The Hub of Sparkle! » History

Virginia Tech Anniversary

Mark — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:41:22 +0000

Today is the third anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, and there will be various memorial events on campus….

The gunman, Seung-Hui Cho, was found already dead by his own gun. His toll: 32 people–27 students and five professors–were dead. It was the deadliest peacetime shooting incident by a single gunman in United States history, on or off a school campus.

Fredericksburg.com – Va. Tech shootings were felt by Koreans

Support the Comfort Woman: Film at Jogye Temple

Roboseyo — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:22:35 +0000

This is a straight cut and paste from the facebook page, where you can register to attend the free screening… however, it looks interesting, and I thought you’d like to know about it.

The documentary film “63 Years On” will be shown at a FREE screening at Jogyesa Temple Theatre on April 11, 2010 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm. The film is in multiple languages with English subtitles only. Speaker and discussion after the film (The film itself is 63 min long).

This is an opportunity for both the Korean and International communities to further engage with the ‘Comfort women’ issue and to support the continuing fight for justice.

In this film, award-winning Korean director Kim Dong Won presents the harrowing experiences of 5 international survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. The very personal telling of their experiences is matched with excellent research and archival footage to create a powerfully honest, determined, and often heartbreaking documentary. While this gripping film may evoke great sadness and anger, the bravery displayed will truly inspire all who see it.

The House of Sharing International Outreach Team works to raise awareness of the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery and to support the Halmoni in their on-going struggle for historical reconciliation and justice. The team is composed of both foreign and local volunteers who lead visits at the House of Sharing in English, and work to highlight the continuing crimes against humanity in the form of sexual violence during war, experienced to this day by women and children across the world.

This screening provides a window to an episode of Asian and International history which has been willfully ignored by so many for more than 63 years. You are invited to join the House of Sharing and show your support to the survivors who continue the fight for justice.

After the screening, volunteers will lead small group discussions about the film. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, express your opinions or just share your thoughts. Please join us if you can!

***DIRECTIONS TO JOGYESA TEMPLE***
Jogyesa Temple is located in Jongno, on the street behind Insa-dong. You can walk there in a short time from Jonggak Station, or it’s also accessible from Anguk Station (Exit 6).

From Anguk station Exit 6, walk straight & pass the main street to Insadong. Cross the street to reach the temple structure in front of you. The theatre is in the new museum building behind the main temple structure.

Hub of…China?

Mark — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:15:25 +0000

Looks like Korea has laid another claim to China….

MBC, the South Korea’s second biggest TV station, reveals some shocking secrets on a program called "Mysterious TV Surprise." In its program on March 7 this year, it claimed that Zhu Yuanzhang, the builder and first emperor of China’s Ming Dynasty, could possibly have been a Korean.
In the following days, several influential South Korean media outlets published the "news" in quick succession, including the Web sites of Newsen, JoongAng Daily and Yahoo ROK and so on.

What to rewrite, history or South Korean mindset? – People’s Daily Online

This Chinese article is so snarky I had to laugh. Here’s the punch line:

And frankly speaking, China had controlled Korea many times both on military affairs and culture in history, so these ideas are understandable.

C4I Cop-Out

Mark — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:53:10 +0000

You’ve probably heard about the American plans to hand over operational control or OPCON of military operations in Korea to the South Koreans themselves.

SEOUL – North Korea’s rhetoric is such a familiar noise during United States-South Korean war games that most people don’t pay attention. Nor does anyone outside the US and Korean military establishments seem to care much about the exercises themselves – Key Resolve and Foal Eagle.
The real exchange of fire seems to be going on quite separately. That’s a debate among Americans and Koreans over one of the most contentious issues between the US and South Korea, namely the plan to give "operational control" over all military operations to a South Korean commander in the event of war with the North.

Asia Times Online :: Korea News and Korean Business and Economy, Pyongyang News

The most frequent excuse given is that Korea does not posses the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) to assume operational control. Bullshite. I propose that the Korean reluctance to assume OPCON is cultural rather than technological…it stems from Confucian filial piety. The US military is seen subconsciously as the doctrinal, organizational, and technological “father” or “ancestor” of the Korean military and is to be obeyed, respected, and supported. Certainly there are fiscal issues involved as well, but the proverbial elephant in the room is filial piety.

Korea Seeks Volunteer Force

Mark — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:13:11 +0000

I can’t imagine only staying in the Army 18 months. My first enlistment was 2 years, and that is about how much time it takes to become an expert in one’s MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).

March 3, 2010: South Korea is also in the midst of a 15 year plan to transform their army from a large force of conscripts, to a smaller, high tech force containing many more, higher paid, volunteers. The south sees this, the "American approach" as superior and proven. But this will be expensive, because the legislature has stuck by the popular plan to reduce the time conscripts stay in uniform to 18 months. It’s currently 21 months (down from 24 months) and will be cut another three months by 2014.

Leadership: Southern Comfort

Takeshima Day

Mark — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:59:22 +0000

Usually it is Korea who draws attention to the Dokdo dispute, but once a year it is the Japanese….

MATSUE, Japan, Feb. 22 (Kyodo)—The governor of Shimane Prefecture called Monday for greater public attention to be given to the sovereignty dispute over a group of South Korean-controlled islets in the Sea of Japan.

