Anti-Americanism

February 12, 2007

Buried Under the Margin of Error

Park Seok-jin is a devoted human rights activist in Seoul, one who is not afraid to complain bitingly about infringements of basic civil rights in Korea or elsewhere. Mr. Park’s Sarangbang Group for Human Rights runs a Web site that deals with a wide range of concerns from Palestine to trans-gender issues. But there is one area where he is notably silent: infringements on human rights by the government of North Korea. He is one of many liberal or left-wing...

Anti-Americanism/Human Rights/The Fifth Column

February 6, 2007

Come Here and Let Us Hate You!

Don’t get me wrong; I actually like Dick Cheney. He’s from Wyoming, which practically makes him a neighbor, and he may be one of the few people out there who’s hard-line enough for my taste, particularly on North Korea, but you have to admit that he has lacked rock star appeal recently. That’s why it’s puzzling to see even hypersensitive South Korea feel slighted by the fact that Cheney will give the place a miss in an upcoming Asia trip. ...

An Alliance?/Anti-Americanism/Korean Politics/U.S. & Korea

February 3, 2007

Here Comes the Election!

Update: I’ve been expecting this, and I expect more of it: There is a fourth reason why the P.P. [the new leftist party that will officially replace Uri this month] will recover considerable support, and it’s the timeless appeal of nationalism, particularly in Korea (ht). The P.P. leaders, Comrade Chung and (especially) Kim Geun Tae, show no sign of any ethical, political, or financial restraints to stop them from setting new lows in crass appeals to those sentiments, to include...

Anti-Americanism/Korean Politics/Korean Society/U.S. & Korea/U.S. Military/UCMJ & SOFA

January 31, 2007

Hey! Clarify This!

South Korea expressed concern over “undiplomatic” remarks made by the top U.S. military officer here regarding possible delays in the relocation of U.S. military bases, a Foreign Ministry official said yesterday. [link] Background here. The Foreign Ministry would also like you to know that this is not an “official” warning; it’s really just the diplomatic equivalent of a fix-it ticket. No fine, no court appearance. Guess that “I support the alliance” bumper sticker paid off after all. “The comment (made...

An Alliance?/Anti-Americanism/China & Korea/Korean Society/U.S. & Korea/U.S. Military

January 30, 2007

Almost Right

The Joongang Ilbo (among others) writes about discontented foreigners, but disappoints by limiting itself to the financial issues faced by a limited cross-section of foreigners: Let’s think about what it will be like if they return to their mother countries with mistrust and hate in their hearts. It will have a boomerang effect on Korean businessmen and students who are abroad. In this globalizing world, must we cut ourselves off through this exclusive attitude? [link] Yes, and this recognition is...

Anti-Americanism/Korean Society/U.S. & Korea/U.S. Military

January 22, 2007

It’s All a Matter of Perspective

Does it sometimes seem to you like we are two ships that pass in the night? The South Korean government should not disgrace itself by obeying foreign powers and imposing sanctions on its brethren…. South Korea’s political parties, groups and the public in all walks of life should be aware of the maneuvers of conservatives to take power …. South Koreans should form a broad anti-conservative alliance to destroy pro-American and anti-unification politicians and their conspiracies. You say that like...

Anti-Americanism/Appeasement/WTF?

January 21, 2007

Somewhere in Hell, Josef Goebbels Is Smiling: Klaus Bender’s Big Lie

Update: In my visitors’ log today: Original Post: You may recall that a few weeks back, I noted that the Korean press had picked up a story from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, one that many of its readers will no doubt be eager to believe. The story reported that North Korean supernotes are actually made by the CIA at an undisclosed location near Washington, D.C. Not being much of a German linguist, I made myself a reminder to find an...

Anti-Americanism/Counterfeiting/Europe/Media Criticism

January 16, 2007

Eum, Yang, and Korean Diplomatic Courtesy

A few days ago, Occidentalism posted this absolutely priceless flowchart that is too telling by half about how some Koreans tend to scapegoat their way through real problems. I suppose the temptation to pin blame on others is human nature; that temptation is at its greatest when a solution to the underlying problem seems beyond reach. Witness the finger-pointing that followed last October’s nuke test (and the notable absence of constructive proposals accompanying it). I shouldn’t miss this opportunity to...

Anti-Americanism/China & Korea/Diplomacy/History/Japan & Korea/Korean Politics/Korean Society/U.S. & Korea/U.S. Military

January 15, 2007

The China Veto

[Updated below] For those who still doubt that the South Korean government would bow to another government’s sensitivities to cancel an artistic performance — witness the debate and denial over the censorship of “Yoduk Story” — I suppose we can now put those doubts to rest. On January 7, several major South Korean media published editorials that criticized the Korean government for kowtowing to the Chinese communist regime by canceling the New Tang Dynasty’s (NTDTV) New Year Spectacular in...

