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Korea’s Colonial and Early Modern Architectural Heritage

Posted 12 hours ago:   For the benefit of those who want to see all my photos of colonial/early modern architecture in one place, I’ve created a Flickr set dedicated to it. It’s got more Japanese colonial buildings and old churches than you can shake a stick at. Speaking of colonial architecture and such, check out this Flickr photo pool of Taiwan’s architectural heritage — ... [Link]

My evil cow beats your mad cow

Posted 15 hours ago:  Need to spook away some mad cow protesters? You can buy a T-shirt with that drawing here. There will be at least one of those heading to Korea in a day or two as soon as I can figure out their sizing system. ShareThis [Link]

Happy Great Tax Revolt Day!

Posted 17 hours ago:  Giving King George III the Saddam Treatment, since 1776. Oh, and when I need to feel proud, both as an American and as a Long Islander, I can always watch this. ShareThis [Link]

And in Today’s News…

Posted 20 hours ago:   Rep. Park Hee-tae — all 70 years of him — has been elected head of the ruling Grand National Party, beating out Chung Mong-joon. Let’s see, who did the Chosun Ilbo bash today? Hmm, alright, I see the KTEWU, KBS and online portals. Very good. And who did the Hankyoreh bash? Hmm, alright, I see right-wing thugs and LMB. Very ... [Link]

Flavor of the Month

Posted 22 hours ago:  The police arrested a “42-year-old college lecturer at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies for posting” a false statement, posing as a riot policeman on-line. I loved this part: Kang (lecturer/teacher) said he used the posting as a “literary metaphor.” Right . . . but then, how many flavors does stupid come in? We should ask Lee Suk Haeng, KCTU (Korean ... [Link]

Yongsan Garrison open to the public today?

Posted 22 hours ago:  UPDATE: Another source confirmed that the base is open to the general public. Also, I will not be going after all since we now have enough volunteers to cover the whole event. ORIGINAL POST: I got the following email last night: Referencing gate access: My understanding is that US citizens with proper IDs (passport and driver’s license) will be allowed ... [Link]

‘No Contempt for Koreans’

Posted 23 hours ago:  I really like Mike Breen’s last column in the KT… the only problem, I can’t tell if he’s taking the piss or not. Admittedly, I’m a bit slow on the uptake. ShareThis [Link]

Just in Case You Are Assaulted…

Posted 23 hours ago:  Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, in cooperation with HUFS, will publish a guidebook for foreigners on how to act when they fall victim to crime (or perpetrate crimes themselves). The first edition will focus on domestic and school violence. ShareThis [Link]

Four Days Later, US Beef Still Selling Well

Posted 25 hours ago:  UPDATE: Daum has a photo slideshow from the store, complete with long lines of people, some carrying iceboxes. It won’t make page 1 of the NYT, and it doesn’t jam up traffic in Gwanghwamun, but if consumers continue to buy, it’ll speak louder than candles ever could. Here’s something interesting, too — a CBS poll reveals that the number of ... [Link]

First-Hand Account of Life as a Civilian in a Japanese POW Camp

Posted 36 hours ago:  81-year-old Mrs. Elizabeth van Kampen left a comment on an earlier post linking to her website, which retells her childhood in the Dutch East Indies and her experience in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. It also goes into her efforts to receive compensation for her suffering from the Japanese government. Please, give it a read. ShareThis [Link]

And Speaking of US Beef…

Posted 41 hours ago:  AskMen has done a Top 10 list of Japanese models. If you’re into gravure idols, check it out. (HT to Japundit) ShareThis [Link]

10,000-Man Beef Fest?

Posted 42 hours ago:  Money Today reports that conservative groups will be holding a US beef tasting party for some 10,000 people in downtown Seoul on July 12. Initially, organizers had hoped to hold it in Seoul Plaza, but because the city is now restoring the grass at the plaza, they are looking for a new venue. Organizers plan to get the beef for ... [Link]

A Korean Amerasian Adoption Story

Posted 42 hours ago:  Photographer Rick Smolan tells the story of the adoption of a young Amerasian girl from Korea. It’s a pretty interesting tale: (HT to reader) ShareThis [Link]

You Know, I Think This Foreigner-Too Protest on July 5 is a Terrible Idea…

Posted 44 hours ago:  but at the same time, what’s good for the goose… ShareThis [Link]

Today in the News

Posted 44 hours ago:  Just some commentary on recent news: The Korea Communication Commission has ruled that online boycott campaigns of companies running advertisements in the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo are illegal. Needless to say, the Chosun Ilbo is pleased. The Hankyoreh, on the other hand, took a different view. “Netizens are saying media that no longer functions in public service ... [Link]

North Korean Beef

Posted 46 hours ago:  I realize this is rather old but…., several people on the blog have commented that the only people in the North getting beef are KJI and his cronies….well, that isn’t quite true. Of course, compared to the NK Beef, I think I would rather take my chances with the supposed threat of American beef infected with Mad Cow. In 2002, ... [Link]

Food For a Rainy Day

Posted 47 hours ago:  Because everybody likes a little buchimgae, especially during the jangma. ShareThis [Link]

Voter registration tomorrow at Yongsan Garrison (can you help?)

