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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Vicissitude
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: Chef School
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 Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:59 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
Rumor alert:
One of my students (adult) who has been following this story says the rumor on the internet is that the SK government agreed to pay out W10,000,000,000 per hostage. |
It might not be all rumor:
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| Meanwhile there is a lingering question of whether Seoul may have slipped the Taliban money to ensure the hostages' safe return. Korean and Japanese newspapers reported two weeks ago that the Taliban was asking for $10 million for the remaining hostages, and that South Korea was willing to pay up to $500,000. "Everyone believes it wasn't free," says Seoul resident Jeon Eunhyung. |
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20070829/wl_time/koreanhostagesfreedatacost |
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Alyallen
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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South Korea draws praise and criticism for hostage deal
By Jon Herskovitz
2 hours, 57 minutes ago
SEOUL (Reuters) - The South Korean government won praise on Thursday for its part in securing the release of 19 hostages held in Afghanistan, but critics said Seoul may have set a dangerous precedent in directly negotiating with the Taliban.
Taliban insurgents freed 12 of the 19 Korean Christian church volunteers it had held for nearly six weeks on Wednesday and may release more on Thursday.
If the remaining hostages are also released in the next day or so, all of them are likely to return to South Korea together on a commercial flight, South Korean officials said.
The Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's biggest daily and one of the leading critics of the President Roh Moo-hyun government, said in an editorial the administration should be commended for resolving the situation while minimizing losses.
It cautioned, however: "For the first time ever, we had to negotiate directly with terrorist abductors. We cannot deny the fact that this precedent could possibly act as a burden on Korea's international image in the future."
Other leading newspapers took a similar editorial line.
Many countries say they do not negotiate with terrorists so as not to legitimize them and encourage them to commit provocative acts.
Seth Jones, a Middle East expert with the Rand Corporation, told U.S. broadcaster PBS: "It (the deal) strengthens the Taliban probably to some degree," adding it could increase the risk of kidnapping for other international aid workers in Afghanistan.
South Korea's presidential Blue House said that under the deal it struck with the Taliban, it has to withdraw its small contingent of non-combat troops in the country within the year and stop its nationals from doing missionary work in Afghanistan.
However, South Korea had already decided before the crisis to pull its 200 engineers and medical staff out of Afghanistan by the end of 2007. Since the hostages were taken it has banned its nationals from traveling there.
A spokesman for South Korea's president, Chon Ho-seon, was evasive in responding to questions at a news briefing in Seoul on Wednesday on whether a ransom was part of the deal, saying only South Korea had done what was needed.
The insurgents seized 23 Korean Christian volunteers on July 19 from a bus in Ghazni province and initially demanded the release of Taliban members held prisoner by the Afghan government. It killed two hostages, and then released another two earlier in what it said was a goodwill gesture.
Prior to the kidnapping, South Korean warned its citizens not to travel to Afghanistan and blocked many of its growing legion of evangelical Christians from going there due to safety concerns. |
http://tinyurl.com/355gop
The specific part that I quoted and enlarged stood out for me. Korea has planned on pulling out their troops. It was announced months ago, so I seriously think that they gave the Taliban money for the hostages. What irritates me is that it is viewed as only damaging to the Korean image.
I believe there is a German aid worker whoo is a hostage now along with some Afghans. What do you think that funny trasaction from the Koreans are going to do for the negotiations for his and the Afghans' release? But hey...I guess this is just a matter of handing a very large white envelope to a bunch of terrorists....
Great Job, Korea!  |
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Dome Vans
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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Am I the only one that thinks that the US has accelerated this sh*t by their dumb, illegal, neo-con war. SO much so that the pace at which we are moving at now, is out of the control of anyone except the 'terrorist organisations'.
Maybe it would have taken 20 years to get to this situation, but because if it had been slower there had maybe there would have been some kind of plan or framework to deal with this situation. But because the yanks have been gung-ho they've messed this balance up, now to the favour of the 'terrorists'. Hence paranoid fear, which the state loves.
As I said before the Koreans did the smart thing and probably value the lives of their citizens more than the cannon fodder that Bush has been sending in. |
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Butterfly
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| nautilus wrote: |
I'm surprised there is no reaction to this on this board.
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Disappointment on the part of some I reckon, there were a couple of posters here giving the distinct impression that they were champing at the bit to pipe up about 'Darwinism at work' etc etc. Sheesh, they must be gutted at this news. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:45 am Post subject: |
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| Am I the only one that thinks that the US has accelerated this |
Isn't another word for 'one track mind' neurotic? |
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indytrucks
Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: The Shelf
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:43 am Post subject: |
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| Butterfly wrote: |
| Disappointment on the part of some I reckon, there were a couple of posters here giving the distinct impression that they were champing at the bit to pipe up about 'Darwinism at work' etc etc. Sheesh, they must be gutted at this news. |
Yes. |
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Summer Wine
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Location: Next to a River
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:02 am Post subject: |
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I was asked by a co-teacher today, what I thought about the hostage situation. I said I believed money was paid to get them back, but I am happy to se them come back alive with only two deaths.
She agreed that money had to be paid, so I would be doubtful to find anyone in Korea who is educated who does believe money wasn't paid. She said the father of one of the hostages who was killed is complaining that the government didn't act fast enough.
I told her that nothing I have read would support the notion that they could have done more than what they have done and my country makes it clear that they will not do anything to save its citizens if they are stupid enough to put themselves in a similar situation.
