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Benicio
Joined: 25 May 2006
Location: Down South- where it's hot & wet
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 Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:18 pm Post subject: Good article on Koreans hate for Japan |
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Every once in a while, a newbie comes along and asks "Why do Koreans hate the Japanese?".
I think this article sums it up pretty well and also adds why Korea is very mistrusting of its "allies".
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200607/kt2006071120020911910.htm
Personally, I think Koreans will always hate the Japanese. It is one of their "cultural heritages" that they will continue to pass down to future generations. |
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Zulu
Joined: 28 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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What drivel. The author justifies current hatred for the Japanese on events dating back hundreds of years ago to decades ago. British, American, Canadian, Australian and others were treated terribly by the Japanese too -60 years ago- but they don't hate the young generation of Japanese people at all. Remember Pearl Harbor and the POW camps anyone? The young generation of Japanese had NOTHING to do with that. Sure Tojo and Hirohito should have been strung up as the war criminals they were. But fact is, Korean whining about Japan now is like me going to Germany and screaming at a 20-year-old for Hitler's atrocities.
He also avoids a comparative analysis of anti-Americanism in SK, likely because this would discredit his 'Korean hatred is justified because foreigners attacked them' theory. Likewise with his view that China has been Korea's 'kind big brother' (well, ok, they were NORTH Korea's kind big brother, but they killed tens of thousands of SOUTH Korean soldiers and citizens in '50-53).
The media here make me laugh. Please guys, get over this anti-foreigner fetish and attempts at justifying it. It's driving business away, makes you look like a nation of xenophobes, and doesn't bode well for tourism either. Grow up.
Last edited by Zulu on Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:55 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, all of Korean history in one page... great article. 
The questions are so glossed over it makes me puke.
Seriously, they never bother to delve into why the Japanese (or any foreign power for that matter) was able to walk so easily into the peninsula.
The article does the typical "blame them" routine that I have heard regurgitated so many times before.
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| Some years ago, an Irishman once mused about the Koreans being so uptight about 35 years of colonial history when the Irish do not harbor as intense feelings towards the English after 700 years� colonization. I tried to offer a deeper view of Korean-Japanese history. However, the Irish were able to liberate themselves as a result of WWI while the Koreans had to wait to be liberated by others at the end of WWII. |
So, the Koreans were not able to liberate themselves eh? Well I guess that's why those in the Norht are so confident - they actually believe they did! Again, why not look to the root of the problem; Korea's own political mismanagement.
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| History by itself arguably comprises just half of the overall explanation. Much of the animus toward Japan is due to their refusal to specifically acknowledge, as opposed to generally apologize for -- their offenses toward their neighbors as the Germans did, and truly move on to a new chapter in their national identity. The recurring textbook fracases, the interminable "comfort women" complaints, the offensive �unofficial� visits to the Yasukuni Shrine -- are thumbs in the eyes of their neighbors. That topic alone would merit a column, but next week I will hurry back to a purely business topic. |
What utter BS. I have to wonder if the writer ever reads the news. JAPAN HAS APPOLOGIZED many times. Now if that appology is not accepted - fine. But for this writer to claim that is irresponsible.
This article is a joke and a waste of time for anyone who knows more than guidebook knowledge of Korea. |
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pastis
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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Koreans have such a lame way of thinking... nobody else in the world gives a damn about their ongoing grudge. Korea no longer has anything to complain about. Japanese investment practically built up the whole country after the wars, not to mention how much Korea has benefited by emulating (or outright copying) Japan. They just actively love and cherish their petty animosity, even though everyone else can see it's no longer justified.
And as if Japan is the "younger brother" . Japan's been a better country than Korea for longer than anyone can remember. |
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| What utter BS. I have to wonder if the writer ever reads the news. JAPAN HAS APPOLOGIZED many times. Now if that appology is not accepted - fine. But for this writer to claim that is irresponsible. |
That's he said they've made "general apologies" but never "specifically acknowledged" things. It's clear that they aren't interested in, for example, educating kids about what the imperial army really did. Or being sensitive to Korean feelings about a deeply painful colonial period.
I'm not saying all of this anger is entirely justified or that Koreans aren't sometimes childish about it. But none of us are in a position to tell Koreans what to feel. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Hater Depot wrote: |
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| What utter BS. I have to wonder if the writer ever reads the news. JAPAN HAS APPOLOGIZED many times. Now if that appology is not accepted - fine. But for this writer to claim that is irresponsible. |
That's he said they've made "general apologies" but never "specifically acknowledged" things. It's clear that they aren't interested in, for example, educating kids about what the imperial army really did. Or being sensitive to Korean feelings about a deeply painful colonial period.
I'm not saying all of this anger is entirely justified or that Koreans aren't sometimes childish about it. But none of us are in a position to tell Koreans what to feel. |
Is it telling them what to feel? Or is it asking them to truely delve into where those feelings come from?
An example, my lovely Korean wife. I love her to bits, but when she hears the word "Japanese" this scowl comes over her face. She has a very low opinion of them. Not because of anything they have actually done to her. Not because of anything she has actually seen. But because of things she has been taught. This racism has been taught to them starting at a young age - and that is what worries me.
If they were taught a balanced view of History, such as "the Japanese did this and this and this, but they also did this and that." (both good and bad if no one actually understood my "this/that" stuff), then i would be alot more understanding of her opinion.