Posted 2 days ago:  If you have base access and want to register to vote or request an absentee ballot, be sure to head over to the VFW tent during the July 4 celebration at Yongsan Garrison. Right now we have two volunteers working the table from about 11:00 until sometime in the afternoon and two more (including yours truly*) from around 5:00 to ... [Link]

Brian’s Troubles in Jeolla-do

Posted 2 days ago:  Brian discusses his travails following an alleged incident of cyber-aggression. Quite an ugly tale, with a number of cautionary elements to it. ShareThis [Link]

Headline of the Week

Posted 3 days ago:  “Gay Riot Police Officer Accused of Sexual Assault“ ShareThis [Link]

Lots o’ Foreigners to Protest Candlelight Demonstrations: Hanguk Ilbo

Posted 3 days ago:  NOTE: Yes, I realize this story has something to do with Andy’s post below. I have no idea what’s what — all I’ve done here is summarize what I’ve read. The Hanguk Ilbo reports that with tensions between protesters and anti-protest protesters on the rise, hundreds of resident foreigners will be attending an anti-candlelight protest demonstration. The “Citizens Alliance Against ... [Link]

Hey, Finally a Political Statement About the Protests I Can Agree With!

Posted 3 days ago:  GNP floor leader Hong Jun-pyo unleashed on the protests today, pointing out what should be completely obvious to everyone now — it’s all politics. After 10 years of progressive government, if Lee couldn’t predict that resistance from progressive forces would be this great, the Lee administration is a very naive government… Even if the candlelights go out about beef, if ... [Link]

US Apologizes to Korea ™ After Bush Visit Schedule Released

Posted 3 days ago:  Through diplomatic channels, the US has Apologized to Korea ™ for informing the media of the date of President Bush’s return visit to Korea without telling the Korean side first, reports Yonhap. In a July 1 (US time) briefing, NSC Asia chief Dennis Wilder told reporters that Bush planned to meet with President Lee Myung-bak at the G8 summit in ... [Link]

A cause worth protesting for this Saturday

Posted 3 days ago:  UPDATE: To get more information or to let them know you are coming, you can the folks at LiNK at rsvp@linkglobal.org. ORIGINAL POST: I got this in the email box today: We would like to cordially invite you to a funeral procession for the dead and dying of North Korea on July 5, 2008 at 6:00 PM, sponsored by LiNK ... [Link]

Mongolia Declares State of Emergency

Posted 3 days ago:  Mongolian President Nambariin Enkhbayar has declared a four-day state of emergency following last night’s violent protests in UB that saw demonstrators loot and burn the headquarters of the former communist Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party. If you want to see what recently toasted Stalinist architecture looks like, AFP got a good photo of the party headquarters building. Rioters also set fire ... [Link]

US Beef Sold Out in Six Hours: Distributor

Posted 3 days ago:  Sales of US beef have begun, with one beef distributor in Siheung-dong selling his entire 200kg supply of poison US death meat unfit for even animal consumption in just six hours. Most of it was purchased by ordinary consumers, although the biggest buyer was some church in Sinchon, which bought 35kg of killer meat for a church outing. Terrible, I ... [Link]

Post-Election Violence in Mongolia

Posted 4 days ago:  Korea isn’t the only one in the neighborhood dealing with unhappy campers — allegations that the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP), the former communist-era ruling party, rigged the recent general election has led to violent protests. No candles in these protests, unless one counts the headquarters of the MPRP, which was set alight, reportedly with Prime Minister Sanjagiin Bayar still ... [Link]

Americans also get emotional about beef

Posted 4 days ago:  My latest KT piece is on (what else?) the beef issue again. About half of the piece deals with Korea. The other half is a bit of a counter to the “Koreans can’t think” meme that seems to float around the comments section: Of course, having to deal with wild swings in the public mood and emotionally based appeals is ... [Link]

Where Was This ‘Suppression of the Press’ Talk During Roh?

Posted 4 days ago:  The Hankyoreh suddenly sees press freedom at stake as the government investigates broadcaster MBC for, ahem, controversial reports by one MBC program on US beef. The prosecution has formed a special five-member team to investigate whether national broadcaster MBC intentionally misled the public about mad cow disease on its program “The Producer’s Notebook,” which aired nationwide on April 29. The ... [Link]

Will it Be as Cosmopolitan as Auschwitz?

Posted 4 days ago:  OK, so North Korea might not be enthusiastic about sullying the bloodlines or letting a single drop of ink into the Hangang River, but they will turn Pyongyang into an international city by 2012. North Korea is creating a commercial street in downtown Pyongyang as part of a large-scale project to turn the capital into an international city by 2012, ... [Link]