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normalcyispasse

Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Location: Yeosu until the end of February WOOOOOOOO
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject: A story of a survivor of a North Korean gulag |
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I know it seems like we in the South sometimes have it bad. It's crazy to think of what happens just a few kilometers to the north of Seoul. . .
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/09/news/korea.php
(Story is too long to quote directly) |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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This quote really identifies the main problem in North Korea. Even if people are starving so badly they'd be willing to eat each other, they just don't have the knowledge that this is not normal for everyone.
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| "I didn't know about America, or China or the fact that the Korean Peninsula was divided and there was a place called South Korea," he said. "I thought it was natural that I was in the camp because of my ancestors' crime, though I never even wondered what that crime was. I never thought it was unfair." |
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palkorea
Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Location: Jeonnam
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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I picked up a new book last time I was at "What the Book" in Itaewon.
It was called "Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in a North Korean Gulag" by Kang Chol-Hwan.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, I'd recommend the book. It's hard to read about, but important that people learn of what's still going on in the North. |
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Yaya

Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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| palkorea wrote: |
I picked up a new book last time I was at "What the Book" in Itaewon.
It was called "Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in a North Korean Gulag" by Kang Chol-Hwan.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, I'd recommend the book. It's hard to read about, but important that people learn of what's still going on in the North. |
It ain't new, it's been around for a couple of years, Sherlock. |
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palkorea
Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Location: Jeonnam
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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Forgive me. I bought a NEW book, as opposed to a USED one at the bookstore that is most known for used books...
My point is...it's a good book if you're interested. |
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R-Seoul

Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Location: your place
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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What gets me is how blase the average S. Korean is about peoples life in the North. They get bent out of shape over the US & Japan, yet at this very moment horrific crimes are being comitted on innocent people north of the border and to fellow koreans too.
Why doesn't this get their blood boiling? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:09 am Post subject: |
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| R-Seoul wrote: |
What gets me is how blase the average S. Korean is about peoples life in the North. They get bent out of shape over the US & Japan, yet at this very moment horrific crimes are being comitted on innocent people north of the border and to fellow koreans too.
Why doesn't this get their blood boiling? |
The author of Aquariums of Pyongyang made that same point in his book. |
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Guri Guy

Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Bamboo Island
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:40 am Post subject: |
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It's easier and more morally satisfying to blame Japan.
I too am reading the Aquariums of Pyongyang. Good book so far. |
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The Perfect Cup of Coffee

Joined: 17 Jun 2007
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:04 am Post subject: |
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Yeah it's a great read. I point this out to my university students when they get all anti-Japan, USA, etc. It mostly shuts them up when they start talking about world/global tyranny, and you ask 'em to drive as far as they can north of Seoul if they want to see tyranny.
Sadly, the few students who have already served their military service, aren't able to speak up forcefully enough. I've found the guys that have finished their service actually have a more rational understanding of North-South relations than the other students. |
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