Tuesday, December 30, 2003
My Year-end Greetings
Hi, All: Thanks for the last year. I wish you Happy New Year and prosperity.
With Love and Respect
From Seoul
Hi, All: Thanks for the last year. I wish you Happy New Year and prosperity.
With Love and Respect
From Seoul
Saturday, December 27, 2003
Lies, Lies, and More Lies
We live in an era in which liars have been doing well. They prosper on lies. We are the nation of liars. Kids roll their eyes talking to their Moms about their homeworks. Daughters stammer reporting about their time of return home last night. Husbands cheat on their wives and vice versa.
You know electricity is wired through high-voltage cords. You should also know that, unlike this visible landscape, shady dealings are done between businessmen and politicos flanked by pretty women, in a heated atmosphere of gourmets and vintage wines, through warm whispers to greedy ears, under dim-lit cover of basement shelter.
As a result, the cocoon of protection has been established. In this huge web of kickbacks and favoritisms, the corrupt lots have been diverting the foreign exchanges and stashing millions of dollars in their private coffers, cheating on the National Tax Service. And in the warp of networks, a pioneering young scientist has had to die on a rubber boat on the piercing Antarctic winter Ocean, slashed with blizzard, while greedy businessmen and corrupt politicos have been cozying up to the heated electric stove, engaging in leisurely chats.
In this ever-dirty cobweb of corruption, dirty businessmen become richer, and richer businessmen go to the Congress to protect their wealth. The symbiosis between the two depraved classes goes on, and in due course, each and every one becoming richer than ever at the expense of reducing internal revenues.
We live in an era in which liars have been doing well. They prosper on lies. We are the nation of liars. Kids roll their eyes talking to their Moms about their homeworks. Daughters stammer reporting about their time of return home last night. Husbands cheat on their wives and vice versa.
You know electricity is wired through high-voltage cords. You should also know that, unlike this visible landscape, shady dealings are done between businessmen and politicos flanked by pretty women, in a heated atmosphere of gourmets and vintage wines, through warm whispers to greedy ears, under dim-lit cover of basement shelter.
As a result, the cocoon of protection has been established. In this huge web of kickbacks and favoritisms, the corrupt lots have been diverting the foreign exchanges and stashing millions of dollars in their private coffers, cheating on the National Tax Service. And in the warp of networks, a pioneering young scientist has had to die on a rubber boat on the piercing Antarctic winter Ocean, slashed with blizzard, while greedy businessmen and corrupt politicos have been cozying up to the heated electric stove, engaging in leisurely chats.
In this ever-dirty cobweb of corruption, dirty businessmen become richer, and richer businessmen go to the Congress to protect their wealth. The symbiosis between the two depraved classes goes on, and in due course, each and every one becoming richer than ever at the expense of reducing internal revenues.
Sunday, December 21, 2003
U.S. Barracks Jokes in Korea
Jokes are interesting circulating about American soldiers "staying for a comparatively long period of time" here in Seoul or in the rest of other American forces camps around the country. Even when they are being facetious, they tend to be warm-hearted toward the locals. But, some of the topics seem to be derisive of local culture. Some others tend to be sarcastic, if not caustic.
When you run into a strange culture you are annoyed and perplexed, not if shocked. Disparities between the two cultures are wide and deep, ranging from disgust toward the smell from "kimchi breath," to the difficulty of the use of chopsticks. As months and years go by, they show inclination to accommodate themselves to new circumstances and customs.
Jokes abound in the matter of the cold weather. Humor has it that they look forward to Korean winter in their off-post housing so they can store beer and frozen foods in their bedrooms and bathrooms. The emulation of local greetings of bowing gives them "back pain." Episodes are introduced arising in the course of converting US unit measurements into local metric measurements.
It comes to you as an epiphany that you see new arrivals from the Super Power by the name of the United States "adapting" to the strange custom of a small country. They've come to acquire a tact or two to jump the queue. They look forward to Chusok and the Lunar New Year's Day. "They don't freak out when the salad arrives with octopus legs still wiggling on top of it."
Some sorts of conflicts are in order, though. The G.I.s have tended to be derisive of some cultural traits of Korean society. They think that " one of Korea's greatest natural resources is good- looking young women." They ask their wives "to stand outside with a baseball bat to protect your public parking space in front of the house." They tend to be domineering in local public places, going so far as to say that "You can eat barefooted in a restaurant with a foot in your lap." They sometimes confess the pleasure of "jaywalking instead of using a pedestrian crosswalk."
