Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:07 pm Post subject: Monument for Korean hero's amazing victories returned |
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"In 1593, Jeong Mun-bu defeated 20,000 Japanese troops with only 3,000 volunteer soldiers at the battle of Baektapgyo. Kato led the troops himself in an effort to save the isolated Japanese troops in Gilju, but failed due to the surprise attacks by the loyal Korean troops who knew the geography of the region well. Kato was one of the best warriors in Japan and was praised as one of the "seven best lancers," but he could not win over the strategies and bravery of the volunteer Korean troops....
n 1905, during the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese army dug out the monument and placed it at the Yaskuni Shrine, the symbol of militarism. The Japanese might have thought by taking the monument they could get rid of the shame of their defeats.
The Bukgwandaecheopbi is returning to Korea after 100 years. It is a result of the endless effort of the citizens and a cooperative effort by North and South Korea.
The monument will be displayed in South Korea for a while and then returned to Gilju in North Korea, where it belongs. "
http://www.iht.com/getina/files/282248.html
(Obviously, the writer isn't hiding his feelings about this. But I totally understand.)
After hearing about Hee Sung Shin exploits ad nauseum, this is a very refreshing story.
For some reason, this story reminds me of how 10000 Frenchmen and their Huron allies kept a million New Englanders confined to the East Coast by using the native's brilliant tactics and knowledge of the terrain against the ill-prepared British troups who fought using tactics best-suited for European battlefields (have a look at the movie 'Last of the Mohicans"). |
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