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Thursday, January 30, 2003
I haven't had much time lately to spend (waste) as much time as usual following news about Korea but a read through CNNs latest report indicates that I haven't missed much. Yesterday I spend time listening to Bush's State of the Union Address, reading the fact sheets and summarising same for work. In sum, I thought it was a good speech. I don't agree with his proposed economic stimulus package believing that tax-cuts are not the way to solve short-term economic slowdowns which US is currently facing and the increasing deficits which currently do not incorporate the likely cost of war with Iraq in their forecasts should be cause for concern and prudential planning. But since I'm not American and don't vote, I won't argue that point any longer. The main crux of the speech was regards to Iraq and the weapons inspections. I'm not sure I advocate war but the point was clearly put before us and, to me, it did make some sense. The UN inspectors did not go to Iraq to conduct a scavenger hunt and the information from Iraq should be more forth coming and clear. I'm less sure about any supposed links to Al-Qaeda and the base justification of preventing terrorism. And on the Korean penninsula, I read an article in the Wall Street Journal (who are subscriber based meaning the actual article I will refer to is inaccessible unless your a paying customer) which was highly thought provoking. In a nutshell it criticised Korea's sunshine policy and supported Bush's more hardline stance against the North. The justification is that such repressive regimes should be ousted while they are weak rather than being propped up by outside do-gooders trying to forestall war. In the end, he argues, all these countries do is support dictators who then become more powerful and wreak greater havoc than would have been possible or thinkable if they had been dealt with earlier. He asked how the South Koreans will be able to face their neighbours in the North come the day of unification. How will the South be able to look in the eye those that starved, suffered, lived in prison camps, did hard labour and/or lost their families under Kim's repressive regime and tell them that they (the South) had supported a policy which appeased and pampered to the demands of Kim Jong-il because they feared the economic cost to themselves and did not want to risk war to save the North Korean 'brothers'. For me anyway, this struck a chord. We don't see the dying and suffering that is going on in North Korea already, we often only consider what our own suffering would be if there was war or reunification at a time when the North is economically destitute. I'm not sure I've changed my mind but its certainly food for thought. Entertainment Section In entertainment news I went to see the Avril Lavigne concert last Monday. The concert was great, the venue SUCKED!!! The Millenium Hall would have to be, without doubt, the most ridiculuous place to hold a rock concert ever concieved in the entire history of holding rock concerts. I say that without exaggeration. It was a bunch of high school teeny boppers and a few deprived adults like me craving some live music regardless of our own musical taste and after a few songs they told us NOT TO JUMP SO MUCH!!!??! This wasn't Limp Bizit or Korn and we were hardly Hell's Angels heavy metal bashers crowd surfing and trying to bring the roof down. If the floor couldn't handle a bunch of kids bopping with glow sticks then it isn't the place to have a rock concert. That was my main complaint, I have others but won't bore you with them. Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!
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Thursday, January 23, 2003
Korea News - very briefly While the NK nuke dispute still rages it does seem that talks are starting to take precedence over brinkmanship. For the South, cabinet level talks with the North have resumed with the South strongly pushing the peaceful options and striving to continue with economic cooperation. The US has sent undersecretary of state, Bolton to Seoul to further discussions on finding a peaceful resolution. The biggest step though seems to be US intentions to refer the matter to the UN Security Council, which may impose sanction, a move the North says it will interpret as an act of war. The drama continues. Entertainment News I was invited to see Woyzeck at the Seoul Arts Centre earlier this week. This play was performed in Korean. I missed alot but armed with a rudimentary understanding of the story and concentrating deeply on the dialogue, actions and intonations of the actors, I was able to enjoy the performance on the whole. I would be interested to see it in a language I understand more fluently than Korean...ie English. Last night I went to Central City conveniently located close to my place of employment to catch Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers movie and what a brilliant and spectacular flick it was. Great stuff. And finally, in case I don't get a chance to write for a couple of days: This Sunday is AUSTRALIA DAY!!! Hoorah! There is a gala event at the Hyatt for all Aussies (except me who wasn't invited and only found out by coincidence of the event yesterday. Its a great feeling being this popular) Wednesday, January 22, 2003
Dodgey Translations 
