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| Classic Lies |
| 07.30.04 (8:12 am) [edit] |
|
This is pretty funny:http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) claimed that the franchise enterprises did not give their teenage employees overtime payments or the mandatory one day off per week.The four chains are McDonald’s, Burger King, Lotteria and Popeyes. [/b] This is totally comical and completely misguided. Guess what? All four stores are chains with headquarters in the USA. Guess what? Overtime is routinely not paid by any Korean company, it being Samsung, LG or Mr Kim's Grocery. Further, the actual employers are Korean franchise holders. This does not prevent the Lies from spinning the story for a hate Big Nose angle, and leading readers to believe Big Nose is exploiting Koreans. He is not. The employers are Korean. [b]The PSPD urged the employers to provide copies of employment contracts and pay slips so that young part-timers can fully understand their rights and how much they should get paid.[/b] No employment contract I ever had in Korea was ever more than a formality needed to get a visa for me. [b]The civic group also emphasized the need to introduce a class action suit aimed at protecting workers from employers’ illegal labor practices. [/b] Particularly if they involve Big Nose, even if remotely. But..... [b]Seo Sang-hyuk, 20, said he worked at the Nonhyun-dong branch of Burger King, which is owned by the Doosan Corporation, for 6 months in 2001 and 2002.[/b] Well, cheabol are almost as evil as Big Nose, in particular Doosan, whose great claim to fame was to when, last year, the employee's union leader set himself on fire and killed himself when, during an illegal strike, Doosan refused to negoiate. Comrade Roh then intervened and gave the workers everything they wanted. Made Doosan apologise, too. For those not familiar with PSPD, (People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy) it is the largest anti-White Person hate group in Korea and did a lot to get Comrade Roh elected. It is run directly from Pyongyang and makes no apologies for it. All the leaders were in jail untill 2000, when the Dear Leader announced he would not get KDJ his $500m Peace Prize Comrade KDJ unless they were released. |
| So Long, Bye-Bye, Farewell! |
| 07.29.04 (9:15 am) [edit] |
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Yankee went home. He didn't take you with him: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200 407/200407290031.html" title="http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200 407/200407290031.html" target="_blank"http://english.chosun.com/w21... |
| Why don't you Love me? I wanna be Loved! |
| 07.29.04 (9:04 am) [edit] |
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The one side love between South and North Korea again hits the news, not that the North has ever planned to do anything with the South than to mind-fuck it and take its money. Kind of reminds me of a filipina bar girl who marries a 60 year old white guy. There is really no doubt about what kind of relationship it is and what will happen when reality sets in http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]In a rare official response to the defector issue, Pyongyang labeled the mass defection of 468 North Korean escapees to Seoul as ``premeditated abduction and terrorism in broad daylight[/b] So much for brotherly love. The Dear Leader must know that this is the way monsterous regimes such as his fall. [b] North Korea watchers also share the opinion that the North could temporarily take a hard-line stance but it would not bring relations to a complete halt. [/b] Of course it won't. The Dear Leader needs the hand-outs that his Yankee-Imperialist-Bootli cking-Toadyist-Silly-Azur -Wiper-Of-Other-People's- Donkey's-Bottoms (and franternal brothers when the cheques need to be writen) relatives in the South pony up with regularity. [b]Ryoo Kihl-jae, professor at the Graduate School of North Korean Studies, Kyungnam University, echoed Yoo’s assertion. ``I don’t agree with the notion that inter-Korean relations as a whole would be hurt by the North’s reaction regarding the defector issue,’’ [/b] I used to work at that God-forsaken academic cess-pit, where we were specifically told never to say anyting anti-North Korean in our classes. Well, not exactly in those words, but the implicit message was clear and they didn't exactly like having me around, either. Whatever happens, one can bet Comrade Roh will be further pressed by the refugee issue. No matter what the idealogs at Kyungnam might pretend, there is no way the two systems in Korea can co-exist. Money can be pumped into the North but its ecomomy is such a basket case it will only be sucked down the toilet. Have a look at history for a minute. As soon as Russia tried to reform the demand economy it went to complete chaos. Hmm, this is interesting, especuially coming from the Lies, the Mouth of the Dear Leader:http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]``Border security has become much looser than six months ago,’’ he said. ``So I heard that some North Korean defectors go to the North once every three months to give money to their families,’’ he said, adding that recently Pyongang has let some North Koreans cross the river to get food and necessities from China, considering the coutry's food shortage problem.[/b] More likely the border guards are taking their cut, me thinks. [b]``Few North Koreans I met in China knew about the Mt. Kumgang tours and Kaesong industrial park,’’ he said.[/b] Because these projects will never do anything to improve thier lives. They are only a conduit to the Dear Leader's Swiss Bank accounts, which he might need some day. A dictators have their "pension fund." [b]``Some say that South Korea only became prosperous because it kowtows to the U.S., which hinders inter-Korean reunification.’’ [/b] True, North Korea kowtows to nobody. True, North Koreans are starving, spend a lot of the year freezing in the dark, hungry. Reunificiation would be a great way of banishing Big Nose and having all Koreans living that fun lifestyle. Eating grass is patriotic! |
| What a Coincidence! |
| 07.27.04 (9:27 am) [edit] |
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Well, it was just yesterday, when commenting on the tanking Korean economy, I mentioned that I would love to see the forex remittance levels. Well, here it is: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Comrade Roh, safely installed in his palace, may think that there is no problem with the Korean economy. I have some news, Comrade: money is a coward. [b]It is reported that as much as $4 billion originating from Korea is now circulating in Los Angeles, triggering various problems such as sharply increasing real estate prices. [/b] Four billion is not really a lot of money and not really enough to trigger a real estate boom but it does show that as much as some Koreans may dislike Bog Nose, they like their money in Big Nose Land, where it is safe from someone taking it away from you. [b]As anticipated, political instability rather than economic woes has prompted wealthy people and the heads of small companies to transfer their assets abroad.[/b] I did not say that. Perhaps someone should send some hate mail to the Korea Lies. [b]These days, many enterprises, especially family-owned conglomerates, are reluctant to commit to the expansion of facility investment and pursue other projects because of political and ideological issues.[/b] Ummm, when a government is openly talking of a policy of "redistribution of wealth" (meaning expropriation) I would think twice about investing in Korea, too. At least in Big Nose Land, the rules do not change with every new president or prime minister in my case. [b]Against this backdrop, the ruling Uri Party and the main opposition Grand National Party should immediately stop their political wrangling and combine their efforts to revive the sluggish economy and boost the livelihoods of the people.