It's very intriguing to see that the U.S. soldiers have tended to be understanding about things Korean. Most of them are able to memorize the words to the Korean National Anthem and they "enjoy singing it." They have tended to be inadvertent bordering on being absent-minded," by answering the phone by saying "yoboseyo," and sometimes even at the office. Their curiosity leads them to watch local TV more often than not, with AFKN channel off.
In due course, there comes a time when they've come to meld into the common stream of Korean society, going so far as "to use a public bathroom for both genders and feel comfortable. You'll be startled to your feet when you see the favorite sons of the United States end up "walking down the street holding hands with their Korean buddiess." They are accustomed to major local roads. They "know every interchange on the Seoul-Pusan Expressway by heart." They "select shoes based on how easily you can get them on and off." They even "enjoy putting lots of red pepper sauce on your salads or French-fries." They've come to find themselves enjoying slurping your kooksoo and ramyon noodles as loudly as you can. It's the time their cultural consummation has been done.
Jokes are interesting circulating about American soldiers "staying for a comparatively long period of time" here in Seoul or in the rest of other American forces camps around the country. Even when they are being facetious, they tend to be warm-hearted toward the locals. But, some of the topics seem to be derisive of local culture. Some others tend to be sarcastic, if not caustic.
When you run into a strange culture you are annoyed and perplexed, not if shocked. Disparities between the two cultures are wide and deep, ranging from disgust toward the smell from "kimchi breath," to the difficulty of the use of chopsticks. As months and years go by, they show inclination to accommodate themselves to new circumstances and customs.
Jokes abound in the matter of the cold weather. Humor has it that they look forward to Korean winter in their off-post housing so they can store beer and frozen foods in their bedrooms and bathrooms. The emulation of local greetings of bowing gives them "back pain." Episodes are introduced arising in the course of converting US unit measurements into local metric measurements.
It comes to you as an epiphany that you see new arrivals from the Super Power by the name of the United States "adapting" to the strange custom of a small country. They've come to acquire a tact or two to jump the queue. They look forward to Chusok and the Lunar New Year's Day. "They don't freak out when the salad arrives with octopus legs still wiggling on top of it."
Some sorts of conflicts are in order, though. The G.I.s have tended to be derisive of some cultural traits of Korean society. They think that " one of Korea's greatest natural resources is good- looking young women." They ask their wives "to stand outside with a baseball bat to protect your public parking space in front of the house." They tend to be domineering in local public places, going so far as to say that "You can eat barefooted in a restaurant with a foot in your lap." They sometimes confess the pleasure of "jaywalking instead of using a pedestrian crosswalk."
It's very intriguing to see that the U.S. soldiers have tended to be understanding about things Korean. Most of them are able to memorize the words to the Korean National Anthem and they "enjoy singing it." They have tended to be inadvertent bordering on being absent-minded," by answering the phone by saying "yoboseyo," and sometimes even at the office. Their curiosity leads them to watch local TV more often than not, with AFKN channel off.
In due course, there comes a time when they've come to meld into the common stream of Korean society, going so far as "to use a public bathroom for both genders and feel comfortable. You'll be startled to your feet when you see the favorite sons of the United States end up "walking down the street holding hands with their Korean buddiess." They are accustomed to major local roads. They "know every interchange on the Seoul-Pusan Expressway by heart." They "select shoes based on how easily you can get them on and off." They even "enjoy putting lots of red pepper sauce on your salads or French-fries." They've come to find themselves enjoying slurping your kooksoo and ramyon noodles as loudly as you can. It's the time their cultural consummation has been done.
Friday, December 19, 2003
A Long Line Is in Order
A long line looms large over the horizon of everyone's consciousness at this time of year-end hurly-burly. Several kilometers of bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion is in for you. National Assembly bills sitting against the Legislative calendar are on their way to the floor for the hurried passage for enactment. High school graduates and their parents are moving along the tortuous line toward the application for the admission of specific colleges.
Early birds catch worms. Recession-hit customers with thin wallets are hungry for best buys of "liquidation" companies which have been forced to dispose of excess inventory. They stand in a long queue in the dawning hours. As soon as the clerk cries open the gate, the customers step up on the double toward the merchandises on the second and the third floors.
They are nice to see. The world-class winter clothes displayed on the shelves under the bright bulbs are literally "up for grabs." Enthusiastic hunters elbow each other for the best prey. They hurriedly pick and pick the goods of their choice and head for the counter. A customer shows off his triumph with pride. "This parka was beyond my means. Mine at last." He grins, handing 20,000 won for four pieces of glistening winter clothes including his long-coveted parka, to the clerk. He shows the tag price of 250,000 won (200 more dollars) for the nicest parka he has ever worn to the television camera. "This is a steal rather than a bargain," he throws a regretful thank-you glance to the clerk.