For the irregular blogspot feature known as "Dodgey Translations" today I decided to do a piece on the weather. Why? Because the length of the article was about right and I have previously learnt vocabularly such as "heavy snowfall", "frozen roads" and the like so I found this article to be about my standard. In fact, I'm a little bit proud to say I used the on-line Korean-English dictionary fewer times than is usually required. Of course that might just mean that this article is even less accurate than previous 'dodgey translations' I've done. But anyway, the real story can be found (in Korean) at Joong Ang Ilbo. National Outlook from 22nd~23rd is for rain and snow From the 22nd as much as 5cm of snow is expected to fall nationwide with the mountain areas of Kangwon province and areas in Cheju expected to get heaped with more than 20cm. The Meteorological Bureau reported that ”a pressure system coming in from the west is going to affect the whole nation bringing rain and snow in the afternoon starting from the western regions” and “until tomorrow snow is going to mainly fall in southern and mountain regions in Kangwon province, East sea and areas on Cheju by and large.” Accordinly the nation is expected to get about 1-3cm of heavy snow from 22-23. with southern and areas on Cheju Island, and Kangwon provinc, East sea, Ullong Island, Dok Island areas likely to get heaped with around 5-10cm. The outlook is for remote mountain areas of Kangwon province and Cheju Island, etc to get heaped with more than 20cm of snow. The snow brought on by the pressure system is expected to gradually head north-west by the morning of the 23rd and by the 24th just some clouds at the most and by mid morning the bottom temperature in affected areas should be around 1-3 Celsius according to the Meteorological Bureau. A spokesman form the Meteorological Bureau said “the quantity of snow itself is not much but the pressure system but it can freeze roads and pathways” and asked people to concentrate on traffic safety and managing the slippery road. 2003.01.22 08:39 Saturday, January 18, 2003
The US needs to negotiate with DPRK. This fact is simple and powerful. The US sends envoys to Beijing, Russia sends delegations to Pyongyang and South Korea talks up its potential role as mediator with US and confirms the relationship with US but at the end of the day, the US needs to sit down with NK and talk this out. There is an alternative but nobody wants to follow that path. And yet, despite this basic premise, we still find that the US and NK have not agreed to talks and the longer US hesitates the more tensions build up. By now, most countries have recognised this issue. Other countries can state their views and urge progress to US and NK but none but these two can resolve each others' concerns. The first step is to arrange a meeting, the second step is for US to face the realty of the situation and plan best how to address the issues at hand with a goal to long term stability and crisis defusion. However, while US and NK need to resolve this matter, I also believe that South Korea should be given a key role in mediating for two reasons. Firstly, while the matter is between US and NK, the potential damage stemming from failure will be on the South. The direct link between success of the talks and the future and well being of South Korea necessitates a key role for SK. Secondly, once this crisis has been reduced, SK should begin to take a larger role in security relations between North and South. The long term goal of reunification will depend on these two states being able to live together and agree on how to merge. At present a status of limited dialogue is never going to lead to substantial plans for easing tensions over the long-term. With US forces in Korea as a credibility of US support for SK, there is no reason why SK cannot be more keenly involved in difusing crises and negotiating with the North in the future. It simply requires US to take a quieter role and stand next to or behind the South rather than blatently in front. I think this has a further advantage for US as well. In an era when the US faces many protests from countries all over the world for being unilateral superpower that bosses even its allies around, it might serve them better to give more diplomatic roles to its allies in direct association with the issue at hand. (not necessarily Israel and Palestine though as they are not a good example). But with US still standing firm and backing up with military support, just maybe other countries have the diplomatic skills to handle situations as well if not better than US. Making US alliances more participatory based and democratic could strengthen the weakened alliances, give US more respect and show the world a more unfied front in the war against terrorism. Entertainment section A very cultural day is planned for today. I'm off to see Nanta which I've heard is extremely good. And in the evening I'll be attending Chongdong Theatre to see Tokebi Storm. Link Through my web surfing today I was directed to this site which I found to be v. interesting and thought I might recommend it to those of who are interested in economics, especially economic history. Although my interest is not so much economic history but economics. Wednesday, January 15, 2003
