK Tests Missile.

UPDATE III: Right on cue again, again -- NK Blasts US Troop Cuts.

I think I should go into the clairvoyant business. Why am I not being quoted by CNN?

When the Lord calls me home, whenever that day may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.

I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.

Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you. Ronald Reagan (1994)

The Baby Riots

Bars, Clubs Turn US Soldiers Away

I don't have anything special to say today, so for the first time on my blog I am going to give a quick round up on what other bloggers have been talking about this week.

Budae Chigae, an excellent source on Korea and the US-ROK alliance, has posted a fascinating article on "Korean nazis" during World War II. It may sound strange, but documented proof exists of Koreans actually fighting for Adolf Hitler. One particular individual had been drafted into the Japanese army; then forced into the Soviet army; and then captured, dressed in a Nazi uniform, and impressed into the German army. Finally, the Americans captured him on D-Day at Normandy and his years as an international soldier came to an end. Imagine telling that story to your grandchildren.

At Ruminations in Korea, Jeff discovers he is actually a GI Joe action figure impersonating a human being, talks about "nude" vending machines, and praises the "new woman" in his life, "Arlene," "a temperamental broad with a wicked personality."

Flying Yangban comments on the protest culture of Korean university students -- in this case, college students at Ansan College. According to FY, the main feature of protests is that they are a way to skip class and have fun. Only the leaders seem to care -- everyone else is out for a good time. FY also expresses wonder at the same protest songs being played over and over at every demonstration.

Elsewhere, Brian over at Carthartidae appears a little stressed out. Keeping his game cafe afloat is taking its toll and he analyzes why business is down. It looks like he is ready to abandon ship. In another post, Carthartidae expresses frustration with Robert Kim, currently the darling of the Korean media for betraying his adopted country, America.

The Big Hominid, now apparently wandering the streets of Seoul aimlessly without a home and job, is showing signs of further dementia. Topics on his slate this week include his pet centipede, "That Sly Fucker, George Lucas," walking around with his fly open all day, and leaving his job at Seoul Women's University. Let's keep our fingers (or other appendages) crossed and hope he gets the job at Ehwa Woman's University he applied for.

The Party Pooper discusses a worrying development: the lowering of legal age to 19 in Korea. According to Mr. Poop, "It's a pure political power move." He expresses concern that Korean politics, through this change, will become more xenophobic. He also drops feces on the political label "progressive," "when the view of being "progressive" in Korea is preaching hatred and intolerance of the US and Japan and moving towards communist dictorships like North Korea and China."

The Marmot gets the scoop on everyone once again. He comments on Ken Adelman's article "What's Up With the Koreans?", discusses China's recent bitch slapping of South Koreans in the face, and talks about the recent poll of South Korean students where students suggest the US is the greatest barrier to reunification yet also state they are in favor of keeping US troops on the Peninsula.

Finally, we have a new blog in town, GI Korea Blog. Among the topics looked at this week on this blog are a tour of the War Memorial Museum, General Campell's speculations on the US-ROK alliance, the portrayal of US soldiers in Korean literature, and the Shinchon Stabbing Incident.

One of the most curious things about Korean politics is the manner in which the Korean public views international and US-ROK relations. Korean students, in particular, are notable for their ability to hold several contradictory thoughts at one time. As that wily fellow the Marmot says, it's sometimes a wonder these kids' heads don't explode.

The proof of Korean students' uncanny ability to simultaneously believe and espouse two or more conflicting viewpoints can be seen in the results of a recent opinion poll. The Chosun Ilbo states:

According to an online survey of 1,270 college students across the nation, 49.1 percent responded that among the four neighboring great powers, the U.S. would most oppose the reunification of Korea, followed by Japan (35.7 percent), China (10.3 percent) and Russia (5.0 percent).

On the other hand, 38.3 percent of respondents [the majority] picked China as the country that supports reunification the most.