Korean Job Discussion Forums

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

"...On that day there were thousands of citizens and foreign tourists surrounding the gate. They come to see with their own two eyes the scene of the disaster and reflect on the results of not caring enough about cultural properties. People are taking the opportunity to reflect on the site of the calamitous fire, turning it into an area for �dark tourism�...

...Unlike trips made for recreation or tourism, these trips to the scene of a tragic disaster are made for self-reflection and edification. Representative examples of this kind of tourism are Ground Zero; the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland where Jews were slaughtered; the Killing Fields of Cambodia; and Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the sites of atomic bombings."

Wow. Talk about hyperbole.

http://koreabeat.com/?p=769

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

That makes me sick to my stomach Rolling Eyes

Seodaemun Prison would be a better representation.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Actually, I like the term "dark tourism." Thanks for bringing that up.

Yes, Seodaemoon would be a better example. Maybe so would my trip to Geoje have been.

I'd say going to Namdaemoon is closer to "disaster tourism," if even that.

lucas_p · Joined: 17 Sep 2007

9/11, the bombs over Japan, now Auschwitz?

Thank goodness KOREANS don't all take that stance.

You know, Korean media, the days of playing underdog and needing to goad on an inflated spirit of nationalism to bring about quick growth and self-esteem is no longer needed. You are outdated, playing the same one-trick pony and beating it to death.

I don't know why any educated Koreans would even bother to read any of your newspapers or watch any news programs.

You, Korean media, are wholly useless, and would be dangerous if you weren't so incompetent in your reporting.

Suwoner10 · Joined: 10 Dec 2007

Korea should run with that.

Korea: The Dark Tourism Hub.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Yes, truly, one day in the next generation, people the world over will open their history books or newspapers and mark this dark occasion. Movies will no doubt depict its horrors. Another sad chapter has been added to the ever expanding volume of great tragedies.

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

There's only one proper response to this:

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Journalism at its best.

Probably why that guy is writing for Koreabeat and not the Wall Street Journal.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Koreabeat is a blog that translates Korean news stories into English. That story appeared in the JoongAng Ilbo, one of the major newspapers in the country.

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

Dark Tourism - 40,000w for a beach umbrella on Jeju Island is as dark as it gets.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

lastat06513 · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject:

SHANE02 · Joined: 04 Jun 2003

I don't think they are saying it's a bad as auschwitz etc. What they are saying is that people are visiting it out of a similar feeling that made people visit place like Auschwitz and ground zero.

flakfizer · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:24 pm Post subject:

This isn't "dark tourism." Who's is coming over here to see this? No one. Koreans and foreigners who are already here are stopping by and snapping some photos. And even at that, I doubt many outside Seoul are making a special trip to come see the ruins which are mostly hidden by big metal blinds.