I read the news today, oh boy! A little bit 'newsed out' today. Work has given me a fun new task and without boring you with the details I have spent the entire day reading the news. Interesting stuff but rather than accumulating great knowledge, my brain feels like mush. In view of this I have decided to not give my regular diatribe on news that interests me. I did read that Australia sent a delegation to North Korea but haven't followed this up. But I did find this article about NK on an Australian website. A token effort I know but the best I can do on short notice. In the entertainment section of this blog. I went and saw Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets last night. Better than the first one and quite long too. I wonder if the next one will be that long as the book is noticeably larger. For those that did'nt notice I managed to get a comments thing happening at the end of the blogs. My amazing lack of computer know-how prevented me from doing this earlier. My incredible amount of free time and pure stuborness has allowed me to set it up now. Monday, January 13, 2003
The weekend has passed in a fuzzy whir, mostly thanks to the copious amounts of alcohol that somehow fell into my mouth on Saturday night. The good thing being that the party was at my place so I was able to make the short stumble to my room to pass out. But don't think my whole weekend consisted of just a big piss-up. Before gathering with friends and drinking myself into oblivion I did manage to visit the Seoul Arts Centre to view the Rodin exhibition. I have seen some of his work before at the Rodin Gallery located in the Samsun Life Building, downtown Seoul. I prefer the setting of the Rodin Gallery but this particular exhibition was clearly too big and needed the space afforded at the SAC. Due to recovery on Sunday I was in no fit state to do anything except watch a video. The downside being that the bits in Spanish had Korean subtitles so I got a little confused with part of the story line. A brief check of news relating to Korea revealed a few interesting twists. Thousands gathered outside City Hall to show support for US presence in Seoul. This comes after weeks of huge anti-US protests. Its great to see democracy at work like that when two completely opposite views hit the street to voice thier opinions. On the diplomatic front, NK continues to deny a nuclear weapons program and has sought negotiations through Senator Bill Richardson. This is a hopeful step that could lead to talks between the two countries and hopefully reduce the tension. Friday, January 10, 2003
The debate over US' approach to NK is definitely hotting up. The hawks and the doves are both coming out swinging as they try to work out an appropriate stance against the North. As the articles I've linked to in previous blogs indicate, I am more on the side of the doves and believe that negotiation is imperative to reduce tensions and that humanitarian aid and concessions to bring about stability and peace are not only the best strategy for dealing with the situation but morally requisite to help the plight of the masses in poverty and starvation in North Korea. The situation at hand is one of a large powerful nation with massive resources and military strength playing a game of brinkmanship with a weak impoverished nation whose military might does not compare the techonologically advanced and more expereinced US. Like any game both have much to gain and much to lose. Like any country bargaining on the international stage there are two main levels to coordinate, international and domestic. In interntional negotiations North Korea's key tools of leverage are its military threat and potential nuclear weapons. Moreover, the state of the economy and living conditions at home dictate that the power elite appear strong in the international arena to keep stability at home. Loss of face in the world could potentially cause dissent among the ranks and among the greater population. The ruling elite stands to lose its power and its country could become non-existent if it fails in this time to bring about greater security, international respect and aid. At present, regardless of whether NK produces nuclear weapons it will not achieve peace but it is likely produce stability at home by maintaining a strong position and not compromising to the 'great western imperialists. The US has a lot to lose as well. In the absence of any incentive to stop its nuclear program in the current environment the US has little choice but to negotiate. The jingoistic policy of US is only serving to prolong the crisis. There has never been any indication by the North that they were unwilling to negotiate this issue and previous efforts in 1994 and more have persistently demonstrated that agreements can be reached, albiet fragile ones. Allowing the North to build up nuclear weapons is the worst case scenario for US but at present they don't seem to realise that offering the stick without the carrot is not going to help them achieve the desired outcome. As hard as it is to accept, sometimes big players have to realise that they cannot dictate their own terms on smaller nations. Sometimes they have to persuade, conjole and convince them to do as US wants and reward them for it when they do. Much to US' chagrin. Failed negotiations along with some unfortunate events in the past 55 years have strained relations between NK and US but there are definite signs that aggregate improvement has been made in that time. It may be a case of three steps forward two steps back but the progress is there. The Agreed Framework reduced tensions for several year (and may do so again), the Summit between North and South led to family reunions and greater economic trade. To throw all this away now and return to outright mistrust, tension and perhaps war would be a travesty for the present generation and a foul legacy to leave to the next. Saturday, January 04, 2003
