Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ulsanchris]

Cheong Wa Dae May Ask World Press to Speak Korean
Cheong Wa Dae could compel foreign reporters to ask the president questions in Korean only during press conferences, a newspaper reported on Friday. The Seoul Shinmun said Cheong Wa Dae is seriously considering the measure because it believes etiquette demands that overseas reporters speak the local language when they ask questions of the county��s head of state.

The daily said the presidential office had come up with the measure after an incident during President Roh Moo-hyun's New Year press conference on Wednesday. When an AP reporter asked the president, in English, what he thought about differences between Korea and the U.S, in their views of North Korea, the foreign press secretary had to translate the question. On the same occasion the reporter from Japan's Asahi TV prepared his question about the relationship between Korea and Japan in Korean.

The paper quoted a Cheong Wa Dae official as saying it was awkward that the president had to wait for questions to be translated for him during a live broadcast, adding there was no reason why foreign reporters shouldn��t use the language of their host country.

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What a joke.

[dbee]

They aren't actually serious here. It sounds like it's some Korean bravado to cover over the fact that they president's English is so bad.

[Gladiator]

Also slighty ironic from the president of a country which is the self proclaimed "Yongo Nara" and considering many of the population object to foreigners speaking the language.

Can't see too many BBC or CNN reporters prefacing their questions with "KaKa..." either.

More impulsive bluster from the Korean leaders.

[weatherman]

Ahh, simultaneous translation? Hello.

Those boys up at the Blue House are smoking something.

[jinju]

I really dislike this president and his administration. To me, they are the epitomy of what is worst about this country. The appeasement of North Korea even at the expense of their most important allience is simply sick. The good thing is that he will be out of office soon. I really like the mayor of Seoul. He is sufficiently conservative without being extreme, has a good sense of how to run Seoul and I hope that would translate to running the country. Im sure he would do a better job than Roh.

[lastat06513]

The press corp might be laughing at this....

I think the best thing to do is to ask them to speak a more meaningful language OTHER than Korean....

say, JAPANESE for instance....

Then you might find some reporters willing to speak anything other than English during press conferences.

It strikes me because the Chinese and Japanese government officials have no problem with simultanious translation, I guess Korea has too much low self-esteem that they have to worry about stuff like this.

Sad, very very very sad.

[itaewonguy]

I think ROH is one of the best presidents to step into office in korea!
the problem is! he is a like a sponge falling into dirty water! slowly he gets wet with dirt! he is clean , honest and trying to bring honestly to this nation but the corrupted businessman , politicans and rich people want him gone! so they can keep destroying the lives of koreans and beome more rich!!
its disgusting in politics! roh is fighting for the little guys! and he is seen as a bad guy for this! fact is he is GREAT!!

and regarding the speaking only korean BS..; thats BS!!
like koreans reporters are going to ask african leaders questions in SWAHELI or something!

[jinju]

Roh is ineffectual, weak and he may have started out honest but he and his closest aides are by now really corrupt. The man has no clue on how to handle NK. All it would take is some backbone to make NK comply. But Roh has no backbone. Ineffectual and weak, a terrible president.

[Satori]

It's a good idea. Why should we expect them to speak our language, on thier turf, when it's us that needs the interview more than they need to give it?

[weatherman]

[Satori]

No, I read it right. I know Roh is not expected to speak English, but some Korean person is required to know English in order to translate.

[itaewonguy]

[BigBlackEquus]

Oh, I am going to vomit!

This is 100% kissing the butt of the North Korea diplomat who came to Seoul last week and complained that South Korea has let the Korean language become dirtied by English.

[cruisemonkey]

Thank you (and pass the 'F-ing pork).

[JongnoGuru]