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You don't understand the Korean mind!
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noelinkorea



Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: Shinchon, Seoul

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:49 pm    Post subject: You don't understand the Korean mind! Reply with quote

Just WHAT do say back when your partner tells you that "You're not Korean! You don't understand the Korean mind!"??? There was stuff about Dokdo/East Sea on the news...I was attempting to take a middle-of-the-road view (failed). After that comment, I just walked out of the room. Three long years here, and I'm told essentially I can never understand the Korean mind...I think I DO understand it, I just might not agree with it that much...
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casey's moon



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually, I've just opted to agree with my husband when it comes to Dokdo. When it comes to other issues related to Japan, I tell him that my home country couldn't survive without tolerance. So yeah, I can't understand the Korean mind, but he can't understand the Canadian mind either.
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shakuhachi



Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Location: Sydney

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:10 pm    Post subject: Re: You don't understand the Korean mind! Reply with quote

noelinkorea wrote:
Just WHAT do say back when your partner tells you that "You're not Korean! You don't understand the Korean mind!"??? There was stuff about Dokdo/East Sea on the news...I was attempting to take a middle-of-the-road view (failed). After that comment, I just walked out of the room. Three long years here, and I'm told essentially I can never understand the Korean mind...I think I DO understand it, I just might not agree with it that much...


If you think that evidence and logic are important, then Koreans will say 'You're not Korean! You don't understand the Korean mind!'. Dont feel bad about that, because once you understand the way the Korean mind processes information, you will take that comment as a compliment.

Perhaps you need a policy where you never talk about any controversial issues with Koreans. In the past I used to talk to Koreans openly about these things but I have found it to be hopeless. If Koreans bring up one of the 'sensitive subjects', then I just try to change the subject.

In anycase, Takeshima (Dokdo) is not worth fighting your girlfriend over. Just get her to apologise and be done with it.
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hellofaniceguy



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

An old saying in legal circles��possession is 9/10th��s of the law. So��if the koreans occupy the island��it��s theirs. If the Japanese do��it��s theirs.
Will both countries fight for it war wise��of course not. Only lots of yelling, screaming and head butting.
Many maps from centuries ago show both korea or Japan as the owner. But��the island is closer to korea��it is in korean water��s��so��I��d say it belongs to korea.
The only way to settle/solve the issue is to locate the first map from long ago and see what name is on it.
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Ody



Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Location: over here

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

without getting into who owns it, i agree that East Sea is a suitable name. after all, it is a sea positioned east of the asian continent.
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komtengi



Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just use evidence, common sense and if they dont like it... their lose
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weatherman



Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:23 pm    Post subject: Re: You don't understand the Korean mind! Reply with quote

noelinkorea wrote:
Just WHAT do say back when your partner tells you that "You're not Korean! You don't understand the Korean mind!"??? There was stuff about Dokdo/East Sea on the news...I was attempting to take a middle-of-the-road view (failed). After that comment, I just walked out of the room. Three long years here, and I'm told essentially I can never understand the Korean mind...I think I DO understand it, I just might not agree with it that much...


It is the facts that bother them, it is the middle ground they don't want to hear about becuase it makes sense. By telling you that you don't understand the Korean mind it is their way of trying to cut you out of the discourse on issues. Somebody posted that they keep with the facts and logic and if they (the Koreans) don't like it, it is their problem. I agree with this. Don't let them cut you out of any discourse.
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VanIslander



Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 12:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

casey's moon wrote:
When it comes to other issues related to Japan, I tell him that my home country couldn't survive without tolerance.

That's the difference: Korea wouldn't have survived as a distinct people with their own language if they were more tolerant.

It's like telling the Finns that they should have tolerated the Swedes more: tolerance toward a colonizing influence would kill many a language and culture. The Welsh ended up tolerating the English, and were assimilated as a result.

Those of us from countries built on the fragmented immigration of multiple peoples have values that reflect our own histories, even if we pretend they could be universally applied without caveats.

The Korean tendency toward extremes and distrust of authorities may not allow for a middle ground, which in this case, means the Koreans are holding their own ground, Dokdo, as they see it.