[/b] Impossible. The policies of the Dear Leader Party and those of business will never coincide. The Dear Leader knows this, business knows this but Comrade Roh and the Keystone Commies do not. Note the crypic threat at the end and how actual figures are not cited. The same thing happened in 1995-97 (under draconian exchange laws) and the government, through the press press issued the same kind of warnings, to no avail. Comrade KDJ lured a lot of that capital back between 1999-2000. However, much of that has been squandered, particularly in handouts to the Dear Leader. This is the take from the Newly Sane Herald: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/... [b]The ministry official strongly denied that the government's policy to defend the won is discouraging domestic demand and creating inflationary pressure by making imports more expensive. [/b] More deja-vu, 1995-97. The Won, much to my great benefit, was insanely over-vauled then. I remember telling students just that and of course, they did not believe me. Fact is, Korean goods do not have enough price advantage in the Canadian market (for one, the one I see, anyway) to be really attractive over Japanese brands. For example, in February of this year, I bought a 27" flat screen TV. The price difference between a Sharp (assembled in Malaysia, btw) and a Samsung (made in Korea) was $30 Canadian. The Sharp had better reviews and a better warranty. Guess which one I bought? However, had the Samsung been $100 cheaper, I would have certainly bought it. [b]Small and medium companies should also be encouraged to enhance the transparency of management[/b].. Translation: Toe the like, or else..... From the Chosun, also emboldened and joining the anti-Dear Leader wave (horray!): [b]Bank of Korea Governor Park Seung said at a seminar held in Jeju Island on Monday, "Phenomena common in a US$30,000 per capita income era in other countries are occurring in our country that is going though a US$10,000 era[/b] What I have been saying since 1997. [b]Serious is the government's hysterical and distorted response to anyone who raises the question of economic crisis in the face of our serious situation. If the present trends persist and the economy reaches a dead end, to whom will the government shift the responsibility and whom will it reproach? We are worried[/b]. This must have sent Comrade Roh, the Dear Leader, the Keystone Commies and the Rohsamo autobots into fits. I love Korea politics, always something really fun and I love the gloating aspect! SHUT DOWN THE CHOSUN!! Meanwhile, back on the politics front: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Park Geun-hye is one tough lady and something that Korean politics has needed for too long: a strong female leader. It must absolutely gaul the Dear Leader to 1) have to deal with a woman, and 2) have to deal with his arch-nemesis's daughter. I personally love it; women are the greatest, untapped rescource that Korea has. I just hope they do not emulate the behaviour of the men in Korea in their quest for more equality. That led to a generation of very unhappy people here in Canada, the women in particular. Seeking equality does not mean emulation of idiotic male actions. [b]Park Geun-hye threatened ``all-out war’’ against the Roh administration and accused the president of adopting pro-North Korea policies, including Roh’s reprimand of the South Korean navy over last week’s maritime border violation by a North Korean ship[/b] I am glad that Hannara-dang has finally shaken off its dual defeats in the presidental election and then last April. Comrade Roh and the Dear Leader got a free ride for too long. They will not get one now. And for god's sake, Korea, get off the past for once and look to the future. Tossing 80 year olds in jail for "collaboration" serves no puprpose. It is only fiddling while Rome burns. This from the Herald (which continues to amaze me): [b]Conscientious voices question what good lies in dredging up the past activities of politicians, now long gone and buried, during an era we wish we could obliterate from our history.[/b] I am not sure about the last sentence but the first one was spot on. It reminds me of the Nazi era. Germans are usually the first to blame themselves for what happened and then move on. Fact is, Nazism had a lot of supporters, about 30% of the population. Korea needs to face what happened in the Japanese occupation era and move on. Fact is, anybody who went to school was in a way collaborating with the Japanese. I spent a lot of time in Korea and talked to a lot of people. I always really enjoyed talking to the old people, many of whom spoke very good English. From them, I heard very little hatred of the Japanese. There is no use getting into this because brainwashed autobot Korean boys in their twenties will start flaming me about something they have no first hand knowledge of thorough either research or word of mouth. Kyung-hee, if you are still writing, I congratulate you at your successful recovery programme: [b]Most ridiculous in the political arena these days is the demand that Park Geun-hye apologize for her dead father's 18 years of dictatorial rule. He has already paid for that through his tragic death and the assassination of his wife five years earlier. Park Geun-hye's suffering from her family's tragedies far exceeds what an average individual can endure. She deserves no further trouble because of her family background. She should be judged by the leadership she exhibits in steering the main opposition party and her policies on the economy and national security. How she responds to the ruling camp's campaign to lower her stature will also be an important gauge of her leadership ability. [/b] Well said, Korea Herald. |
| Monday, Monday... |
| 07.26.04 (8:33 am) [edit] |
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Credit, where credit is due: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Seems that the quiet links built up with the Dear Leader are having at least some positive affect. There is no doubt in my mind that a substantial price was placed on each head. This kind of thing must cause a considerable dilemma for the Dear Leader. He must know that refugees tend to be the most capable people of a society and also that this was the way Eastern Europe threw off its shackles I am also glad that Comrade Roh believes there are no economic problems in Korea:http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Seems a lot like 1996-97, when the wealthy got every dime they could out as fast as they could. I would love to see the size of the forex remittances. The Thin, Blue, Line: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]When police officers took Yoo out of the police station in Youngdungpo, the mother of a murder victim dashed towards him to protest her daughter's death. She was kicked in the chest by a police officer protecting the suspect and fell down the stairs.[/b] You know, where I live, anyone who "dashes" at a cop (and I have seen the video) will probably get pepper sprayed and charged with assualt. This kind of thing has to stop in Korea, all the postering of "beraved" people. The best recent example was the step-mother of Kim Sung-il, who went through the entire drama as per the script and hardly even knew him. On the other hand: [b]But, at that time, police thought Yoo was just a petty thief and released him without checking his criminal records.[/b] It is pretty basic police proceedure to check anybody they come across. There are also better ways to restrain people than kicking them down the stairs, too. And now, for Something Completely Different: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200407/k t2004072617242411990.htm" title="http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200407/k t2004072617242411990.htm" target="_blank"http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... POSTECH is an interesting place. It is a privately run university established to provide technology to one of Korea's best (and most profitable, btw) companies, POSCO (established by the Evil Dictator Park Chung-hee, using money from the even more Evil Japanese). Interesting comment here: [b]Lee cuts a conspicuous figure by obtaining a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a doctorate degree at POSTECH without studying abroad.[/b] I was always impressed at some of the talent I came across while I worked in Korean universities but often heard said talent complain that could not excel in the environment they were in, hence the foreign study trips. [b]The 33-year-old scholar won the faculty position solely on his scholastic achievements of research focusing on mathematics. [/b] Is there something strange about this? Well, if you have ever worked in a Korean university, you would realise there is. Anyway, POSTECH is a first class institution and has smoked KAIST in just about anything you can think of. KAIST has become just another place for rich kids to avoid military service. And finally, this is chilling:http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]The [i]party chairman Shin Ki-nam [/i]made a visit to the ROK Navy’s 2nd Fleet in Pyongtaek, Kyonggi Province with his party members to encourage soldiers there as part of efforts to improve relations with the military[/b] Hmmm, why wasn't Comrade Roh there? Here's why: [b]``ROK Navy’s response to the incident was appropriate,’’ Rep. Shin said at the meeting with the Navy. ``I think firing warning shots to dispel a suspected North Korean patrol boat was a proper step in accordance with the rules of engagement.’’