급은 입력 (Tenth Entry)

         In South Korea on Tuesday, the United States and South Korea resumed talks about whether South Korea should be able to enrich their country with uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel. At the discussion, South Korea wanted to rewrite the 1974 treaty with the United States. This treaty was an agreement that South Korea would refrain using those types of technologies that can be used to create fuel for nuclear power plants, and to also make nuclear weapons. Talks of rewriting the treaty began a year ago.

        I think what the United States is really worrying about here, is the fear that once South Korea touches trying to work with fuel for nuclear power plants, they country will delve deeper into trying to create nuclear weapons just like North Korea.

        William Toby, a senior at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University states that "The United States opposes the spread of enrichment and reprocessing even to South Korea, because it wants to set an absolute standard to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation". Truly a scary thought. Just think that North Korea having power in Nuclear fuel, and now South Korea is wanting to dip a tiny bit into Nuclear fuel is scarier. Yes, South Korea doesn't want to make any Nuclear weapons, but the act of having those materials in the country is just a scary thought.

사랑,
Tai Le

• U.S. and South Korea Renew Talks on Nuclear Technology
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/world/asia/us-and-south-korea-renew-talks-on-nuclear-technology.html?ref=southkorea

아홉 번째 항목 (Ninth Entry)

        North Korea warned South Korea on Thursday that any military crash that did happen on the maritime border could cause an attack on the presidential office in Seoul. They threatened to engulf the South Korean leadership "in a sea of fire". That's so scary!
       
        The threat was received exactly one day after South Korea had conducted military drills near Yeonpyeong - front line island west of Seoul. The conducted military drills was timed exactly the same time last year when North Korea released an artillery attack on Yeonpyeong which killed two marines, and two civilians.

        North Korea claims that the drills were done to provoke North Korea. They stated in their threat letter that "If one single shot drops in our sacred waters and territory again, the sea of fire on Yeonpyeong-do will spread to a sea of fire on the Blue House, and that deluge of fire will sweep away the stronghold of the group of traitors". Note that the Blue House is the office of the South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak in Seoul.

       The United States being concerned with the possibility of military attacks from North Korea, reaffirmed once more that they were ready to and committed to defend South Korea at any time.

사랑,
Tai Le

• North Korea Warns South on Maritime Drills
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/25/world/asia/north-korea-threatens-south-korea-with-a-sea-of-fire.html?ref=southkorea

여덟 항목 (Eight Entry)

        In South Korea on Tuesday, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) decided to resume the distribution of medical aid to North Korea - financed by the South Korean government. The reason? Because of the assistance calls for malnourished North Korean children.

        A Senior South Korean Unification Ministry official spoke to reporters on Tuesday, and stated the distribution of medical aid was because it "was base upon our belief that purely humanitarian support for the you and vulnerable in North Korea should continue".

        The W.H.O. group sent $13 million worth of medicine and medical supplies to the North, but the supplies had to stop when there was a sinking of a South Korean warship in March 2010. The sinking was caused by the North when they torpedoed the ship, and because of this, they killed 46 sailors.

       Although South Korean is still frustrated that North Korea remains tight with its nuclear program, South Korea admitted that it should not be punishing the citizens for the government's deeds. It's been recorded that last month, six million North Koreans were in urgent of food aid and medical supplies.

       South Korea found that sending supplies is super urgent because aid organizations warned that malnutrition had plagued two generations in North Korea, and would have a huge consequence if the North and South Korea were to reunite one day. South Korea since then has been sending money to help spread the medical aids to all persons in need in North Korea.

사랑,
Tai Le

• South Korea Approves Sending Medical Aid to the North
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/world/asia/south-korea-approves-sending-medical-aid-to-north.html?ref=southkorea

일곱 번째 항목 (Seventh Entry)

        Plastic surgery in the past used to be something that was frowned upon, but these days, it's something common. In Korea, it's more common than ever. It's not just a nose job these days. These days, it's everything on the face. It's the jawline. It's the eyes. It's the cheekbones. Why is it necessary to endure such pain? Such horrible, and painful pains?