A long line looms large over the horizon of everyone's consciousness at this time of year-end hurly-burly. Several kilometers of bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion is in for you. National Assembly bills sitting against the Legislative calendar are on their way to the floor for the hurried passage for enactment. High school graduates and their parents are moving along the tortuous line toward the application for the admission of specific colleges.
Early birds catch worms. Recession-hit customers with thin wallets are hungry for best buys of "liquidation" companies which have been forced to dispose of excess inventory. They stand in a long queue in the dawning hours. As soon as the clerk cries open the gate, the customers step up on the double toward the merchandises on the second and the third floors.
They are nice to see. The world-class winter clothes displayed on the shelves under the bright bulbs are literally "up for grabs." Enthusiastic hunters elbow each other for the best prey. They hurriedly pick and pick the goods of their choice and head for the counter. A customer shows off his triumph with pride. "This parka was beyond my means. Mine at last." He grins, handing 20,000 won for four pieces of glistening winter clothes including his long-coveted parka, to the clerk. He shows the tag price of 250,000 won (200 more dollars) for the nicest parka he has ever worn to the television camera. "This is a steal rather than a bargain," he throws a regretful thank-you glance to the clerk.
Sunday, December 14, 2003
The Global Popularity of Daejanggum
Daejanggum is on its 27th installment, in which the national audiences will grieve for the death of Hahn Sanggung. On the watershed event of the death of a court lady (on the 15th of December, 2003), the soap opera of a broadcasting company (MBC TV) will be sure to achieve the unprecedented record, probably 60% plus viewing rating.
Daejanggum (pronounced dae-jahng-gum), a serialized television drama (60 more installments) dealing with a legendary woman court doctor by the name of Suh Jahng Gum (Jahng Gum was her first name and her family name was Suh) during the Joongjong period of the Chosun Kingdom about 500 years ago, is an evident feminism-oriented masterpiece.
In the career-driven age with 30% divorce and the lowest birth rate, Daejanggum, which means the 'Great Janggum', has been instrumental in stimulating the curiosity about a mysterious woman in the earlier monarchical era of the male-dominated society, enhancing the pride of the Korean women populace. The scale of the drama is big yet inexpensive and the cast is gorgeous yet audience-friendly. Especially noticeable had been the presence of the 'Little Janggum' in the drama's initial presentation.
Janggum has been the most important character of the cast. Miss Lee Young Ae, a pretty woman in her early thirties (165cm, 48kg), by the nickname of 'Sahnso' (oxygen), has been playing the role of oxygenizing and energizing the drama. She has been the most inquisitive, playful, and daredevil lot. Which had made her rise to the position of a court doctor mainly treating the monarch, outsmarting male doctors.
Janggum will undergo a major yet not her first frustration when her mentor, strong supporter and the dead mother's courtly ally, Hahnsanggung (the highest courtly chef supervising and controlling court cooks by the name of Hahn) dies, alas, on her dear acolyte's back on their way to an outback prison camp of Jejudo, in the blizzard of the penetrating winter, in the bush of reed, overseen by guards. She had been made a victim of the court intrigue that the opposing forces had implicated the chef and the most remarkable cook with unfounded charges that they had attempted to poison the monarch.
The popularity of the soap is globally explosive. In the Internet age, the broadcasting media might have an eye for the global revenues. The preview and postview is now serviceable on the site of http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/daejanggum/index.html, ingratis, of course.
Daejanggum is on its 27th installment, in which the national audiences will grieve for the death of Hahn Sanggung. On the watershed event of the death of a court lady (on the 15th of December, 2003), the soap opera of a broadcasting company (MBC TV) will be sure to achieve the unprecedented record, probably 60% plus viewing rating.
Daejanggum (pronounced dae-jahng-gum), a serialized television drama (60 more installments) dealing with a legendary woman court doctor by the name of Suh Jahng Gum (Jahng Gum was her first name and her family name was Suh) during the Joongjong period of the Chosun Kingdom about 500 years ago, is an evident feminism-oriented masterpiece.
In the career-driven age with 30% divorce and the lowest birth rate, Daejanggum, which means the 'Great Janggum', has been instrumental in stimulating the curiosity about a mysterious woman in the earlier monarchical era of the male-dominated society, enhancing the pride of the Korean women populace. The scale of the drama is big yet inexpensive and the cast is gorgeous yet audience-friendly. Especially noticeable had been the presence of the 'Little Janggum' in the drama's initial presentation.
