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Does NK hate English teachers ??
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dbee



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Location: korea

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:23 am    Post subject: Does NK hate English teachers ?? Reply with quote

I was reading an article today on Kim Jong Il possible terrorist strategy towords the South
Quote:

Terrorism aims for psychological and economic destruction. Terrorism will bring forth more repression in S Korea, scare away foreigners and funds from S Korea. S Korea's foreign trade will dry up. Rising inflation, unemployment, taxes and repression wi ll lead to general unrest and military coups.

www.kimsoft.com/korea/kim-war1.htm

I think it's interesting to note, in terms of the constant foreigner baiting that's going on in the media here. I also think it's very likely that the Northerners have sympathisers here in almost every possible key fields ... media, trade unions, police, politicians etc... If the frequency with which political figures here come out with blatant pro-NK, and by virtue anti-SK statements is anything to go by, I think that it's very plausible that at least a part of the anti-foreigner diatribes are encouraged or initiated by 'our friends' in the north ?
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On the other hand



Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I think that it's very plausible that at least a part of the anti-foreigner diatribes are encouraged or initiated by 'our friends' in the north ?


I think you are seriously overestimating how much the North Korean government cares about ESL teachers in South Korea.

How would we be of any strategic concern to the Norks? If they decided to invade, every ESLer in the country would flee in a second, so I don't think we're much of a deterrent against forced unification.
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chronicpride



Joined: 16 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

10,000+ foreign teachers have jack and squat to do with most things in this country, let alone being the target of machivellian scheming from the North. Let's not forget that if we were to step outside and look at our little bubble of forums and blogs that we think are so important and influential, we are the equivalent of a fly on an elephant's back, in the larger picture.
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Ya-ta Boy



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I also think it's very likely that the Northerners have sympathisers here in almost every possible key fields ... media, trade unions, police, politicians etc...


This part is true. My Korean friends tell me they assume that should a war ever happen, most of the infrastructure of S. Korea would be attacked all over the country at once by the infiltrators and sympathizers who have been installed in key positions over the years.

I'm less convinced the Norks have anything to gain by initiating media attacks on ESL teachers. It isn't necessary to go that far to explain why they happen. The natural distrust of outsiders made easier by ethnic differences and the misbehavior of many ESLers/GIs are enough to account for it.
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Pyongshin Sangja



Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: I love baby!

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 5:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll be in my bunker on Namsan. They can eat hot lead if they try to take Haebangcheon.
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Gopher



Joined: 04 Jun 2005

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

On the other hand wrote:
I think you are seriously overestimating how much the North Korean government cares about ESL teachers in South Korea...How would we be of any strategic concern to the Norks? If they decided to invade, every ESLer in the country would flee in a second, so I don't think we're much of a deterrent against forced unification.


Actually, it's well known that ESL instructors make the most ruthless guerrilla leaders the world has ever known. So, yeah, the North fears us as a politico-paramilitary force.
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Wrench



Joined: 07 Apr 2005

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 6:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some of us can use guns.
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thepeel



Joined: 08 Aug 2004

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think it would be funny to see Che wannabe, "revolutionary", wimpy Canadians running for their lives from fellow communists. Just like Che died. "Don't shoot!"

I saw an absolute clown yesterday at the taco stand by Iteweon. A dreadlocked, unkempt looking dude wearing a shirt that had pictures of an American flag/Bush and swastika/Hitler (comparing the two). It would be very funny to see him running to the hated Capitalist Americans for protection from the Communist North. Ugly fool.
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death from above



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Location: in your head

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow i thought i was paranoid..
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rapier



Joined: 16 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If America pulled its troops, Koreans might finally realise that half the foreigners they see are actually not soldiers..
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dogbert



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 8:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Scare away foreigners and funds" should be understood together...
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On the other hand



Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I saw an absolute clown yesterday at the taco stand by Iteweon. A dreadlocked, unkempt looking dude wearing a shirt that had pictures of an American flag/Bush and swastika/Hitler (comparing the two).


Hey, how come you didn't say hello? I always like to meet a fellow Dave's poster!
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dbee



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Location: korea

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ya, I didn't mean that the north would be fearful that ESL teachers would somehow band together to form an elite combat unit or something (Maybe we could offer free English lessons to their top generals - and so distract them at the critical moment).

I meant more in terms of an ongoing policy to isolate SK from the rest of the world - culturally, politically, economically. I think ESL teachers today serve the same role that missionaries did in the past. They act as a bridge between two cultures. We're kinda like cultural shock troops, sent in to lay down the groundwork of more meaningful ties between two cultures.

My question is this. Is the mission of ESL teachers here in direct opposition to NK's policy to have SK isolated from it's allies ?
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 5:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Norks can't launch an successful invasion, and even their atomic weapons could only devestate a few small areas (anyone around Yongsan?).

I'd be much more worried about how many chemical / biological weapons they could get off if I were in the Seoul area. Down south there's much less to worry about unless you're right by a military base.

As for the foreigners fleeing ... just think of the opportunities left behind if you don't once the mess clears up.
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JongnoGuru



Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pyongshin Sangja wrote:
I'll be in my bunker on Namsan. They can eat hot lead if they try to take Haebangcheon.

PS, I'm sitting pretty much right along the invasion path. So I'll try and buy you a little time by waving my garden shears and rake (the one with the pointy prongs) at them. I've also got some righteous homebrewed IPA they might be interested in, maybe organise a BBQ that day, kick back & crank the tunes, maybe watch a few flicks on the Big Screen...
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