Anti-Americanism/Censorship/China & Korea/Korean Law/Korean Society/U.S. & Korea

January 12, 2007

Donga Ilbo Interview: David Straub

Straub, a State Department expert on Korea and Japan who has been a member of our six-party negotiating team, will spend an unspecified amount of time at an unspecified university — the report seems to have been mangled by an editor — doing the heroic work of openly questioning Korea’s historical mythology: “I would like to teach historical issues such as Katsura-Taft Secret Agreement (a secret treaty between Japan and the U.S. The U.S. recognized Japanese control of the Korean...

America/Anti-Americanism/Diplomacy/U.S. & Korea

January 10, 2007

Gov’t Investigates Misuse of Funds It Gave to ‘Civic’ Groups

I’ve previously written about the South Korean government’s provision of $5.2 billion in state funds to 149 different hippie communes, drum circles, and commie spy cells “civic” groups, only to have it revealed that some of those groups had a history of organized political violence. The worst offender was South Korea’s largest labor organization, the ardently pro-North Korean and anti-American Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and the worst of the violence was over the government’s costly failure to negotiate a...

Anti-Americanism/Korean Law/Korean Politics/The Fifth Column

January 10, 2007

German Newspaper: Supernotes Are a CIA Plot!

Things sure have gotten strange over in the Soft Reich when a major German newspaper, the Frankfurter Allemaigne Zeitung, theorizes — in a complete evidentiary vacuum, too — that North Korean supernotes are actually a secret CIA plot run from from a printing house in the DC area (Korean link). The sole basis for this novel theory, besides the unshakeable conviction that George W. Bush must be responsible for all evil on earth, is that counterfeiting is simply too complex...

Anti-Americanism/Counterfeiting/Europe/WMD

January 6, 2007

KCTU Thugs May Have to Switch to PVC Pipe

When I testified before the House International Relations Committee last September, one of the issues I raised was a report that the South Korean government was funding “civic groups” that habitually engaged in violence (see page 18), including the protests at Camp Humphreys last year. More recently, some of the leaders of those protests, and other violent anti-American protests, have been exposed and indicted as North Korean agents. This should not have surprised anyone.

An Alliance?/Anti-Americanism/Democracy/Korean Law/Korean Politics/Korean Society/The Fifth Column/U.S. & Korea

December 13, 2006

N. Korean Agent Received Orders Through Korean-Canadian ‘Comrade’

We have more details about Kang Soon-Jeong, co-chairman of the pro-North Korean group that led the violent 9/11/05 protests that attempted to tear down the MacArthur statue in Incheon, and who also played a role in the much more violent Pyeongtaek protests last spring. Kang allegedly took orders via a Korean-Canadian and over five years sent some 500 reports to North Korea. They included photos of the massive anti-American protests following the death of two schoolgirls who were killed by...

Anti-Americanism/The Fifth Column

December 9, 2006

S. Korean Businessman Praised for Helping to Print Distorted Textbooks

Books printed by the recipient of the donated printing press have been known to deny the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea, support policies that have killed millions of Koreans, and falsely accuse American soldiers of an organized campaign of rape on the streets of Seoul. Unlike past controversies over foreign textbooks, however, police predict absolutely no outrage on the streets this time. Foreign analysts who were asked to explain the uncharacteristic calm simply shook their heads in befuddlement and...

Anti-Americanism/Appeasement/Unintended Humor/WTF?

December 8, 2006

Which ‘Major Government Offices’ Contained N. Korean Moles?

Update: The Chosun Ilbo thinks the investigation’s recent lack of progress is suspicious. A court has issued five indictments, including one against U.S. citizen, former soldier, and current traitor, Jang Min Ho. In the Korean judicial system, those who are indicted are virtually always convicted, so these fellows are looking at some time. Prosecutors also said the group delivered secret information to Pyongyang under direct or e-mail directives from a North Korean spy operative. The information provided was mostly...

An Alliance?/Anti-Americanism/Korean Law/Korean Politics/The Fifth Column/U.S. & Korea

December 6, 2006

Just Wondering…

Does the National Human Rights Commission make a distinction between peaceful protest and violent protest? On the one hand, it’s pretty obvious that the South Korean government is trying to censor both peaceful and violent opposition to the proposed Free Trade Agreement (and it’s such a dead issue, all you can do is wonder why anyone bothers). On the other hand, when protestors get through the police blockades, things like this happen. Another 20 injured today. Gee, I wonder if...

Anti-Americanism/Korean Law/Korean Society/The Fifth Column