Zenbe Mizoguchi said galvanizing public support at national level is "absolutely necessary" to settle the issue as he spoke in a ceremony to mark the fifth "Takeshima Day" since the local authority in western Japan designated Feb. 22 as a day for promoting Japan’s claim to the islets.

About 500 people attended the ceremony in the prefectural capital of Matsue, which was held amid a minor protest rally by a group of South Koreans.

Shimane governor wants more public attention given to Takeshima islets+

South Korea Invites Korean War Vets

Mark — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:44:10 +0000

If you know any Korean War vets, this is a pretty slick deal for them and their families:

This year, Lee said the Korean government is offering to pay for 50 percent of the round-trip airfare for veterans as part of the country’s 2010 Revisit Korea Program that honors the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

"I am working with the Korean government and they are asking me to organize the tour," Lee explained. "The Korean government is inviting all the Korean War veterans who served with (any military group) and a loved one back to Korea this 60th year of Korean War."

The family member would receive 30 percent off airfare, Lee added, and also discussed a Peace Camp for Youth being offered through the Revisit Korea Program for relatives of veterans attending college.

For the veterans and a family member, Lee said she has been given two possible tour dates, with the first tour from April 26 to May 1 and the second from June 5 to June 10.

The tour includes lodging, meals, visits to war sites, several celebrations and meeting South Korean diplomats.

"They gave me an open quota and are asking how many I can bring, so I am desperate to find these veterans as soon as possible to start the passport process, which takes six weeks to two months," Lee said.

Anyone who is a Korean War veteran and has not been to Korea since the war, or has not visited in the last five years, is eligible to contact Lee for this trip at 714-501-1412 or at P.O. Box 28, Springdale, Utah 84767.

South Korea invites vets | thespectrum.com | The Spectrum

Some Interesting Reading: Linkoseyo

Roboseyo — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:57:28 +0000

This is starting to become a regular feature… possibly taking after my favorite ongoing feature at ROK Drop — the weekly linklets.

So here’s what’s reading over at Roboseyo’s house: a lot of interesting stuff, actually.

I have my own thoughts about the numbers focus in Korean megachurches… here’s a BBC write-up on the world’s largest church: Yeouido Full Gospel Church. I have a friend who goes there — heck, everyone in Korea probably does — meanwhile, Not Dead Yet takes an interesting look at the shamanistic footprints that remain in modern Korean Christianity, as much as modern Korean Christians would deny it.

Winston Churchill once called Canada “The lynchpin of the English speaking world” because it bridged the differences between England and the USA. Is Korea heading for a similar mediary role between China and US? New world order coming?

Before taking that kind of a world-prominent role, Korea could bone up its soft power, for example, do something about the fact it ranks last in helping poor countries. Northern European countries topped the list. (more here)

Another reason to like Kim Yu-na.

In other news: Korea keeps talking about being committed to an “open society for foreigners” – bringing talented foreigners to Korea… while showing no commitment to making things better for many of the foreigners who are already living here.

However, 90% of Korean women have thought about plastic surgery… I still find it unsettling how often I’ve been reading about medical tourism lately (it was in the previous link as well) Let’s not forget, “Beauty Industry Could Create the Next Korean Wave”

Travel

Where to find Fall colors in Korea.

A Geek In Korea has discovered the most gorgeous garden he’s seen in Korea.

If you’re considering a new line of work, cross traveling salesperson in China off your list.

Some countries have inaugurations for transfers of power. Others affect the transfer by writing songs. (All hail Kim Jong-un.. being trained in brinkmanship, getting something for nothing, and holding his population hostage as we speak.) The song’s called Footsteps. If the final line is “It was then that I carried you,” I’m gonna throw up.

Culture

After a k-pop dry spell, is indie music in Korea finally gaining a new foothold?

On standardized testing in Korea: “The only skills that the students develop from studying are the skills to successfully take these tests.”

A look at the legacy of Park Chung-hee, who, as of Monday, has been dead for 30 years

Business

Backed by President Lee, Korea is a major player in the growing Car Battery technology race, pretty much neck-and-neck with Japan.

Presidents of South Korea – an overview and timeline

Matthew254 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:28:20 +0000

A brief history of the Presidents of South Korea. A short introductory read but worth a look.

crossposted at KC101

How Koreans Do It (a blog you should have already been reading)

Matthew254 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:50:52 +0000

Greetings fellow Sparklers. Matthew254 here with some reading material for the masses. I keep a weekly blog over at KC101 and I want to share some interesting posts with those interested. Below is a list of topics which have been recently updated, beefed up, and have had some new photos slapped together for some family-fun goodness. Each post has one foot in Korea and another in America so I try to keep it balanced while still trying to crack a smile in the process. So pull up a chair, kick up your feet, and give me the decency of a pity smirk or at least a weak laugh. Come on, I deserve it. Join me as we delve into Korean history, pop culture, and the things that make us want to start carrying loaded weapons. I try to entertain as well as educate on what I think is the most interesting and perplexing country on the planet. So drop by, leave a comment, and you’ll receive a genuine, heartfelt, politically correct response from me in no time. So get to reading, you recent-college-graduate-trying-to-figure-out-this-country-out!

Coming from a guy who just recently arrived, take yourself back to a time when you loved everything here, culture shock was at it’s peak, and you were the exotic yet unapproachable foreigner with a bad accent. Yes, ladies and gents, it is I and I am here to please. Stay tuned for more analytical goodness in the future!

-your friendly neighborhood Texan