Korean Job Discussion Forums

[scotty c]

An Atrocity, Pure and Simple
Members of an emergency committee, opposed to the central government`s plan to relocate military units to their city, held a protest rally in front of the Ministry of Defense in Yongsan at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. When the rally ended, around 20 residents of Icheon city came up to a podium in front of the crowd. From a steel barrel, they took out a pig with its legs tied to ropes and started to pull in four different directions. The 1.2-m pig was torn into pieces. Then the residents grabbed the writhing animal and slit its throat. For about half an hour, the pig lay in front of the ministry, its blood seeping into the pavement.

Some Icheon residents who were watching this act, which the emergency committee called a "performance", applauded and waved the Korean flag. The mayors of Icheon and Hanam cities, lawmakers and 1,500 residents took part in the protest rally, but not one of them tried to stop the gory performance. The emergency committee belatedly tried to address mounting complaints, saying the performance was an "accidental" act committed by only a handful of residents. But the horrific act was reported by the media and on the Internet and caught the attention of animal rights groups in Europe and the U.S.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200705/200705250022.html

[sojourner1]

So now that Korea is powerful enough to protects its' own self from enemies, it no longer needs the U.S. Army? Perhaps. I will elaborate here why might the Koreans and other countries object to having an American military presence.

No one wants them around, because a few soldiers acted terribly over the years such as getting young women pregnant, having bar fights, and being nasty rude to locals. Much of this bad behavior is attributed to young soldiers experiencing culture shock and homesickness with a lack of emotional support. I feel America needs to do a better job at managing international relations more than simply telling her people that when they are abroad, they are ambassadors of the United States of America and should act accordingly. Most respect this fact, but a very few need more than simply being told this, thus, ruining what could had been a good thing. Americas' image is tarnished worldwide on account of a small number of soldiers losing control of them selves.

Unrelated to the pig demonstration, but reflects on Americans being disliked near bases. In Itaewon a few weeks ago, no motels would rent a room to me, because they suspected I might be a Meegook or American. They knew on account of my accent and appearance, though I am not a soldier any longer. I went to 10 of them on the side streets and met ajummas at all of them who turned me away and all I wanted was a room to sleep in by myself. I clearly understand it was not me they personally disliked or anything I did, it was how many American soldiers have misbehaved over the years coloring thier judgement of me in a negative stereotypical manner. Ajummas operating motels elsewhere seem friendly, accepting, and accommodating in most other parts of Korea.

As for putting on a bloody demonstration with a live pig, this strongly demonstrates that those people in Icheon do not want the deaths that will occur as a result of soldiers having traffic accidents, the injuries and loss of business over fist fights, and the many pregnancies out of wedlock with no one to be a father. The brutal killing of a pig is a little bit extreme and barbaric, but demonstrates that no one wants a new big head ache where they own land and live. It's a shame that it has to be this way.

[Ozabout7or8]

It's much more useful to look at the real root cause which is the inter-Korean conflict which despite the 1953 Armistice is still highly unstable and requires the presence of the US Bases as a protection/deterrant.

Koreans on both sides are rightly unhappy at the presence of foreign troops on their soil but as mentioned already the absence of US Troops may be much worse for all involved.

Anyone would be unhappy with foreign military basis on their soil, needed or not.

The Korean War needs to be resolved finally before things can move forward. This is the domain of the Korean Governments and the USA.

With regard to this pig being an atrocity...I say grow up. There are far more atrocities around the world everyday to human beings and when we take adequate notice and takes steps to prevent all of these then it will be time to start looking after that poor pig. His friends were probably already bacon by now anyway, what's the difference?

[samd]

You wouldn't want a foreign army in your country either.

Kudos to the Koreans for being passionate and standing up for what they believe in. They're better than the apathetic morons at home.

Who cares if they killed a pig? Pork chops all round I say.

[dogshed]

Everything is working according to plan. It's much easier to deal
with a few old people in the country than many young people in the city
plus they get all that land back.

[ChimpumCallao]

sojourner,

No.

America should not teach its troops anything but "you are not a troop anymore" as it is not America's job to police the world, occupy/protect other countries, or go on nationbuilding expeditions.

It is very Anti-American and completely against the Constitution and what the Founding Fathers intended for the US to have bases in over 100 countries. The best foreign relations are free trade- and only free trade.

While I do find the Koreans to be quite barbaric, ungrateful, rash, and petty I don't know how I would like China to have military bases in the United States. While they have benefitted immensely from the US it is time for us to get the hell out- there is no reason for us to be anywhere but at home (unless we're living it up expat style ;-)

[Guri Guy]

[venus]

[cosmo]

[Yo!Chingo]

No one can justify tearing a living animal apart and say that those involved in the atrocity haven't lost their LITTLE minds. I can't even believe people on this board are trying.

[dogbert]

I wonder if the knee-jerk anti-American morons posting in this thread felt foolish after realizing the pig-pullers were protesting a KOREAN military base, not a U.S. one.

Idiots.

[venus]

[Yo!Chingo]

Oh so it's an Eastern Standard to kill an animal in the worst possible way? Stop trying to say that we're judging a culture by Western Standards. It's a human moral and ethical standard and I for one think what they did was lower than human.

I wish that I would have been there! I would have gone apeshit!!!!

Since you think it's ok to kill something that way, maybe you should have joined them!

[cangel]

As mentioned, they were protesting a Korean military office moving into their area not an American office. And, also previously mentioned, what does brutally quartering a pig accomplish/symbolize? If this happened in "uncivilized" United States, I can guarantee that everyone in the video would be hunted down like dogs and prosecuted.

This being said, if the animal is slaughtered in a humane way (yes I get the irony), I'm all for some pork chops. Would love a nice honey-glazed ham... Ummm

[Barking Mad Lord Snapcase]