        Beauty. Expectations. Celebrities.

        Many are influence by the media to look a certain way. Imagine America's teens, only times twenty. It's that scary. In Korea it's hard to find someone how's the exactly Korean because all of the women from the age of 19 - 45 have had plastic surgery. Women in Korea - if they want to get married - have to look a certain way, or society will find them ugly. The "normal look super normal, while the pretty look super pretty".

        In a society where electronics keep society moving, seeing everything on the Internet can influence someone. When celebrities decide to get a part of them fixed, their before and after photos are released instantaneously on the internet. Normal can see that even celebrities have flaws, and they fix them. This being another reason to has plastic surgery.

        What about the family life? It used to be belief from Confucious that "tampering with the body bestowed by one's parents was a violation", and the individual would be discouraged of cremation. But today, it's different. Parents bribe their young girls of plastic surgery if they pass their classes, and make it to college.

        They think that plastic surgery is so successful, that they don't even realize the accidents that have arose from it. Today, society is beginning to notice that plastic surgery is constituting an obsession in women. If they surgery is unsuccessful, there have been cases where girls have killed themselves. It's that dangerous. It's getting to a point where self appreciation is gone from society.

        How will a person truly show their true self if they're always trying to look a different way? What doctors have noticed that all the girls who come in for surgery are all looking like a certain group of celebrities. They all have several faces they want, and that's not doing anything for society. This has to change.

사랑,
Tai Le

• In South Korea, Plastic Surgery Comes Out of the Closet
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/world/asia/in-south-korea-plastic-surgery-comes-out-of-the-closet.html?ref=southkorea&pagewanted=all

여섯째 항목 (Sixth Entry)

        The United States and South Korea had announced a possibility on Friday that two nations would be joining in a military response against North Korea. This would happen if there is another act of provocation in the region from the North Korean leaders.

        Last November, North Korea engaged in the act of shelling a South Korean island. This led to the Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and South Korean Defense Minister, Kim Kwan-jin together threatened North Korea that a counterattack would happen if North Korea was irresponsible again.

        Mr. Panetta said that "We can provide strong and effective responses to those kinds of provocations if we work together and if we develop the kind of coordinated response that we think is necessary." All statements were a large part in showing South Korea support because the country has grown weary and anxious about attacks from North Korea. When North Korea had attached the South Korean island last November, several civilians were killed, and South Korea felt that there should have been a stronger response even though they attempted to fire back.

        We can see that a huge support system has been established for South Korea because of the devastating attacks from North Korea. At the news conference, Panetta and Kim repeatedly demanded that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons program because act of nuclear weapons pose as a "serious" and "grave" threat to the world.

        By the end of the conference, they both planed to complete an American-South Korean "counterprovocation" plan (by the end of this year) to map out how both countries would respond if there were to be another North Korean attack.

사랑,
Tai Le

• Panetta Joins South Korea in Warning to North
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/world/asia/panetta-joins-south-korea-in-warning-to-north.html?ref=southkorea

다섯 번째 항목 (Fifth Entry)

        Imagine the work that was required to make a Justin Bieber in this starving Pop Star country. Now imagine all that work times ten. You see, in South Korea, thanks to all the several entertainment companies, South Korea has dished out dozens and dozens of Pop Stars to the world. The training? Rigorous.

        If you read about Korean Music trainees, you would understand that it takes 4 - 5 years to train one single artist in Korea. In that time span, they're taught how to sing, act, dance, and most importantly, how to socialize. Most Korean celebrities are taught three languages. English, Korean, Chinese or Japanese. Yes, it's rigorous, but on the best of the best Koreans debut as a celebrity.

        This is surely what happened this week when SM Entertainment (Korean agency) hosted on Sunday night a SM Town Live concert that was held at Madison Square Garden. This show was packed, and all tickets were sold out within minutes of release.

