Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Len8]

I seem to remember reading an article in the Korean times about a building in Seoul that was raised because it was built by the Japanese. The sad thing about the whole thing though was the lack of consideration for the function of the building. The Japanese built it to buffer winds and other naturally occuring climatic occurrences that would affect the surrounding neighborhood.

I am in the process of trying to find the original article. It was written by somebody working in the Ulsan shippbuilding yards.

The author of the article went on to say that other parts of Asia continue to use the remaining structures left by past colonists because they are quite sound and very functional. Now the Japaneses were quite brutal, and maybe the comfort women should get some compensation, but I think Koreans overdo it sometimes.

[manlyboy]

A man was brutally victimized by his neighbours for many years. He endured all sorts of hardships under one neighbour in particular, yet through all of these trials and tribulations, he never once shed a tear. He endured it all stoically without ever succumbing to emotions of grief and sadness.
Then one day, the neighbour died and the man was set free. Not long after, the man started crying and weeping incessantly.
"Why are you crying", people asked him? "Your enemy has died".
The man replied, "Because now there is no one for me to hate".

Some people feel their enmity defines who they are. Giving it up would be like taking away a wall you've been leaning on your whole life.

[agraham]

I think I know the building you're talking about. It was near the big royal palace (doeksegung?). Some felt that it was built in it's particular spot intentionally to block the view of what remained of the palace.
It was the seat of Japanese government, and thus held a lot of significance for those who suffered. The Koreans did use it as thier own center of government for quite a few years until they had the means to replace it. If it makes people feel better to blow it up at that point, I say go to it. Past sins are no excuse for current xenophobia, but a building is just a building.
A few pieces of it were returned to the park as a monument to colonialism.

[Yaya]

I'm not decided one way or the other on this issue, but imagine if people are reminded of the dark past by a certain building. Perhaps that's how the people felt on the issue.

After all, would you blame a country in Europe for tearing down an administrative building used by the Nazis?

[dbee]

[mindmetoo]

Yeah! You don't get this in Canada. What Canadian still grumbles about 54-40? And those Metis pretty much haven't said a peep about Louis Riel in modern times. And the Avro Arrow fans never, ever complain about what them there dirty Americans did to destroy Canada's dream of becoming the leading merchant of death.

LEARN FROM CANADA, KOREANS! We forget our past and never, ever complain about it.

[Paji eh Wong]

[SuperHero]

It's not like people still complain about the holocaust or anything is it?

[saharzie]

The Koreans have a victim complex that informs pretty much everything they do. They are like a teenager who blames everyone else for their problems and when they dont get their way they protest/set fire to themselves/chop fingers off etc. It is rather sad, although also amusing.

[sadsac]

How many times do you have too apologise to the Korean nation before they accept it. Japan has apologised. It wasn't sincere enough. It's the past ladies and gentlemen. The people living today didn't perpetuate these atrocities, others did. As far as historical records go, Korea cannot stand on the mountain and decry others perversion of history, when theirs is just as bad. I do love the place, but their sheep mentality can be wearing at times.

[Homer]

Sadsac,

They may have apologized but they never did so officially or go as far as Germany did post WWII.

Furthermore, Germany has not tried to change the history books.

Then, Korea is not the only asian country with an axe to grind when it comes to Imperial Japan. See China lately? Philipines?....The list goes on.

The past exists and cannot be erased. They (the japanese) colonized and occupied this country (Korea) for over 40 years, that means something.

If you visit Africa, I am sure that certain countries remember France quite well and none too fondly. Alrgeria is a good case in point here. The French sure are welcome there.

That is a history that as canadians (I speak for my history) we have no reference for. We were never occupied or conquered (unless you count the British conquest of 1760 and subsequent handover of the colonies to Engloand by France). We never had war on our soil on the scale Korea did. Simply put, we do not have this burden in our past. This makes it a whole different ballgame.

[itaewonguy]

koreans want apologies!! DAMN why dont they show some thanks first!
cant remember if I have ever seen koreans get up and thank USA for helping them out during the war... have you?
but they always want USA to apologies or japan for stuff...
how about a thank you!!

[Homer]

[mindmetoo]

[lastat06513]