[/b] Translation: We are not ready to take on the military....yet. From the Herald, (which is really surprising me lately) [b]Soldiers in forward observation posts know, however, that North Korea's deployment of massive conventional forces along the DMZ, poised to launch a blitzkrieg that would turn Seoul to a sea of fire, has not changed a bit. [/b] I often heard that from students who had just returned from the DMZ after their military service. I suppose they would know these things. [b] Members of the ruling Uri Party, who had initially called for tough measures against the military to reaffirm civilian control, softened their position and cautioned the administration against taking action that would harm armed forces' morale.[/b] Or cause them to overthrow your government, which is not inconceivable. [b]Discussions of a possible shift from defining North Korea as our "main enemy," and of softening the sense of enmity toward the North among our military personnel in order to be in concert with the policy of reconciliation are unrealistic and premature. [/b] Kyung-hee, since you sobered up, I can hardly believe what is coming our of your paper. [b]A civic group ran an advertisement in a Seoul daily newspaper last week, calling for the military to resist "anti-constitutional orders," apparently referring to the new rule for communication with the North Korean navy. The rule aims at preventing accidental clashes, like bloody incidents that occurred in 1998 and 2002. The ad, in the name of a "National Council," exhorted people to rise up to protect the nation from "pro-North, pro-left forces in South Korea."[/b] Friends of mine on the ground have told me of a move to counter Comrade Roh. |
| The Heat Wave |
| 07.25.04 (10:11 am) [edit] |
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We are having some unusually hot weather here in Vancouver this weekend and this Mrs Kimchipig, myself and the Piglets have been taking advantage of the Vancouver park system. Kitsilano Pool is our favourite:http://www.city.vancouver.bc.... Lots of fun for only $4.50 a family. Facilities like these are a main reason we returned to Canada in the first place. However, back to task: The Lies is running its take on the NK Human Rights Bill:http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... It is interesting how the Lies always takes the most left wing view of any issue but also how firm the Dear Leader's hold on policy in the South is. Pretty ironic, isn't it? So called "Former pro-democracy activists" actively oppose any motion that would recognise basic human rights of their relatives in the North. I find the parallels with Germany interesting. One thing the Westeren Powers never, ever, wavered on with the Soviets and the East Germans was Human Rights. Sure, West Germany pumped a lot of money into the East to prop it up over the years but Adenauer, Brandt and Kohl never wavered on human rights. Further, the Helsinki Accord of 1975 went a long way to free eastern Europe. At the time (and I remember it well) few would have wagered the Soviet Empire would fallen in only fifteen years. Of course, this is not the policty of "Sunshine," which is designed to maintain and solidify the control of a ruthless dictator over his people. However, few realise the Dear Leader's not very masked plan to separate the South from its American ally and then unify the country under communism. See article one of the DPRK Constitution http://confinder.richmond.edu... Things are much more balanced over at the Heald, http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/... Kyung-hee seems to have stopped trying to write editorials whilst drunk. However, this editorialist from the Lies obviously was, because this makes no sense at all. http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... This is interesting: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... I suppose Comrade Song needs to get new orders from the Cadre. Finally, before we head off the the beach again, if anyone has had any doubts that Yankee has washed his hands of Korea and is going home, read this:http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/... [b]Many Koreans have been dissatisfied at the financial burden, estimated at $3 billion to $4 billion (3.5 trillion to 4.7 trillion won), which will be put solely on the shoulders of Korean taxpayers.[/b] Note the "talks" (America was doing the talking, boys and girls) were held outside Korea and on American soild. Now there is the "More Equal" relation Comrade Roh wanted, right? What is more, Korea gets to foot the bill for it. Why no great protests? Because Big Nose would be gone in about fourteen seconds. He ain't gonna take any more crap off Korea and Comrade Roh knows this. No matter how much Comrade Roh loves the Dear Leader, there is always a little part of his obviously little brain that sees the boogey-man. Even more interesting is how the press in Korea has deliberately downplayed this story. [b]A number of Pyongtaek residents are also reluctant to give their land to the U.S. troops[/b]. This is what will happen: Several hate groups have in fact bought up small plots of land in the areas that USFK wants to occupy. The will move heaven and earth to avoid any Big Nose getting on it. America is not exactly in the mood to be fucked around with since the 2002 Race Riots. With the first protest, every USFK ground troop in Korea will be gone, leaving only the airbases at Osan and Kunsan. Mark my words on this issue. I predicted this during the peak of the 2002 Race Riots and nobody believed me at the time. So there! |
| Almost Done! |
| 07.21.04 (9:30 am) [edit] |
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I must really congratulate the Dear Leader in his work; the infiltration of the justice minsitry is complete and Comrade Song is free to do his work. http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... The Dear Leader must have a book entitled "The 1948 Handbook" because the way he is taking over South Korea is exactly the same as the way Stalin took over eastern Europe in 1948. Of course, most of my readers will have no idea of what happened then and will fail to see the parallels. Seems that Comrade Roh has been told by the Dear Leader not to take on the military just yet: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... The military is the only organisation in South Korea not turned over to the Dear Leader but it is also very strong. A complete purge of the high command would probably result in a coup (a good thing in my opinion) so it is better to infitrate Jeolla moles into the middle command for now. How well they will be accepted is another issue. Meanwhile, the KFTU is at it again. KFTU was an illegal organisation until 2000, being (correctly) branded as a pro-Dear Leader organisation. This summer's round of stikes is bigger than ever. Of course, it is all in line with the Dear Leader's plan to destabilise South Korea as much as he can before his complete take over, it being much easier to grab power during chaos. The strikes are illegal but that means nothing in South Korea; the workers will get everything they want, the taxpayers will pony up and the Dear Leader gets another victory. http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Note how Big Nose is brought into the equation. Of course, some things stay the same. Comrade Roh might be on an anti-corruption drive, but when it involves your brother, it is OK.http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Seems that the Dear Leader has some use for Comrade Roh's brother, who came out up W24m on the deal. And finally, the Party Line and Korean Wishcraft at its finest: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... |
| A Bumper Crop! |
| 07.19.04 (10:07 am) [edit] |
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Today has been an excellent day for exposing the lies and bias of the Korean media. This from the Herald.http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/... [b]The U.S.-led war in Iraq has prompted the withdrawal and relocation of USFK and residents are being uprooted from their life-long trades.[/b] Of course it had nothing to do with over a year of racist hate riots directed directly at the troops stationed there, did it? We Korean could never be responsible for our own actions. [b]They didn't expect the U.S. forces' departure would be so soon since they had assurances to the contrary from the authorities. [/b] I did. I had absolutely no doubt America would pull the plug on Korea as soon as it could even while the government sanctioned Race Riots were taking place. The assurances were "big nose is here because he wants to rape our women and defile our nation and because he will never leave we can use him as our scapegoat for anything." [b]"The candle flame that mourned the deaths of Hyo-sun and Mi-seon (killed in June 2002 by a 2nd Division armored vehicle) and the other candle flame that lit up the U.S. alliance and national security should now become a single candle to brighten the future of Dongducheon after the Americans leave." [/b] What the fuck does that mean? |
