Comments on: More Nazi Imagery in Korea

By: Korean Models Dress Up In Nazi Uniforms for Photo Shoot | ROK Drop

Korean Models Dress Up In Nazi Uniforms for Photo Shoot | ROK Drop — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:55:58 +0000

[...] guess Korea just loves it Nazis: Apparently, netizens are WWII insignia experts. There’s been a lot of hoot and holler for Girls [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:01:49 +0000

Ok Jesus..open one (a Hirohito) in a major North American or better yet European city and see what happens..the open a Hirohito, Yamamoto or other cafe or bar in Manila…compare the reaction.

I saw one in Paris 6 years ago. A tea house called the L’empereur Hirohito. It was packed. It was not contested.

I saw a few tea houses in my own country (Canada) with Japanese imperial flags and samurai decorations (Samurai being before WWII of course). One particular Tea house had a big rising sun flag above the door and inside had pictures of various Japanese warriors, including many WWII figures.

Its not relativism, its about perspective and how WWII happened. Germany was absent from Asia. It did not oppress, kill or enslave any asians. Japan did all of that. On the flip side, Japan did very little oppression or enslavement against europeans or North americans, with the exception of British and American servicemen. The perception differs and the focus of what is taught in history courses differs as a result. Thats not relativism its fact.

The rising sun headbands cited by SKFK are a good example of what I am talking about.

This is not a judgement call on my part. I think using Nazi symbols to decorate something is unacceptable. I also think using Japanese imperial symbols is just as unacceptable. Both countries committed atrocities in their respective theaters of war. Neither should be used as decoration. But, the difference in perception remains and is very understandable when you consider the history and geography of WWII.

To point out one thing does not negate or whitewash the other. That was not my intent. In the West, material on what Japan did during WWII is not covered in the same detail as what the Germans did. Yet the Japanese had concentration camps too, they enslaved people from all over asia and engaged in massacres (ask the Chinese….). Thats not relativism, its trying to show that perceptions differ from one part of the world to the other.

By: SKFK

SKFK — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:28:40 +0000

“Ummm, I’d like to call bullshit on the “if you opened an Imperial Japanese bar outside Asia no one would care” argument.”

I don’t know about that. Was there a lot of controversy in America when Rising Sun headbands became popular?

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:15:24 +0000

People noticed when the Chicago Cubs used the flag to market their first Japanese player in 2008. I don't know if it reached the level of "outrage," but it made some people uncomfortable. I wonder how the player himself felt about it.

By: Jirla

Jirla — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:02:05 +0000

Give me a break with the relativistic crap. Hello??? F’ing Nazis!!! Trash that bullshit man.

By: joy

joy — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:22:23 +0000

Makes me wonder if Jewish groups across the globe ever get site of these images and feel:

a.) disgusted
b.) appalled
c.) confused
d.) all of the above
e.) don’t care

By: Jesus

Jesus — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:41:19 +0000

Ummm, I’d like to call bullshit on the “if you opened an Imperial Japanese bar outside Asia no one would care” argument. That’s taking the whole “cultural relativism” thing to an extreme. You could argue that MOST people would have no problem with it, but it would definitely get into the papers and cause controversy.

By: Fan Death Avenger

Fan Death Avenger — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:59:22 +0000

Are you sure it was crackers? I remember Hilter in a Korean chocopie commercial. (8 years ago? 10?)

By: hwarangi

hwarangi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:20:43 +0000

Does this kind of thing get a mention on CNN international or BBC World? When I first came to Korea and Hitler was advertising ACE crackers (or another brand, cant remember) there was international media coverage, outrage, and condemnation.

By: 3gyupsal

3gyupsal — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:46:01 +0000

Come on guys, don’t you see the connection between nine ultra hot teenagers who sing and dance to bland pop music to fascism? I mean 소녀시대 represents an ideal for Korean feminine beauty, waifishness, and perhaps due to the fact that their are nine of them that their individuality doesn’t really matter. Much like the nazi philosophy that there was something called an Aryan race of blonde haired blue eyed supermen that deserved a third reicht; one could argue that 소녀시대, represents a new generation of Korean woman that is surgically manipulated to be a stepford charecter who does nothing but sing songs about how she is so shy and nervous about going on a date, and hoping that her boyfriend likes her (see translation of “Gee”)

Now I’m not saying that I such marginalization of Naziism, but I think there are some unintended symbols that can’t quite be overlooked when considering modern Korean culture and Nazis. (Not to mention common Korean ideas about things like blood purity, and superstitions about blood types.) In the end I don’t think that this kind of behaviour will go away soon. It’ll just get worse and worse, until someone does something completely retarded for the whole world to see. (I’m betting on some famous sports player will wear an ss arm band or something completely oblivious like that, and then when taken to task they act like a complete deer in the headlights.)