        In a culture where being fast is the most important, new Korean bands and acts are always be introduced. Why? Because the society should never get old. Of course, the famous BoA, DBSK are still unforgettable, but the newbees such as Super Junior, Girl's Generation and SHINee still need their spot-light. What's so special? It's their way of marketing. Each band should be able to stand on their own feet, and be able to be recognized single.

        Bands such as SHINee show their risky attitude by dressing in colored leather, and had memorable memories for fans to sing to. They came a recognizable format. Mean they came in about the same member numbers as Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync. And who could forget the hair?

        If you're not a fan of the boy bands, there's a ton of girl power to go around. Girls' Generation is a 9 girl group that likes to show off their coy, and attractive bodies. In America where sex is a huge representation in the media, Girls' Generation and their fellow entertainers from Korea live the opposite. They performed with values and keeping the night "chaste that satisfied demand".

        Will we continue to see more and more foreign pop stars as 2012 rolls around? If America can handle the chasteness of Korea, I'm sure we will.

사랑,
Tai Le

• Korean Pop Machine, Running on Innocence and Hair Gel
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/arts/music/shinee-and-south-korean-k-pop-groups-at-madison-square-garden-review.html?ref=southkorea

네 번째 항목 (Fourth Entry)

        South Korea and Japan said on Wednesday that they would expand their existing currency deal of swapping money to the equivalent of $70 billion dollars to deal with uncertainties with the European debt crisis.

        A currency swap is an agreement that allows a central bank in two agreeing countries to swap on currency for another at an agreed-upon interest price. This helps to give a country more scope to defend itself during a currency crisis. Since the late 1990s, South Korea has benefited from such deals with Japan and the United States with the Asian financial crisis.

        This new arrangement expanded a $13 million dollar credit line that each of the two countries guaranteed for each other. South Korea would have more leverage to defend its currency. This was discussed when Mr. Lee (South Korea) and Mr. Noda (Japan) met at a meeting in where they both agreed to work together on issues such as the nuclear threat from North Korea.

        The one-year currency swap pact that was agreed on Wednesday would help to give South Korea access to $4 billion dollars, and the equivalent of $3 billion in yen. Japan would have access to $4 billion dollars also along with $3 billion dollars in won.

사랑,
Tai Le

• Japan and South Korea Strengthen Currency Ties
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/business/global/japan-and-south-korea-strengthen-currency-ties.html?ref=southkorea

세번째 항목 (Third Entry)

        In Seoul, at an appeals court where a school official was convicted of raping a 13-year-old deaf girl, the rapist was sentenced to only one year in prison. When the sentence was announced, a middle-aged-man (also deaf) let out an incomprehensible cry that seemed to be shouting "This is wrong! This is wrong!". Thee man was forcibly removed for disrupting the courtroom.

        The emotion, and action of this middle-aged man caused Gong Ji-young to write a novel based on the Inhwa School for the hearing impaired that exposed stories of sexual assaults and abuses on the deaf students that attended that school. The successful novel was turned into a movie called "Dogani" or "The Crucible". Released on September 22nd, about 4.4 million people have seen it. About 10th of the country's population have seen the movie (including the South Korean president Lee Myung-bak).

        What happened when people saw the movie? Wide-spread anger and disbelief over the reluctance of the government and officials for not taking sexual crimes seriously, and how the sentencing is not served with justice. Because of the movie, the cabinet of South Korea has promised to inspect all school facilities for the minors and disabled to rid of sexual abuse, and teachers practicing such disgusting actions.

        All of this reaction is seen from a low budget movie. This is incredible at just how a movie can truly affect a society.

        In the Inhwa case mentioned at the beginning, four teachers and administers were convicted of raping/sexually molesting at least eight students. Many of these students were mentally disabled, or orphaned. It's recorded that only two of the four actually served any jail time. This injustice was acknowledged in the film, and hopefully society will see that it's best to rule out these horrid people.

        In the last year, 320 sexual crimes were reported. The government estimates that only 10% of victims actually report sexual crimes for fear of being shamed in public trials.

        As you can see, this movie (although low-budget) has made such an impact in the South Korean society, that it's apparent that change is going to happen very very soon. I'm so happy to hear that something is being done.