| Cho Se-hyun |
| 07.19.04 (9:18 am) [edit] |
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I think I will make it a weekly habit to post Cho Se-hyun's column. [b]I went to the main office of the Chosun Ilbo in the heart of Seoul the other day. A uniformed guard at the entrance stopped me and politely asked, "May I help you?" "I'm here to watch the shaman ritual that I heard was being performed in this building," I told him. "Shaman ritual?" the guard said puzzled. "No such thing is going on here; this is a newspaper office." "I know that, but the Blue House said a shaman ritual was being held here," I said. "I'm interested in shamanism, among other things." "That's ridiculous," said the guard, waving his hand as though he was dismissing me as a lunatic or a drunk, or both. "But I read about the ritual on the Blue House Internet News Briefing. The presidential office demanded that the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo stop performing shaman rites to cast a curse on the government plan to move the capital to Chungcheong Province." "Ah, that," the guard said smiling. "It was just a figure of speech, wasn't it?" He apparently was no ordinary guard, judging by the smart words he used. As an employee of one of the country's leading newspapers, he must obviously be keeping himself abreast of current affairs. "A figure of speech? But how could the presidential office make such a false, or at least unverified, statement?" I asked. The guard remained silent, so I said: "That's not all. One of the top brass at KBS TV-Radio network also made a similar claim last week that the nation's judiciary was now joining in the exorcism. Haven't you heard about that?" "Yes, I did," the guard said. "Well, then, the ritual must have swelled to a huge event by now." "As I said, I don't know. You'd better check with the Blue House." With this, the exasperated man turned around and walked away, obviously hinting that I should clear the hell out, quietly. So, from the newspaper office, I went straight to my friend, who has a private office in Gwanghwamun. I wanted to chat with him on some of the problems surrounding the government plan to move the capital away from Seoul. My friend laughed when I told him that I went to the Chosun Ilbo to watch a shaman performing there. "Did you really think they were holding such a ritual there?" "Why shouldn't I believe what the presidential office says?" "Well, let me put it this way: you shouldn't always believe what they say," he said. "And 'they' include the president as well." "What's going on, then?" "You mean moving the capital to Chungcheong Province?" My friend paused a while, then added, "I think they will start to move anyway." "No matter what the opposition?" "Yes," he sighed. "That's the way they do things at Cheong Wa Dae these days, and they know how to sway the opposing public opinion back to their fold... " He said that the "rightist dictators" in the past used to intimidate dissidents into submission by labeling them "communists," whereas the "leftist" leaders are now using a similar method, although this time they are calling the opposition "anti-people" and "anti-unification." "Talking about unification, why move the capital when they expect the country to unify soon?" I said. "Shouldn't they think about moving the capital north, rather than south, if they have to move it at all?" "Frankly, I cannot figure out what this president thinks," he said. "Maybe, he hasn't got much choice because he made a promise during his campaign." "You mean he got elected on that pledge?" "That was part of the reasons for his election success, they say." "Are you planning on moving with the government, by the way?" I asked him. "No, I'm not going," my friend said firmly. "Even if the government starts moving south, you never know if it might be forced to move back to Seoul or somewhere else three and a half year later." "Move back to Seoul? How could that be possible?" I asked him. "You see, in the next presidential election, a candidate is bound to make another campaign pledge to move the capital again to some place else to get more votes. And Seoul, with so many eligible voters, would be as good a place as any. Actually I'll bet my last won the next president will try and bring back his government to Seoul." "Oh, well," I said. "It seems that South Korea is just about the only 'democratic' country in the world where they move the capital city around in order to get more votes in a presidential election." [/b] |
| The Foreign "Crime Wave!" |
| 07.19.04 (8:59 am) [edit] |
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Never a summer goes by without an article about a "Foreign Crime Wave." http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... I will let readers draw their own conclusions. From the way I read the figures, the actual crime rate for foreigners has remained stable or slipped a little but that means nothing in Korea. Futher, slip over to the Interpol site and you will find it is still lower than the Korean population as a whole. I also wonder how Koreans would react if they were racially profiled in America like foreigners are in Korea. Meanwhile, Korean murderers are always "mentally ill" Have a look at this:http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]He told police he committed the premeditated crimes out of blind hatred and hostility toward women and rich people. He was suffering from minor epilepsy, of which his father and elder brother died.[/b] There it is. The Korean public is being misled as to the nature the condition of epilepsy, which is not a mental illness nor does not cause any kind of irrational behaviour. In a minor form, medication can completely control the condition. However, the average Korean is not going to know that, thus justifiying how a Korean could commit such a deed. Love this: [b] This shows that society is no longer free from monstrous and incomprehensible crimes we used to only see in foreign films.[/b] Hint, hint...guess where this came from....I guess the cannibal murders of the early 80's are forgotten. [b]The police need to classify and systematically manage the records of criminals with mental illnesses.[/b] Sorry, epilepsy is not a mental illness. Instead, get the cops off their asses and make them do something other than drink tea, smoke cigarettes, drive around four to a car for no particular reason and of course, take bribes! [b]Without efforts to soothe those who abandon themselves to despair, our social ills will never health. [/b] Nor will they ever ill if "journals" like the Korea Lies continue to spout their biased and racist bilge. |
| The Upcoming Military Purge |
| 07.18.04 (9:34 am) [edit] |
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The Lies ran another "editorial" regarding the military today: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... No comment is really necessary however Comrade Roh and Dear Leader might have a more difficult time with the military than they did with the NIS, Prosecution and the media. The Dear Leader's timing is usually spot on but he does err, for example in this revelation of the nuclear programme or the Japanese kidnapping issue. Anyway, it will be interesting how this plays out. It will be pali-pali in true Korea style. I would expect the Dear Leader would want his people installed in the military by August 15. [b]Sources at Chong Wa Dae said the military could face a massive reshuffle depending on the results of the investigation, given the presidential office’s accumulated dissatisfaction at scandalous events involving high-profile military officials.[/b] |
| Now, the Military |
| 07.16.04 (8:25 am) [edit] |
