Korean Job Discussion Forums

[markhan]

Taken from International CNN.com http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/03/02/philippines.sexslaves.ap/index.html

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Women's rights activists in the Philippines on Friday denounced a comment by Japan's prime minister that there was no evidence Japanese soldiers forced women into sexual slavery during World War II......

Few months ago, there were some discussions about the Japanese-Korean animosity owing to unfortunate history.
As a person who has lived in both Korea and Japan and as an advocate of close Japan-Korea relationship, I felt rather embarrassed about the Korean children's anti-Japanese drawing that was proudly displayed in some exhibitions. It was so characteristic of Korean that I both admire and detest - that is, direct and crude.

Typically, many posters here sided with Japanese with good reason. It is about freaking time that Koreans put aside the past and move on!!!! It has already been more than 50 years!!!

It was the same argument that I gave to my Korean girlfriend. She however replied back, "We would like to move on too but every time they seem to sincerely apologize for the war atrocity, another top powerful politician comes along and deny the whole thing again. Should we just forget it that there are some powerful Japanese politicians who actually believe "sex slave" did not exist and that those countless young Asians and some Europeans were nothing but whores?"

I stopped the argument for it was going nowhere.
And now, I read above CNN article and I feel the same exasperation as many Koreans and Asians do. Why don't they just admit their past and move on!

[twg]

Japanese, Chinese and Korean politicians bring up the war for the same reasons politicians back home bring up illegal immigrants or gay marriage:

It's a non-issue designed to get hot-heads riled up so everyone can forget what a crappy job the politician is doing. This and Noh's comments yesterday are nothing more than that.

[Adventurer]

The problem is the United States got involved. The United States is trying to pressure Japan and Japan is trying to save face. The U.S. shouldn't have interfered in this thing if they aren't willing to talk about what happened in Turkey between the Turks and Armenians. I think these Japanese comments come on the heels of the American involvement. I can understand the involvement. What Japan did was quite bad.

[Roch]

[eamo]

Just about the only time my Korean wife and I have a complete breakdown of understanding is when I try to tell her that Koreans should let the whole we-hate-Japan thing slide. I don't bring it up anymore. Hating Japan is as ingrained into the Koreans as liking apple pie is to Americans. Just let them enjoy their hate. And enjoy it they do.

Another theory is that, when a government wants to deflect the anger of public opinion away from itself, they create propaganda which directs the anger at another country.

[blaseblasphemener]

[Wishmaster]

No win situation. You will never change their minds...I've never met a Korean that had anything positive to say about Japan. But yeah, the whole Korean victim mentality is always right around the corner. After seeing what I saw in Korea, and the way that they treat people, I can't feel any sympathy for the Koreans. I guess this animosity will just continue generation after generation....

[Ilsanman]

To the Op, the reason they don't own up to it is because Korea has twisted the facts, inflated the numbers, and now that it is not true anymore, Japan refuses to admit to it.

I don't blame them.

Korea won't let it rest. Ever. If you are trying to convince someone otherwise, you are wasting your time. This comfort woman thing is Korea's legacy. Everytime something bad happens to Korea, they bring up this topic and it somehow justifies everything in favour of Korea.

[Unposter]

It is not just the Koreans... its the Chinese and the rest of Asia that was abused by Japan.

While sometimes I too find the victim-thing annoying if a whole generation of women were raped in your country, you would probably be pretty upset and consider that other nation pretty descpicable too.

As for all of WWII, less we never forget...

[andrew]

.....

[Vancouver]

would you guys be telling the Jews to get over it if Germany always denied the holocaust?

thanks for the defense Andrew.

I kinda do agree that Korea should kind of get over it. Or at least, all the hate shouldn't be passed down from generation to generation. Maybe and hopefully, it'll go away in a couple generations. But denials by Japanese politicians aren't helping much

[doggyji]

[antoniothegreat]

[Ilsanman]

I am glad someone else said that, since every time I mention jews, the thread gets locked or I get a warning.

The holocaust to the jews is the same as the comfort woman issue to the Koreans. It's their legacy. If it didn't happen (lets just assume for a minute that it is true, amid the doubt), then they would have no justification to hate Japan, regulate Japanese TV in Korea, etc etc.

Just like if the holocaust never happened, the world's opinions on jews would be totally different. They would not have been able to set up Israel if not for the holocaust. Also, the word 'anti-semitism' would probably not exist.

Actually, in a way, Abe's denial is good for Korea. It gives them fuel for the hatred fire for years to come.

[Yu_Bum_suk]