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Captain Corea

Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:49 am Post subject: The Uri party is in trouble. |
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Lmao, i'm So glad this happened.
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20050501/410100000020050501004713E3.html
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) swept up seats in Saturday's National Assembly by-elections while the ruling Uri Party failed to claim a single one.
The main opposition party took five out of the six seats up for grabs in the by-elections, increasing its number of Assembly seats to 125 and successfully blocking Uri's majority in the 299-member parliament. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:05 am Post subject: |
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Does this mean Lame Duck Season opens early in Korea this year? |
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soviet_man

Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:57 pm Post subject: Capitalism is the problem! |
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The URI party is liberal and the GRAND NATIONAL party is conservative.
So I don't see it as a "victory" for anybody if this country slides further into the hands of conservative right-wing reactionaries.
As ESL teachers, we have every reason to be concerned at the election of a nationalist, essentially "anti-foreigner" government in Korea.
Not least the fact that this could also result in:
* A more hardline stance on issuing E2 visas.
* Sexist policies toward women.
* Attacks against unionists and workers.
* Homophobic policies against gays.
* Anti-environmentalism.
This country is already clogged with police and soldiers everywhere.
I don't know about you, but it sure makes me uncomfortable to see fighter jets blasting over the top of my apartment building on a daily basis!
The last thing we need are politicians who want to bring in even more. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Not least the fact that this could also result in:
* A more hardline stance on issuing E2 visas.
* Sexist policies toward women.
* Attacks against unionists and workers.
* Homophobic policies against gays.
* Anti-environmentalism.
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I doubt that any GNP government would be able to repeal whatever modernizing reforms are made by Uri. Like, I can't see them just getting up and announcing that the hoju system is back in place. But I would agree that those reforms would likely not have been proposed in the first place if a right-wing government had been in power.
A lot of ex-pats seem to assume that Uri, because of its nationalst anti-American rhetoric, is the real bastion of Korean xenophobia. But I'm not so sure. In the last congressional election, the GNP ran these ads that were meant to show that the party is sorry for its past mistakes. The ads featured an elderly woman(symbolizing the voters) whipping a young man(symbolizing an apologetic GNP). Suffice to say, I don't think the mentality pandered to by such propaganda is one that is going to be really welcoming of new ideas and influences.
Last edited by On the other hand on Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
As ESL teachers, we have every reason to be concerned at the election of a nationalist, essentially "anti-foreigner" government in Korea.
Not least the fact that this could also result in:
* A more hardline stance on issuing E2 visas.
* Sexist policies toward women.
* Attacks against unionists and workers.
* Homophobic policies against gays.
* Anti-environmentalism |
Ummm....(clearing my throat): the above is what happens when you carry over definitions from one culture to another without checking the local interpretations. The GNP is not anti-foreigner. If anything, the Uri is more anti-foreign, but not really.
Nothing in the GNP's past indicates they would do anything with visas. Women's rights were established under the GNP, and both parties encourage improving women's rights. The GNP is lead by a woman. The GNP is closely tied to the chaebols, so that one is right. I have heard nothing from either party about gays. There are pro-environmentalists in both parties, but possibly more in the Uri Party.
So...1 out of 6 carries over. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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I have heard nothing from either party about gays. |
Well, I do recall that that gay TV actor went to Roh's innaguration and said that he supported Roh because "he believes in tolerance for people like me" or words to that effect. Harisu was there also, and said much the same thing. But you're right, apart from that, I haven't heard much from Uri on gay rights.
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Women's rights were established under the GNP, |
Could you be more specific here? Which period of time are you talking about, and which specific legislation?
Last edited by On the other hand on Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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So...1 out of 6 carries over.
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Well, if as you say, GNP is in bed with the chaebols, then they're probably more likely than Uri not to push through any environmental legislation that conflicts with the chaebols' interest. |
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Daechidong Waygookin

Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Location: No Longer on Dave's. Ive quit.
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Capitalism is the problem! |
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soviet_man wrote: |
The URI party is liberal and the GRAND NATIONAL party is conservative.
So I don't see it as a "victory" for anybody if this country slides further into the hands of conservative right-wing reactionaries.
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Its a great victory. The GNP is hardly a nationalist party. Infact, Id call the Uri party much more nationalistic even though it is a communist, er pardon me, "socialist" party.
The GNP is pro American and they are interested in an allience with the US.
The Uri party is a bunch of communuist appeasers, and Id call them traitors. They are undermining SK security by trying to destroy the SK-US alliance, by appeasing North Korea and kising up to Beijing.
It truly was a great day yesterday watching the traitors get kicked out. |
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soviet_man

Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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I consider the policies of both parties to be very bad.
In particular I think it is INHUMANE to allow young kids to get conscripted into military service, against their free will.
It is also unacceptable (in my personal view) that so many children in Korea are deprived of having their childhood by undertaking 10+ hours a day of school + hagwons.
Both political parties have to be accountable for this situation. |
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kangnamdragon

Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Capitalism is the problem! |
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soviet_man wrote: |
The URI party is liberal and the GRAND NATIONAL party is conservative.
So I don't see it as a "victory" for anybody if this country slides further into the hands of conservative right-wing reactionaries.
As ESL teachers, we have every reason to be concerned at the election of a nationalist, essentially "anti-foreigner" government in Korea.
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I suggest you study more about Korean politics. The GNP is more pro-American than Uri and would be less likely to pass reactionary policies against foreigners.
Right-wing reactionaries? What is a Soviet supporter doing in SOUTH Korea? You should be arrested for being a threat to national security. |
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Daechidong Waygookin

Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Location: No Longer on Dave's. Ive quit.
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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soviet_man wrote: |
I consider the policies of both parties to be very bad.
In particular I think it is INHUMANE to allow young kids to get conscripted into military service, against their free will.
It is also unacceptable (in my personal view) that so many children in Korea are deprived of having their childhood by undertaking 10+ hours a day of school + hagwons.
Both political parties have to be accountable for this situation. |
Oh yes. INTERESTING.
Your nickname is Soviet man.
You oppose conscription (the USSR had a fully volunteer army, right?)
Im sure kids had a very wonderful life in the Soviet Union. I mean gulags were so much better than hagwons. Incidentally, hagwons are not official GNP or Uri policies. |
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bobbyhanlon
Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Location: 서울
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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being pro-american doesn't necessarily make something good.
and call me a pinko commie moron, but a country like korea arguably needs a left wing, since it doesn't currently have much in the way of a welfare system, social liberalism or environmental protection. |
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Daechidong Waygookin

Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Location: No Longer on Dave's. Ive quit.
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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bobbyhanlon wrote: |
being pro-american doesn't necessarily make something good.
and call me a pinko commie moron, but a country like korea arguably needs a left wing, since it doesn't currently have much in the way of a welfare system, social liberalism or environmental protection. |
Its one thing having a left wing. Its totally another having a left wing made up of communist traitors who appease a dictator responsible for gulags, torture, slave labor, mass oppression, mass starvation in his own country and who threatens the security of South Korea. Nothing wrong with a left wing. Something seriously wrong with the Uri party commies and their idiot president.
Time to kick out Uri, Noh and their sunsine policy. I propose a new policy. Call it the "Full Solar Eclipse" policy. Take all the aid and cut it down to every last grain of rice, every last won. Shut down Kaesong. Anyone who keeps that little dwarf in power is guoilty. These uri clowsn are guilty of aiding a vile dictator who wants to attack South Korea. THEY ARE TRAITORS.
Last edited by Daechidong Waygookin on Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kangnamdragon

Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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bobbyhanlon wrote: |
being pro-american doesn't necessarily make something good.
and call me a pinko commie moron, but a country like korea arguably needs a left wing, since it doesn't currently have much in the way of a welfare system, social liberalism or environmental protection. |
Every part needs a left-wing so we can see what not to become. Not having a left-wing will leave people complacent and leave them to not value their freedoms. |
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soviet_man

Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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"...The GNP is more pro-American..."
Yes, that is exactly my point. It is also why I dislike it so much.
As for the Uri party, it is also capitalist. It may be toward the small "L" liberal end of the spectrum, but its heritage is capitalist nevertheless.
As for the other comment about communism - I was born in the USSR and I do not regret my Russian ancestory whatsoever. |
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