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The Commification of the South Korean military, has, just as I predicted it would, begun: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Is this story true? We will never know but there is a good chance that this information was planted by a mole placed in defence ministry. [b]The joint investigation team consisting of nine officials from the Defense Ministry, National Intelligence Service (NIS) and other relevant government agencies, is expected to focus on where and why the report was falsified.[/b] This is the beginning of the take over, or attempted take over, of the South Korean military by the Dear Leader and his Jeolla Clique in the South. The NIS has been turned to the Dear Leader and one can be sure the "other relavant agencies" are the Unification Minstry and the Blue House, also run from Pyongyang. [b]Military circles were left restless as President Roh, the supreme commander, gave a rare instruction to conduct a thorough probe[/b] Because they know what is happening. Whether they will give themselves up to the Dear Leader's command without a fight remains to be seen. [b]In the military, experts said, there are a number of people who are not in favor of the recent development in inter-Korean relations and the changed mood between the two Koreas.[/b] Perhaps because they have had the most contact with the Norks over the last 50 years and see them as the ruthless Stalinists they are and see that South Korea does all the giving and the North all the taking. Want more proof? http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... This is chilling: [b]Sources at Chong Wa Dae said a massive reshuffle of the military seems unavoidable given the presidential office's accumulated dissatisfaction over scandalous events involving military officials.[/b] It is purge time, boys and girls. I knew that Comrade Roh would have to take on the military but I did not think that he would do it so soon after April 15. My bet is on August 15 he will sack the old guard, branding them as "Japanese Collaborators and enemies of democracy" and install Jeolla moles in their place. Need more proof of the purge? http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Of course the South Korean military knows these orders come straight from the Dear Leader. Taking on the military is a risky one for Comrade Roh. If he succeeds, the revolution is complete. Good work Dear Leader! |
| The Fifth Column |
| 07.15.04 (7:55 am) [edit] |
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For those who doubt me when I say the Dear Leader is rapidly infiltrating South Korea, installing his people, setting policy and enacting legistation through his Jeolla Fifth Column, read this: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200407/kt200407 1516364510220.htm" title="http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200407/kt200407 1516364510220.htm" target="_blank"http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Also from the Lies, today. [b]The war of words now seems to be ending in a victory for the progressives as the younger postwar generations begin to prevail in South Korean society, although older individuals still retain some anti-communist paranoia, having experienced the 1950-53 Korean War.[/b] If my nation had been invaded but a Stalinist regime that went on a rampage of murder (which can no longer be reported in the Dear Leader dominated press) I would tend to be a little paranoid, too. The really ironic thing is the first thing the Dear Leader will do upon his take-over is round up the "progressives" and shoot them, just like the Great Leader did with the South Korean assemblymen that stayed in Seoul to collaborate. To the next in this weeks really busy Dear Leader agenda: [b]The Uri Party decided to draft a revised bill on Thursday to introduce a new recruitment system for the foreign ministry, allowing it to hire civilian experts as well as those who passed the state exams as diplomats. [/b] It will be much easier to get the Dear Leader's men into diplomatic posts this way, thus further destabilising South Korea, this time in the international arena. Good work Dear Leader! [b]If passed, the bill could enable officials to be evaluated not only by their seniors but also by colleagues and those under their command.[/b] Now, anybody who has any doubt that Comrade Roh is a commie, read this and a little Communist history while you are at it. The other side of the coin, but I feel a voice in the wilderness; the Dear Leader's propaganda machine in the South is too well developed now. Note how the piece is buried. Classic Lies: [b]Although there was no naval clash between the two sides, the incident is likely to play negative impact on a visible progress in easing inter-Korean military tensions since last month.[/b] Wishcrat again. The Dear Leader will do everything he can to keep you scared, Korea Lies. That way you will continue to appease you while he infiltrates your country. He'll take over without firing a shot. He has you completely bamboozled. [b]The Ministry of Defense toned down the intrusion as a mere accident by saying that the Northern naval boat might have unconsciously enter Southern waters in the course of chasing out Chinese shipping vessels which were operating in Northern waters near the NLL[/b] Bullwinkle and more self delusion. Everything the Dear Leader does is carefully calculated. And the obligatory blame big nose scenario.. [b]The diplomatic settlement of the second nuclear crisis between the North and the U.S. is the only way for the South and the rest of the international community to resume their aid to the poverty-stricken North.[/b] Translation: The Dear Leader will not threaten us anymore if we continue to pay the protection money...Dreeeeeam, dream, dream, dream, dream, dreeeeeam... http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200407/ kt2004071515255354100.htm" title="http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200407/ kt2004071515255354100.htm" target="_blank"http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... To finish, from the Herald. Seems Kyoung-hee is laying off the mushrooms these days. [b]the government ought to strongly admonish the Northern regime not to repeat the same mistake under any circumstances[/b]. Just like in 2002. Five South Koreans killed and all KDJ could do is condone a racist hate fest [b]When the mutual trust between the two sides is firmly taken root, it will expedite and strengthen inter-Korean exchanges.[/b] Yet more proof, this time from the Herald: [b]Three members of the Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths served time in prison in the 1990s on spying or pro-North Korean charges, the prosecution said yesterday.[/b] Can you say "infiltration?" Refute me if you think I am wrong. Seems Comrade Roh's attempts to bring the procesuction under the Dear Leader's control have so far failed. Give it time, though. |
| Selective Memory "R" Us |
| 07.14.04 (9:58 am) [edit] |
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I love Korea's sense of selective memory. It was only a couple of weeks ago that the two Koreans reached a "breakthrough!" A communication channel between both navies was set up and all propaganda on the DMZ was to be pulled down. Now this: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200407/k t2004071422421611990.htm" title="http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200407/k t2004071422421611990.htm" target="_blank"http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]``This appeared to be an accidental intrusion because four Chinese boats were fishing in North Korean waters at that time,’’ [/b] Accidental my ass. The Dear Leader does nothing by accident. He has to keep the fear level up so he can extort more cash out of the South without ever delivering anything in return. The Norks never had any intention of honouring either agreement, although one can be sure they were paid handsomely for them. They correctly realise that compliance does not matter because for Comrade Roh and the Keystone Commies the [i]announcement [/i] of a new development is far more important than anything. The collective memory of the masses is about five minutes and the Dear Leader knows it. Every [i]breakthrough[/i] continues the split between the South and the USA, as well as allows further infiltration of Southern institutions. However, the Dear Leader has failed to infiltrate the military in the South and Comrade Roh quietly shelved his plans the speed the promotion of Jeolla officers. Seems the military has more clout than one might think. This one was also good and illustrates to a "T" the pro-Dear Leader bias of the Lies: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200407/k t2004071418430610510.htm" title="http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200407/k t2004071418430610510.htm" target="_blank"http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]Song Du-yul, a Korean-German professor accused of violating the anti-communist law in March,[/b] He has not been accused. He has been convicted. A rather large difference, in my opinion. [b]In the 60-minute program, the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), a semi-state-owned public broadcaster, scanned his turbulent life in South Korea from his entrance last year after 37 years in exile in Germany due to his alleged pro-North Korean activities, to his court battle now[/b] MBC is an even bigger Dear Leader mouthpiece than the Lies or KBS. His "pro-North" activities are more than alleged; they were proven in a court of law. [b]JoongAng Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo, two of the nation’s three largest-circulation dailies, took issue with the ideological propensity of the MBC program in dealing with the sensitive issue, which experts agree symbolizes an ideological conflict between conservative and liberal forces here.[/b] Translation: Liberal means sell out the country to the North at all costs, Conservative means keep Korea's prosperity and diplomatic standing in the world. Toadying to a dictator hardly does that. And finally, the Dear Leader Party hits a new low and shows its attitude towards women: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200407/kt200407 1417160410230.htm" title="http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200407/kt200407 1417160410230.htm" target="_blank"http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... No comment necessary |