And it has implications: Ownership of that island greatly affects the offshore zones of territorial waters recognized internationally (150 or 200 km or thereabouts); I had a navy submarine officer in one of my adult classes last year for the few months it took to refit (at the local shipyards) the sub he was assigned to. He told me that both the navy and the fishing industry would become very constrained by the reduction in Korean claims to portions of that sea if Japan's claim to the island were to be recognized.
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the_beaver



Joined: 15 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 12:50 am    Post subject: Re: You don't understand the Korean mind! Reply with quote

noelinkorea wrote:
Just WHAT do say back when your partner tells you that "You're not Korean! You don't understand the Korean mind!"???


Ask a couple of questions about the that they can't answer and then say "I don't think you understand the Korean mind, either."
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ladyandthetramp



Joined: 21 Nov 2003

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:41 am    Post subject: Re: You don't understand the Korean mind! Reply with quote

shakuhachi wrote:

If you think that evidence and logic are important, then Koreans will say 'You're not Korean! You don't understand the Korean mind!'.


I think I mentioned this once before on here, but Korea friend, a graduate student of SNU in philosophy, once made the comment that Koreans think westerners are too logical. In fact she mentioned having to study logic (as a philosophy major), and although she did well, she didn't agree with the "logic" that was taught.

shakuhachi wrote:

In anycase, Takeshima (Dokdo) is not worth fighting your girlfriend over. Just get her to apologise and be done with it.


You should be a marriage counselor! Laughing
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casey's moon



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 2:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

VanIslander wrote:
casey's moon wrote:
When it comes to other issues related to Japan, I tell him that my home country couldn't survive without tolerance.

That's the difference: Korea wouldn't have survived as a distinct people with their own language if they were more tolerant.

It's like telling the Finns that they should have tolerated the Swedes more: tolerance toward a colonizing influence would kill many a language and culture. The Welsh ended up tolerating the English, and were assimilated as a result.

Those of us from countries built on the fragmented immigration of multiple peoples have values that reflect our own histories, even if we pretend they could be universally applied without caveats.

The Korean tendency toward extremes and distrust of authorities may not allow for a middle ground, which in this case, means the Koreans are holding their own ground, Dokdo, as they see it.

And it has implications: Ownership of that island greatly affects the offshore zones of territorial waters recognized internationally (150 or 200 km or thereabouts); I had a navy submarine officer in one of my adult classes last year for the few months it took to refit (at the local shipyards) the sub he was assigned to. He told me that both the navy and the fishing industry would become very constrained by the reduction in Korean claims to portions of that sea if Japan's claim to the island were to be recognized.


Nicely said.
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peemil



Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Location: Koowoompa

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 2:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How can you be too logical?
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casey's moon



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 3:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

peemil wrote:
How can you be too logical?


Oh it happens.

But you're looking for a logical answer to your question, for which there is none.

See?
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inkoreaforgood



Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Location: Inchon

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 4:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Koreans are very emotionally patriotic. Anything with Korea vs Japan gets them going pretty quick. As with any person, once strong emotion takes hold of their mind, logic is a moot point. So, the buttons to push here in Korea is..... anything about Japan. They've been brainwashed since elementary school to think that Japan is evil. My wife's age group were brainwashed to think that the North Koreans had horns coming out of their head and turned to stone if they were caught in the sunlight (doggaebi). That Koreans had superior blood, very nimble hands, four seasons is special, dog soup is healthy, soju makes you handsome, fans in a closed room will kill you. They were taught that as absolute truth, and never had reason to question it. The gov't in the good/bad old days had no qualms about using this kind of propoganda on school children. Plus, the older folk come from a time where everyone lived, worked, and died
a days' walk from their place of birth. What do the old generations have to offer the young in terms of reasoning? So, put it all together and what do we have?

Of course, not all Koreans are like this. I've met enough Koreans by now to say that there is plenty of logic in this country. How many Koreans want to leave and emigrate to another country? want their children to learn English? try to get a good education and a good job? They use logic when it comes to the things that are truly important, that directly affect them in their daily lives.
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JacktheCat



Joined: 08 May 2004

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 4:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. keunki

2. ko jip

3. eonkeun

4. sun jong

5. bokjang

6. nunchi

7. che myeon
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