Economic and other issues are taking a back burner at the moment as the issue of North Korea and the nukes steal the headlines. As in any instability in the Korean peninnsular the major players are America, China, Japan, Russia and sometimes North and South Korea. Japan and Russia are simply in supporting or neutral roles at the moment. The North is asking the US for talks but the US is refusing to play ball until the North drops the nuke program. But the US was refusing to talk to the North even before re-starting of the nuke program was announced. Instead the US is trying to get China to play ball with them and denounce the North nuclear program. The South after demanding more respect from US has offered to mediate the problem between North and America. Because as we can see, the tension is not between North and South, its between America and the North. However, if tension leads to conflict its the South that will get attacked and maybe Japan. And to think the US will run to the rescue if anything erupts while they are busy in Iraq is to be extremely niave (in my opinion) because despite what the US says, they cannot support two wars at once. Especially when war breakouts in a country bordered by three superpowers. Especially when US has failed to get as many staunch allies as it would've liked in its mission to eradicate terrorits and regimes that support them. In fact the whole US foreign policy is currently incomprehensible. All US seems to be doing is exacerbating things. My particularly favourite thing about the previous link is the quote by Rumsfeld stating that the problems in NK are "nothing to do with us". While the US didn't invent the policies of the North I strongly suspect that its strongarm tactics to enforce economic and trade embargoes, cut fuel aid and ask the same of China, and the 37,000 odd US troops glaring the North across the DMZ have in their own (large) way affected North policy choices. Friday, January 03, 2003
Dodgey Translations The first for the year and just a very short one today as I really didn't feel motivated to do this but since its only three days into the New Year and I resolved to put more effort into my study I figured a small effort was better than none. Again the disclaimer applies, this is purely for practice and is not necessarily grammatically correct or even accurate blah blah blah. Busan Expressway just six days from completion It was reported on the second that the Busan city expressway will be completed and open to traffic in six days time. The expressway (7.42km) will connect the local section from the public square in Sooyoung Gu, Namchong Dong along the no.49 route to Haeundae Gu, Woo dong. It is decided under provisional agreement that this tollway will charge one thousand won for private cars, one thousand five hundred won for large size cars, and two thousand won for container trucks. The city will collect from the expressway from April. Thursday, January 02, 2003
Its 2003!!! Happy New Year to all. I hope your NYE was as much fun as mine ie: jolly good fun. This year has the potential to be extremely good and I am highly excited about the prospects for the coming year. The biggest thing that is going to happen this year is I am going to move to America. All I need is to win one measly scholarship and I am on my way to Stanford USA. (Yay!!) The decision for the scholarship is late March/early April. I have never been to USA but since I had living in US or Europe on my "things to do before thrity" this is very timely. And after having to defer my entry last year in order to save more money I am more excited than ever about my upcoming studies and travel. In view of this big change I have several goals for the year. Firstly I need to concentrate on getting fit (health body = healthy mind) to enable me to better handle the late hours and stress of study. This includes more marathons (10km and half) this year beginning from March 30th. Secondly I am going to concentrate on getting smart by reading a greater number of non-fiction books and committing more time and energy to my Korean study. Thirdly I need to ensure that not a moment is wasted in my last months of Korea. Although there is no doubt I will be back I still feel that I need to make some committment to ensure that weekends and free time are spent visiting tourist sites and other exhibitions, shows, etc that I haven't gotten around to doing as yet. For this I have my trusty "Traditional Ceremonies and Street Festivals" calandar booklet issued by the Seoul Metropolitan Government which is highly recommendable. You can also access information about festivals and the like from The Culture and Toursim Office. There is also a booklet from the KNTO which gives a great run down of mountains, museums, historical sites and more to visit in and around Seoul. Fourthly, I am going to try and read some US authors and read some books about US in order to prepare myself to deal with any culture shock that I may expereience on entering the US. So far I've been told its expensive and the food servings are enough to feed a person for a week and I know about US-Korea relations. But I suspect there is more to learn.
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