| Remember Token Amy Chavez? |
| 07.13.04 (9:00 am) [edit] |
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"Token Amy" Chavez was the idol of the Hate White People Movement "Green Korea" a few years ago. One of the funniest episodes involving Token Amy was her holding a sign that she had no comprehension. She then tried to illegally enter Yongsan base, only to be busted by the Korean cops. She then demanded special treatment as US citizen. Gotta love deluded youth. Well, the Lies has found another one. I am not going to fisk the entire aritcle, but it shows how misinformed and naive emotional young people can be. It also shows how bad the "journalism" of the Lies really is; go out and find someone who agrees with you and then print it. I am glad that English teachers are awarded such respect by the Lies, because they are treated like pond-scum by the rest of the country! http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200407/ kt2004071315100654060.htm" title="http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200407/ kt2004071315100654060.htm" target="_blank"http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... Update, thanks to Slim: [b] Kim Il-sung clung to his nuclear capability clearly believing it to be the only deterrent against a U.S. invasion.[/b] What retards, first for the moron who wrote it and the editor that missed it. Added to that the USA has repeatedly stated it has no intention of invading NK. The whole thing is just another shakedown. |
| The Land of the Morning Wacko |
| 07.13.04 (8:47 am) [edit] |
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Blogging about Korea is really easy when childish stunts such as this are pulled on an almost daily basis:http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]20 lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties who signed a bill opposing the additional troop dispatch to Iraq on Tuesday began a sit-in at the National Assembly to press for their demands.[/b] Comrade Roh, for Christ's sake, get a hold of these kids and give them a good shaking and a cuff on the ear while you are at it. You will always be a laughingstock if you cannot get some sort of party discipline. To the twenty morons making the show: Democracy means not always getting your way but honouring the way of the majority. [b]The lawmakers are also considering visiting U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Thomas Hubbard to deliver a statement criticizing the U.S. for having invaded Iraq[/b]. Even saying such things is childish and absurd in the extreme. Imagine if a group of Liberal Party MPs here in Canada went for a private audience with the US ambassador to voice opposition to their own party's policy! Not only would they be laughed out of Ottawa, they would finish their careers as burger-flippers. [b]``The ROK-U.S. alliance is not supposed to be unilaterally led by the U.S.’’[/b] I can't believe how deluded these people are. Korea is a pissant, second world country. As long as it wants America to protect it, Korea will always have to march to America's tune one way or another. The careful diplomacy of previous Korean governments has been destroyed by Comrade Roh and this kind of Keystone Commie antics. This gives Korea even less leverage over America. Further, America has a longer memory than Korea. It remembers the Race Riots in 2002 and how the Dear Leader used them to get Comrade Roh elected. On another Commie Inspired Topic: [b]Bill Targets Ex-President Park as Pro-Japan Collaborator[/b] A new low. If it were not for Park Chung-hee, Korea would be about as well off as Mongolia. Worse, maybe. [b]The Uri Party's Rep. Song Young-gil explained that the revised bill will expand the scope of investigations into low-ranking military officers above the level of second lieutenant.[/b] How convenient. Park was a first lieutenant. The scope of this "investigation" will now be in the tens of thousands, a good old fashioned denunciation and purge, ordered straight from Pyongyang. This is really good and[i] chilling[/i] at the same time: [b]The ruling party's move is expected to provoke a new round of political conflict as the new bill, if passed, could allow investigators to probe pro-Japanese activities allegedly conducted by late President Park Chung-hee and founders of the country's conservative major newspapers.[/b] Now that the Jeolla fifth column is in control, it is now going to everything it can to discredit the Honam people that built the country. If it destroys the economy in the process, that is secondary to political purity. I heard this kind of thing while teaching at KAIST ten years ago and scoffed at it as absurd; here it is now in action. This propaganda comes straight from the Dear Leader, who is using regional antagonism to cause strife in South Korea, successfully, too. [b]The GNP's spokeswoman Jun Yeo-ok criticized the Uri Party, saying, ``The revised bill is clearly targeted at compromising Park Geun-hye and the media which is critical of the government.''[/b] The aforementioned person is Park Chung-hee's daughter. Comrade Roh is trying to shut down any media critical of him and the Dear Leader. He has most of it one his side but the Big Three are still resisting and their owners all come from Honam. [b]If the new bill passes the floor vote, a special committee will be set up with a tenure of five years, compared with the current period of three years. [/b] Which is beyond the scope of Comrade Roh's mandate. |
| Streamlining "R" Us... |
| 07.12.04 (8:48 am) [edit] |
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Saw this in the Joongang: [b]Bill is designed to cut time for college study[/b] [b]The Ministry of Education and Human Resources said yesterday it has put forward draft legislation that would allow college students to complete the work for combined bachelor's and master's degrees within five years.[/b] I suppose in a system where everybody automatically graduates no matter what, this makes sense, but why not just give everybody a Phd at the same time? [b]Universities expect the proposed system to be a win-win situation for colleges and students. It would lighten the financial burden on students, while creating a better academic atmosphere. [/b] I cand hardly believe this; everybody knows that Korean post-grad degrees are practically worthless if they do not come from KIAST or, even better, POSTECH. In fact, this is a way of getting MORE money out of students because they would spend an extra year studying for TOEIC. [b]The ministry will hold public hearings on the bill this month and then submit it to the regular session of the Assembly this year.[/b] There is no doubt it will pass. [b]On the assumption that the bill would be passed by the National Assembly this year, Seoul National University plans to adopt the system in engineering colleges from 2006. Hanyang University said it would put the change into effect in all its colleges from the second half of next year. [/b] Now this makes me feel really secure; [[i]b]now we can have engineers with even less education than before![/b][/i] Does anyone remember the Sampong Department Store? I do. How about the KTX? The initial surveys done by Koreans were so bad the French forced them to hire Siemens to oversee and complete the work. In fact, Siemens did all the supervision after 1996 when the French found that 40% of the pylons then constructed were defective. This is classical Korean thinking: the appearance is the reality. If more people have grad degrees, then we are a more advanced country. The fact that none of them studied to get them, much less even wrote a thesis, means nothing. But of course the real reason is delay graduation one more year. Most Korean graduates do not get jobs now, and woking outside a cheabol is disgraceful. |
| The Voice of Reason... |
| 07.12.04 (8:18 am) [edit] |
