Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

"The South apologized and expressed clear regret, promising to prevent such incidents and the future. We welcome this," the North's semi-official Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said in a statement yesterday afternoon.

Hours earlier, Roh said Friday's protests by rightwing groups, in which a large North Korean flag and a life-size image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il were burnt, had been "excessive and improper."

"The government needs to express regret for desecrating a foreign country's flag," Roh said. "The Unification Ministry will take appropriate steps to ensure a successful hosting of the Universiade. This kind of incident shall not happen again," he promised.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200308/kt2003082010000010440.htm

How often is the US flag burnt?
U.S. military facility breached by students
The students shouted anti-American slogans and burned the U.S. flag.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200308/08/200308080155261479900090309031.html

Flag Burning
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/uglykorea/flagfire1.html

Four students have been convicted of making an illegal demonstration, after they broke into the U.S. embassy compound last month demanding a U.S. government apology for the deaths of two Korean girls run over by a U.S. military vehicle, and a revision of the agreement governing U.S. soldiers in Korea.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200211/27/200211270227531309900090409041.html

[Cthulhu]

Noh is kowtowing to the North once again--no surprise there. I haven't seen a government make so many mistakes since...since the last government of dear departed Kim Dae-Jung. But it must be noted that not all share this view, apart from the flag-burners themselves:

President's Regret Misguided

Roh�s apology sows discord

[Kiddirts]

Unbelievable...and the US is the reason they even have a country to begin with...I couldn't agree more. I've never met more selfishly blind race of people in my life.

[Seoultrader]

It always amuses me when folks get so upset over something so trivial.

And I'm prouuuuud to be an American, where at least I know bla bla bla bla bla, raise your fuggin lighters in the air, and wave 'em like ya just don't care.

*ugh*

[ulsanchris]

Roh apoligising for this incident is complete and utter BS . There should be a north korean flag burning rally to protest this. This is a democracy and people should be allowed to burn any flag they damn well please. Never an apology or fuss when the US flag is burned what a bunch of hypocrites

[indiercj]

As long as the US government doesn't complain about burnt flags officially there is no way Korean president is going to apology. By the way, i think complaining over some flag burnt is totally stupid. Thank god the US did not do this while many in this forum wish them to.
Making a scene like this out of some extremists' childish behavior is something only a country like North Korea will do. And in between countries, like individuals, you have no choice but to level yourself to your counterpart if you need to start dialogue or business. IMHO apologizing to the North is just like playing a child to appease an angry baby. Nothing more, nothing less.

I would say let's forget the flag thing. The athletes are here!
Let's just enjoy the show.

[gomurr]

It never ceases to amaze me that the people who burn flags and what not, only do so in the protection of their own country (99%). I mean, come on how tough is that. Now if those protesters did that in Pyongyang that would take balls. Same for all those American flag burners do that in New York near where the WTC should be and see what happens. You know something along the lines of what Bruce Willis had to do in Die Hard III and then i'd be impressed.

I agree with the post that president Roh wimped out and will continue to do so. When North Korea says jump, South Korea doesn't ask when, they ask how high.

[Walter Mitty]

Apologizing for flag burning is ridiculous. I'm an American, and if somebody wants to burn the US flag, I'm fine with that. I see it as a valid form of protest. It has a strong visual impact and gets people riled up.

However, if he's going to apologize for burning the NK flag, he should make a unilateral apology for any country's flag being burned. To apologize for one and not another just makes him look like as ass-kisser.

[kangnamdragon]

I don't think the incidents can be compared. The average American does not even know where Korea is. North Koreans have much more interest in how South Koreans think.

[makushi]

[Ya-ta Boy]

Since Roh did so much to open this can of worms, I'd like to see the US gov't refuse his apology and ask for a sincere apology.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

Addressing flag-burners in any way is just giving them exactly what they want, attention.

[On the other hand]

In terms of purely pragmatic politics, it makes sense for Roh to worry more about the North Koreans than the Americans, since the USA is not likely to just pack up and leave because someone burned their flag. Let's not pretend that they don't have their own reasons for being here. But, if NK refuses to attend the games, it deals at least a symbolic blow to Roh's version of the Sunshine Policy, and could hurt his standing with his support base. And, as long as I can remember, left-wing nationalists the world over have been burning the stars and stripes. I'm sure the average American foreign policy wonk just laughs it off by now.

[peemil]

Bollocks. I am five beers to the wind so here goes. It sickens me regardless of who's country it is... You don't go around and burn other's flags. It just isn't on. American or North Korean. The fact that this country though can find no fault with burning American flags but yet will get up and say a heartfelt sorry for their indescretion to the north just shows the level of hypocrisy and stupidity that exists in this country.

If I didn't have such a aversion to burning others flags I'd get a big pile of South Korean flags, some petrol, a match and a notice that said...

"This is what it feels like... Now you know. Don't do it again."

I am not an American but the Korean approach to politics is just a perfect example of their society. Korea first- No one else exists but us. It is alright to ask the Americans and the world to give them their freedom but be damned if they'd ever be grateful.

[Gwangjuboy]

[quote="indiercj"]As long as the US government doesn't complain about burnt flags officially there is no way Korean president is going to apology. By the way, i think complaining over some flag burnt is totally stupid.

But the foreign investers get gittery when they see such actions.