사랑,
Tai Le

• Film Underscores Koreans' Growing Anger Over Sex Crimes
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/world/asia/film-underscores-koreans-growing-anger-over-sex-crimes.html?ref=southkorea&pagewanted=all

두 번째 항목 (Second Entry)

        In South Korea, speed is an obsession. In restaurants, a common dish is called "the fastest dish". What does this show about South Korea? This country is definitely one that strives for being fast. This is seen when South Koreans "consider broadband Internet a virtual birthright", and why the South Korea has three telecommunication firms that try to expand and improve their networks everyday.

        But there's a slight problem. Although the country is home to global headquarters such as Samsung and LG, but these companies build themselves largely by copying and continually improving existing products instead of leading the movement of technology. These company follow rather than lead. Why?

        Even though Seoul built a technology center to help developers create new innovative technology, but there is a small group that actually is involved in this developing. For many years, college students in South Korea decide to pursue law and medicine instead of engineering or computer science. This definitely places a damper on the movement of technology.

So truly, for South Korea to lead the front of the technology revolution, the citizens of South Korea must be encouraged to take a more serious outlook on engineering and computer science. How can a country that values broadband as a birthright not be developing new and innovative technology?

사랑,
Tai Le

• Connected, Yes. Competitive, Maybe.
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/business/global/connected-yes-competitive-maybe.html?ref=southkorea

첫 번째 항목 (First Entry)

        For this first week of my blog entry, I found an interesting article that deals with the the government providing work for those in need.

        The article talks about a man who's debt is painstakingly high, and as a English tutor, his pay wasn't high enough, so he needed a change. He decided to join the ranks of what they call camera bounty hunters. This meant that he would follow people around posing as a paparazzi, and take photos of people committing crimes and offenses, deliver the evidence (photos) to the government, and obtain the rewards.

     

        For decades, bounties have had a history with South Korea. The South Korean government have offered generous rewards for people who turned in North Korean spies, but these days, the conditions of bounty hunters and rewards have softened. These past few years, various agencies have set up bounty hunters to report petty crimes such as a motorist throwing a cigarette to the ground, factories releasing waste into a river, or even doctors not supplying their patients with a payment receipt so they can under report their taxable income.

        A huge reason for people to "snitch" is because for the past few years, the world's economy problems have slowed down many country's economy, including South Korea. So for the country to gain some money, they allowed camera bounty hunting to proceed. The fines for committing a petty crime range from $5 (throwing a cigarette on the ground) to $850 (an unlicensed selling of livestock).

This truly is a remarkable country. I mean, even though South Korea's economy is at it's low point, it still seeks to find ways to bring the economy up. For me personally, this act of bounty hunters really do help bring a safer country up front. I mean, it truly makes people think second to what they're about to do. Should they litter just because they can't find a single trashcan? or is it wise to not offer a patient their payment receipt just so the doctor can claim more taxable refunds? With all the badness going around in the world, it's nice to see a change.

사랑,

Tai Le

• Help Wanted: Busybodies With Cameras
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/world/asia/in-south-korea-where-digital-tattling-is-a-growth-industry.html?ref=southkorea

한국에 다이빙 (Diving into South Korea)

This term at PSU, I'm taking the a sophomore course that covers a broad spectrum of Asia, and its country. The course discusses the prehistory of regions in Asia, and the leading up to what they presently are.

Another requirement of this course is to focus for nine weeks on a specific country, and follow along with news on that country.

I've decided to pick South Korea as my main focus because it's always been a country that I've been fascinated with.

This online blog will consist of my writing my thoughts and summaries on news articles that I find from The New York Times. I'll be focusing on not only the political aspect of South Korea, but also the culture and entertainment parts of the country.

I've decided to name by blog Diving into South Korea (한국에 다이빙), because that's exactly what'll I'll be doing. I'm diving into a culture to learn more about their people and how they live.

I hope you enjoy this nine week process with me!

사랑,

Tai Le