The whole "Japan is not interested in educating it's kids about the past" bit stems I'm gathering from the "text book controversy" of last year. HD, any idea as to how many schools actually use that text? |
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Zulu
Joined: 28 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Hater Depot wrote: |
It's clear that they aren't interested in, for example, educating kids about what the imperial army really did. Or being sensitive to Korean feelings about a deeply painful colonial period.
I'm not saying all of this anger is entirely justified or that Koreans aren't sometimes childish about it. But none of us are in a position to tell Koreans what to feel. |
Correct, but neither is the Korean media in a position to tell us what to think.
Tell you what, I'll bemoan Japan's textbook omissions as soon as the KTU starts encouraging Korean students to be thankful for the great sacrifice 17 nations, prominently the US, made to save this country from their Japanese occupiers, North Korean and Chinese invaders, and the indispensible role the US, other Western, and Japanese countries played in transforming Korea's third world economy into what it is today. Fair 'nuff?. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Just as a little side issue.....
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| Some years ago, an Irishman once mused about the Koreans being so uptight about 35 years of colonial history when the Irish do not harbor as intense feelings towards the English after 700 years� colonization. I tried to offer a deeper view of Korean-Japanese history. However, the Irish were able to liberate themselves as a result of WWI while the Koreans had to wait to be liberated by others at the end of WWII. |
Do you think Koreans might also be a little embarrassed that they couldn't kick the Japanese out before 1946? Or that they maybe didn't try enough? |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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| The Koreans ultimately called on the Chinese for help. |
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| In any case, the Korean government was militarily too weak to resist signing an amity pact with Japan in 1876. |
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| The Korean court again called on China to send in troops to help crush the revolt. |
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| With Russia at its northeast border and Japan dominating its economy, the Korean court made a desperate move to counter Japanese control by improving relations with the Russians. |
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| while the Koreans had to wait to be liberated by others at the end of WWII. |
Anyone detect a pattern here? |
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flotsam
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| The only reason South Koreans hate the Japanese is because the Japs were smarter and adopted a communist system that has made them an economic powerhouse. Catch-22. |
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Jasobang
Joined: 11 Dec 2005
Location: Bucheon
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| It's just another story line to incite and more importantly unite the people of this country. As anyone who has lived here long enough can understand is that Koreans feel best in the group, not the individual. In the group they feel safe and thus more comfortable. So much more safe that they feel that better shopping and spending their united won- enter economic growth. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I think the author made a decent summary of the reasons Koreans give for disliking Japan. I don't think he was trying to analyze the reasons or express his agreement with them. |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| flotsam wrote: |
| The only reason South Koreans hate the Japanese is because the Japs were smarter and adopted a communist system that has made them an economic powerhouse. Catch-22. |
Japan adopted a communist system? Since when?
I have two questions for Captain Corea: when did the Japanese apologize for their atrocities in WWII? I've heard that they never have so many times I just took it for granted that it was true (never a smart move to do that, I know).
Also, how many schools did use the textbooks that caused that controversy?
I also want to add that I don't understand why Koreans are so bitter towards the Japanese yet so indifferent toward North Korea and China and so nostalgic for the Joseon era.
After reading a little bit about Korean history, it seems that conditions for the average Korean wasnt much worse than what the the conditions of 90% of the population under the Joseon dynasty were (especially at the bottom of the social hierarchy for slaves and such). And the North Koreans and Chinese weren't exactly nice in the Korean War from my understanding. Where's the deep resentment toward that?
And I like how no one ever mentions how many Koreans collaborated with the Japanese during the Occupation (apparently Koreans made up half of the Japanese police force in Korea at the time). All I ever hear about is all the 'patriotic independance fighters'.
Lastly a disclaimer: I'm not saying that what the Japanese wasn't bad; quite the contrary, it was definitely horrific. All I'm saying is that if they're going to hate modern Japan for the atrocities of yesteryear, they should feel a similar kind of hatred toward the North Korean and Chinese ancestors of the Korean war, and any ancestors of the yangban. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| cdninkorea wrote: |
I have two questions for Captain Corea: when did the Japanese apologize for their atrocities in WWII? I've heard that they never have so many times I just took it for granted that it was true (never a smart move to do that, I know).
Also, how many schools did use the textbooks that caused that controversy? |
I am definitely no Captain Corea, but I will take a stab at these 2 questions. Now, this is just off the top of my head of what I read one time (so, I may be wrong), but the Japanese have offered some 17 apologies at different times, and each time they do it, either Korea or China say that it wasn't heartfelt.
Regarding the textbook issue, something like 2.75% of schools in Japan use the text book.
** Remember this may be wrong but I am pretty sure these are the numbers that I read. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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| ajgeddes wrote: |
| cdninkorea wrote: |
I have two questions for Captain Corea: when did the Japanese apologize for their atrocities in WWII? I've heard that they never have so many times I just took it for granted that it was true (never a smart move to do that, I know).
Also, how many schools did use the textbooks that caused that controversy? |
I am definitely no Captain Corea, but I will take a stab at these 2 questions. Now, this is just off the top of my head of what I read one time (so, I may be wrong), but the Japanese have offered some 17 apologies at different times, and each time they do it, either Korea or China say that it wasn't heartfelt.
Regarding the textbook issue, something like 2.75% of schools in Japan use the text book.
** Remember this may be wrong but I am pretty sure these are the numbers that I read. |
I have read the same thing. |
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