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In a place as politically fucked up as South Korea is at the moment, where white is black and communism is freedom, it is refreshing to read Cho Se-hyun and yet again see that there is a ray of hope for a country that I have a great fondness for. I have often been accused of being "anti-Korean." Nothing could be further from the truth. What I oppose is the gang of oppurtunist fools such as Comrade Roh and the Keystone commies who have highjacked the country and are leading it to ruin. Quickly leading it, I may add. I need not add anything the Cho Se-hyun. His writing is, as usual, concise and though provoking. [b]By now, most people know that the Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths has concluded that two North Korean spies and a South Korean communist guerrilla who died in prison in the South contributed to the democratization of South Korea, because they fought against "military dictatorships" in the 1970s and 80s. Since conservative politicians and civic leaders, as well as pundits in the "reactionary" press, have already expressed their outrage and disgust over the commission's decision to honor the North Korean spies and South Korean communist guerillas, I was reluctant to add my two cents worth to the controversy over the issue. Besides, judging by the characteristic way President Roh Moo-hyun and his administration handle many important national issues, the commission, no doubt, would go ahead and push their decision through no matter how strongly it is opposed by how many people. But I was so appalled and dismayed by the muddled and contorted way of thinking of the members of the commission that I have to point out some of the basic and glaring errors they committed while deliberating on the issue. They said that the North Korean agents and the South Korean guerillas were contributors to democracy. But nothing, I believe, is farther from the truth. For, what they were doing, before their capture, was to try and communize - and not democratize - the Republic of Korea. The commission members should not have bunched those two obviously and fundamentally different goals together, unless they have a mixed-up belief that communism and democracy are one and the same thing, or unless they were working for the communist cause. How could they say that North Korean agents staked their life to help South Korea democratize when they, in fact, tried to help topple the government in Seoul and turn the Republic of Korea into a communist state? One simply cannot claim with any degree of logic that they had contributed to democracy. There is a saying that the enemies of our enemy are our friends. But this syllogism has a fatal flaw: all enemies of our enemy cannot necessarily be our friends. We all know that the so-called progressive and reform-minded politicians in this country, including current government leaders, pride themselves in having been contributors to democracy, because they waged a struggle against the army generals-turned presidents of the 1970s and 80s. By the way, I must point out that after they grabbed power themselves in the late 1990s and early 2000s and led the ROK government, they have turned out to be far less democratic than we thought they would be: they were as corrupt, arbitrary, self-serving and authoritarian as "the military dictators" that they condemned as their enemy. And yet, as though fighting the rightwing dictators would automatically make everybody a contributor to democracy, they sit in judgment of others, self-righteously dividing people into democratic and anti-democratic groups. This was the attitude of the commission members in deciding that the North Korean spies contributed to democracy in the South and, therefore, are their friends. Trying to settle old scores with "the military dictators" is one thing but including communist agents from the North in their ranks as advocates of democracy is another matter entirely. What the North Korean agents were trying to achieve, as I said, was quite different from what today's "progressive" politicians were trying to achieve; I am sure they did not fight to communize the country. Supposing, for the sake of argument, that the two North Korean spies did, indeed, contribute to democracy in the South, then, all the other North Korean terrorists including the ones who bombed the Martyrs' Mausoleum in Burma in 1983, killing 19 visiting South Korean cabinet ministers and officials, or the ones who blew up the Korean Airline plane over Burma, killing 115 innocent passengers in 1987, should also be regarded as contributors to democracy in the South. And if you push this kind of logic a step further, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his ilk, as well as their agents who attacked the South Korean government, can also be considered contributors to democracy, while the South Korean military, police and security agents, among others, who fought to defend the country against their attacks could not be anything but "anti-democratic and anti-Korean" traitors. Does this make any sense to you? It doesn't to me. As soon as I make a public comment like this, though, the progressives and reformists will jump all over me, criticizing and condemning me as a "conservative dummy with a Cold War mentality." But how can I not look at what's happening on the Korean Peninsula in terms of the Cold War at a time when the North Korean leaders are still clinging to their Cold War strategy of communizing the South? Anyway, as though honoring the dead North Korean spies for their "contributions" was not enough, the commission is now reported to be considering recommending to the president that the nation send other surviving North Korean spies back to the North. Those spies were released from prison and are now living in the South after they were allegedly forced to renounce communism by the South Korean authorities. I think I could try and understand the commission members, if they were taking these actions as part of conciliatory gestures toward the dictatorial regime in Pyongyang. But what they are doing is futile and meaningless unless the North Korean leaders reciprocate by sending, for instance, South Korean prisoners of war or abducted fishermen back to the South. In this connection, I must add that I, too, am all for the unification of our country, as long as the most important and overriding condition is not compromised. That is, the unified Korea has to be a democratic nation with a free market economy. And on this point, I would like to believe that most other people in this country, including the members of the commission, would agree with me.[/b] |
| Wishful Thinking "R" Us... |
| 07.11.04 (8:36 am) [edit] |
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I really get a kick when pro-Dear Leader stories like this in today's Lies get printed http://times.hankooki.com/lpa... [b]Kaesong Plants Will Create 830,000 Jobs By Kim Yon-se Staff Reporter The Kaesong Industrial Complex, under development in North Korea, could create as many as 829,000 jobs over the next decade, the Bank of Korea (BOK) estimated on Sunday. [/b] You may as well say it will create a gazillion jobs because since the ground breaking ceremony all construction has halted. The Dear Leader took the $2bn that we know of (which also bankrupted Hyundai Construction) and pocketed it. He never had any intention of finishing it. Mark my words, it will never open. [b]In 2012, North Korea will be able to generate $600 million from the inter-Korean complex, 3.3 percent of its GNI last year, the BOK added. ``The North will see its revenue from the park reach $2.28 billion in 2021.'' [/b] Interesting comment from the Lies. This kind of quote is the type that makes Korea watching so interesting. It is an indirect reference that the Dear Leader Party does not want reunification. 2021 is a long way from now. [b]BOK Governor Park Seung stressed the need for deepening cooperation with the North. In his recent speech in New York, Park recommended that South Korean firms relocate their labor-intensive industrial facilities not just to the Kaesong Industrial Complex but throughout North Korea.[/b] Translation: We hate the idea of having niggers and slopes working in South Korea but we have to put up with it for now because the Little Princes of Korea are too highly cultured to get their hands dirty. It is much better to have Su-min pretend to study TOEIC while at the same time playing Starcraft all day than to have him demean the family with labouring. Now we have the perfect solution: USE OUR NIGGERS! Hell, they'll be happy to work for a buck a day, they speak the same language and if they ever complain they'll be either shot dead, sent to the Gulag or both, not necessarily in that order. I find this quite ironic because Comrade Roh is highly critical of the military government era in the South; in the end however, cows will do ballet before any of these projects come to fruition. |
| White Elephants "R" Us (Part 2) |
| 07.09.04 (9:51 am) [edit] |