Therefore I don't take holidays to extremely dangerous countries. |
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enns
Joined: 02 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:00 am Post subject: |
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| I'm assuming at the impending press conference the hostages will thank god for saving them while showing no remorse for their actions. The irresponsible actions of the hostages are matched only by the reckless deals of their government. What a precedent this is setting in our war on terror. |
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The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: |
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| enns wrote: |
| I'm assuming at the impending press conference the hostages will thank god for saving them while showing no remorse for their actions. |
That's how Americans would behave, and I'm sorry to have to tell you, but you obviously have absolutely zero understanding of the people you live among.
I expect no book deals or TV-movies made of this. Fact is, shame comes naturally to people in this part of the world, just as pride and arrogance comes to us without our looking for it. Not saying this is good or that we are worse, just saying what is true.
The church that sent these people has already expressed remorse, and promised to send no more of their kind over there, even before the government's ban on travel. When these people come back, I predict they will make tearful apologies for the trouble they have caused.
Which they should. They did a dumb thing, and caused a lot of people a lot of problems and heartache, and possibly more to come if money was actually paid to get them out, because any money given to the Taliban will only be used to buy guns and bombs that will kill other people. I defend nothing about what these Korean people were up to, but damn, trying to get in an extra kick now that they have been released from impending and sudden death ...
Unnecessarily mean, all I can say. Hope it made YOU feel better to say the worst possible thing someone could think of at a what ought to be a happy moment.
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enns
Joined: 02 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:20 am Post subject: |
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Calm down Bobster. I see I touched a nerve here.
I am angry that the Korean government chose to negotiate with terrorists and feel for the families of future hostages that such negotiations will induce. I am also angry at both the church and missionaries for the grave mistakes they have made. However, I am glad that they are safe and that this incident is now over with. I am speaking the truth that probably a majority of people share.
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| what ought to be a happy moment |
This is a happy moment for the Koreans, their families, and the country as a whole. However, how many other families will now go through the same ordeal because the Korean government opted to negotiate with terrorists? How many others will suffer for this "happy moment"? It's hard to hear but we should not ignore the consequences of what happened. This is a debate that should not be ignored. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| However, how many other families will now go through the same ordeal because the Korean government opted to negotiate with terrorists? |
Well, wouldn't those future kidnapping victims have to be people who went to places where the abduction of foreigners was an everyday occurence? In other words, they would be as reckless and as foolhardy as the Koreans were, and deserving of about as much sympathy. |
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just another day
Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Living with the Alaskan Inuits!!
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| great to hear. |
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The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
| Well, wouldn't those future kidnapping victims have to be people who went to places where the abduction of foreigners was an everyday occurence? In other words, they would be as reckless and as foolhardy as the Koreans were, and deserving of about as much sympathy. |
A voice of reason. At last.
enns:
Thanks for sharing, but your anger will change nothing about how the world is and how it will be. Of course, that's one more thing for you to be angry about, but still ... when you get over your anger, take a deep breath and understand that some people are alive right now that a week ago a lot of us thought would be dead.
Do you want to stand in front of us and say you would RATHER they were dead? Go ahead, do that. I won't stand in your way.
Of course, then, soon as I can, I will call you an ass. Because that's what anyone would be if they even hinted at such a thing.
Last edited by The Bobster on Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:18 am; edited 2 times in total |
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enns
Joined: 02 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:15 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Well, wouldn't those future kidnapping victims have to be people who went to places where the abduction of foreigners was an everyday occurence? In other words, they would be as reckless and as foolhardy as the Koreans were, and deserving of about as much sympathy. |
No, Other Hand. Al Qaeda doesn't discriminate between missionaries, journalists, ambassadors, politicians, or other foreigners who may be traveling through their countries of residence. People much less foolhardy than these missionaries(those who need to be in these countries for political or approved humanitarian purposes) now have an increasing probability of being kidnapped. The aforementioned groups, as well as soldiers fighting in Afghanistan, may suffer from said negotiations.
I believe it was short-sighted of the Korean government to free their people while knowing that others may suffer from such a one-off deal.
And Bobster
Hyperboles are one thing, but utter insincerity in your writing undermines any and all of your statements. I've indicated that I am glad that are safe. You can even check previous posts by me over the past month to substantiate this(where I've always indicated my desire for these hostages to arrive home safely). However, do I think that all debate on this issue should desist because of this "happy moment"? Absolutely not. This is too important to ignore. We need to make sure these situations never happen again. |
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The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| enns wrote: |
| Hyperboles are one thing, but utter insincerity in your writing undermines any and all of your statements. |
Um, gee, I love you, too, and by the way, kiss my ass. While you''re at it, remind me to call you a liar next time I get a chance, as you have just done to me ... haha, like I care. Insults cost you nothing, but gee, they feel good at the moment, right?
| Quote: |
| We need to make sure these situations never happen again. |
Who, exactly is "we?"The Bobster and enns? The American guvvermint? The world community? The United Nations?
Or, are you perhaps equating yourself as someone capable of telling Korean people what they ought and must do? Are you a Korean person yourself? Where does this "we" come from, and where is it heading?
I don't know if money was paid and neither do you, though we both have strong suspicions about it. Makes no never mind. Today, some people are alive, and that is what we know.
Last edited by The Bobster on Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:51 am; edited 1 time in total |
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