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I have been following with great interest the story of the TGV in Korea since its inception in 1995. I recall the great pride that my students had in the TGV, which I found rather odd since Korea was simply purchasing French technology at a grossly inflated price. At the time, I was teaching a group of engineers at KAIST, Korea's premier science school. When the project was announced, I asked this question: "Why don't you spend the money in Korea, on Korean research and development, on Korean companies and Korean engineers and build your own high speed system?" A chorus of blank stares always ensued. This had never occurred to them. The reply was inevitably "We can't do it ourselves." I replied "Well, the Japanese did it in 1964, why can't you?" Angry looks. One has to give it to the French for their sales technique. It really reminds me of the Simpson’s [i]Monorail[/i] episode. Koreans convinced themselves that they would become multi-gazillionaires because they would build the train all the way to Moscow. When I pointed out such obstacles as perma-frost and Lake Baikal, more confused looks ensued. No matter what Americans say, Frogs are savvy people and have some incredible mechanical engineering. In this case they wrote the contract so that the Koreans would pay all extra costs due to delays, etc. Frogs are also expert at stroking egos, something for which Koreans are exceptionally receptive. Point is case is the Euro-fighter, but that is another issue. So today, the fascist-reactionaly-Roh-h ating-Jap-and-Yankee-lovi ng-collaborationist-filth y-rag-must-be-closed-down -by-force-Chosun-fucking- Ilbo prints this story:http://english.chosun.com/w21... I never for one second thought the train would make money and that is not necessarily bad because governments always subsidize transportation, be it roads, ports or airports. However, the KTX project is about 300% over budget and one does not need much of an imagination to figure out where that money went. However, it is pretty obvious that the government inflated passenger figures to sell the public a bill of goods, as well as encouraging fantasies of building the train to Beijing and Moscow, neither of which could ever compete with air travel. It does seem, however, that KORAIL has done its best to limit the number of stops on the route despite political meddling. However, the project has now eaten US$100 BILLION, an astronomical figure for a country with an economy the size of Korea's. It is more than one fifth of Korea's annual GDP. For comparison, what would US taxpayers think is Bu$h forked out $2.5 TRILLION to buy a foreign train that does not make money? The equal in Canada would be C$200bn, about the annual federal budget. I wonder what Korea would be like had that money be spent on parks and recreation, a real library system, better sanitation, sewers or education? We'll never know but it would have been one helluva an investment in people not imported toys. |
| Selective Sight |
| 07.08.04 (8:33 am) [edit] |
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There has not been much to blog about recently as summer vacation takes hold. I will offer a few observations, though. First, the absolutely insane idea of moving the capital, an even crazier proposal to move it to Kongju. For those unfamiliar with the place, Kongju is one of the most scenic and beautiful places left in the central part of South Korea. It is also the site of the Paekjae Kings' toombs and a wonderful place to visit. The roads up there are not good at all and any big project would entail ripping and blasting a lot of real estate. What is even more insane is the is no airport and not likely one can be built there. Thus, if the capital is moved there, one can expect huge traffic jams on Friday and Sunday nights. Of course the real reason Kongju was chosen was it represents the border of the Dear Leader Party terrority. What better way to reward your cronies than with a government financed real estate and building boom! To those who spent any time at all in Korea, "capital relocation" is not a new idea. Park Chung-hee planned to move the capital to Changwon, building what is perhaps the most habitable city in Korea in the process. Kim Young-sam announced the capital would move to Taejon, spent billions on construction, caused a real estate bubble and then did not go through with it. I do have a sneaking suspicion that Comrade Roh and the Keystone Commies are going to try to go ahead with, economic and environmental concerns be damned. One another topic, saw this in the Herald: [EDITORIAL]Starving children http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/... [b]It is shameful for a nation known as the world's 11th largest economy, and an OECD member, to have as many as 300,000 children who need school lunch programs. Among these primary and secondary school students from needy households, the government will provide only 35,000 of the most underprivileged class with meal coupons during the vacation[/b] Now, what is left out here? Oh, we did not think to mention the millions of kids in the North, our fraternal brothers and members of the Han people, have been starving in droves for the last ten years. [b]Still worse, the remaining 265,000 children will probably starve for sure. They are most likely to miss not only warm meals but warm hearts, as statistics say that financial problems, divorce and disease most frequently break families as well as the tender hearts of children[/b] How heart wrenching and tear jerking. Perhaps a dictionary is necessary. Starve means "to die from lack of food." These kids might be undernourished but I seriously doubt any will die of hunger. This is in contrast to the children in the North, whose Dear Leader has instructed his mouthpieces in the South, the media, to only put a positive spin on the Juche Paradise. Thousands of kids most definately perished last winter and as the Dear Leader continues to use his children as pawns to try to extort money from Uncle Sam, so far unsuccessfully. It is fucking sickening and I do not see the Dear Leader's gut getting any smaller. [b]There are approximately 1.1 million needy children across the country, according to the National Institute of Health and Welfare.[/b] And if we do not point it out, there are none in the North. [b]Though this is meager in the amount and scope of its assistance, the nation has just taken a small but useful step in a long voyage toward a welfare society.[/b] Which, at your level of wealth, you cannot afford without destroying your economy. What is more, poverty is not something that can be eliminated with handouts. Canada is the prime example of this. We have programmes that really help working families such as mine but there are still lots of people who live in squalor. The best "social safeyy net" that one can have is a job. The policies of Comrade Roh are not exactly conducive with raising employment levels, nor is his policy of hiring more into the government of an already over-regulated country. Driving investment away is not the way to get the "welfare state" many Koreans seem to want. |
| The Dear Leader's Victory Party |
| 07.01.04 (8:30 am) [edit] |
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[image]kimchipig_13436143 64.jpg[/image] On the tenth anniversary of the Dear Leader's ascent to power, he certainly has a lot to celebrate: -He has successfully infiltrated almost every aspect of Korean life, especially academia and the media but not to mention the goverment. -He has turned the youth of South Korea against its American ally http://english.chosun.com/w21... -He has the youth of Korea convinced that a Communist dictatorship is superior to western style democracy, illustrated by the love of all things Chinese in Korea. -He has a lap-dog regime installed in Seoul, headed by Comrade Roh and the Keystone Commies, which will do anything to appease him and thus keep him in power. -He continues to set the politcal agenda in the area with threats, blackmail and intimidation. -He has successfully started the withdrawal of USFK. -He so successfully set the agenda in South Korea that the media there no longer reports on famine, poverty and human rights abuses in North Korea. -He has successfully used the Jeolla-Honam regional split to sew seeds to forment in South Korea. He will also use the Jeolla people to take over South Korea.. -He has extorted billions of dollars from the South for so called "economic projects," none of which will ever come to fruition. -He has incredidily successfully destabilised what was one of the most dynamic economies in the world into one that is stagnant. -He has successfully pinned the blame for that on big nose (if you were not in Korea in 1997, ask somebody). -He has successfully set the stage to take over the South without firing a shot. I disagree that neither side wants reunification. The Dear Leader knows that the South is ripe for another 1948. - I predict the Dear Leader will take over in less than two years. |