Janggum has been the most important character of the cast. Miss Lee Young Ae, a pretty woman in her early thirties (165cm, 48kg), by the nickname of 'Sahnso' (oxygen), has been playing the role of oxygenizing and energizing the drama. She has been the most inquisitive, playful, and daredevil lot. Which had made her rise to the position of a court doctor mainly treating the monarch, outsmarting male doctors.
Janggum will undergo a major yet not her first frustration when her mentor, strong supporter and the dead mother's courtly ally, Hahnsanggung (the highest courtly chef supervising and controlling court cooks by the name of Hahn) dies, alas, on her dear acolyte's back on their way to an outback prison camp of Jejudo, in the blizzard of the penetrating winter, in the bush of reed, overseen by guards. She had been made a victim of the court intrigue that the opposing forces had implicated the chef and the most remarkable cook with unfounded charges that they had attempted to poison the monarch.
The popularity of the soap is globally explosive. In the Internet age, the broadcasting media might have an eye for the global revenues. The preview and postview is now serviceable on the site of http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/daejanggum/index.html, ingratis, of course.
Friday, December 12, 2003
I Am Thniking Aloud
When High Prosecution Office investigators of Seoul were yelling at a pot-bellied and bald-headed corrupt politico in his middle fifties across the table, an Antarctic Rand team of four was on their way to mad search for their colleague members lost on their way back to the base camp. Blizzard was slashing their faces, billows were pounding the poor rubber float, and in the course of search and rescue operation an exhausted and dehydrated member died.
Over the horizon of national consciousness, a tearful landscape of patriotic workers looms large, in which they have been turning on midnight bulbs, supplying Matrix cellular phones to Warner Brothers Company and in which they have braved the Antarctic blizzards and billows. And another contrasting landscape gives us Koreans frustrations and resentments, in which corrupt politicos and their confidants, under cover of night, or in broad daylight, they have been involved in transporting truck loads of banknotes, squeezed out from big businesses, totalling tens of billions won (hundreds of millions of dollars) to their party secretariat.
I am thinking aloud. Somewhere in my terra incognita, I hear the cerebral sound. So loud. I feel, I try and I desire the big bang and the subsequent demolition. Muted, it will not be heard. But, I am still thinking aloud. And I hear the powerful detonation of 1 million- ton dynamites.
When High Prosecution Office investigators of Seoul were yelling at a pot-bellied and bald-headed corrupt politico in his middle fifties across the table, an Antarctic Rand team of four was on their way to mad search for their colleague members lost on their way back to the base camp. Blizzard was slashing their faces, billows were pounding the poor rubber float, and in the course of search and rescue operation an exhausted and dehydrated member died.
Over the horizon of national consciousness, a tearful landscape of patriotic workers looms large, in which they have been turning on midnight bulbs, supplying Matrix cellular phones to Warner Brothers Company and in which they have braved the Antarctic blizzards and billows. And another contrasting landscape gives us Koreans frustrations and resentments, in which corrupt politicos and their confidants, under cover of night, or in broad daylight, they have been involved in transporting truck loads of banknotes, squeezed out from big businesses, totalling tens of billions won (hundreds of millions of dollars) to their party secretariat.
I am thinking aloud. Somewhere in my terra incognita, I hear the cerebral sound. So loud. I feel, I try and I desire the big bang and the subsequent demolition. Muted, it will not be heard. But, I am still thinking aloud. And I hear the powerful detonation of 1 million- ton dynamites.
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
My Wife Is So Hot!
A penetratingly cold winter is here. I am curious to know how all of you are doing there. Here in Seoul, the heating system is working fine, but, as you all know well, the price of oil is so high that my wife and I hardly touch the switch of the kerosene boiler. We opt to wear thermal clothes (naebok in Korean) instead.
In fact, I am very safely warm during sleeping hours. Of course, thick cotton quilt and bedcover will do me good greatly. To a larger extent, I owe my warm, comfortable and sound sleep during wintry nights to my wife. How come? Because she is so hot.
She has been. Allow me a big talk Chinese type (The wise man used to wear 100-meter-long white hair, etc.), and I'll say my wife has been so hot you'd risk burns. Really. In my bridal youth, I had called her "My Fireplace." I incidentally asked her, "how come you're so hot?" She did not know about the origin and cause of her high body heat. She revealed an interesting episode to me instead that her sisters (five sisters and one brother)had made their extra efforts, during her adolescent nights, to snuggle close to her.
A penetratingly cold winter is here. I am curious to know how all of you are doing there. Here in Seoul, the heating system is working fine, but, as you all know well, the price of oil is so high that my wife and I hardly touch the switch of the kerosene boiler. We opt to wear thermal clothes (naebok in Korean) instead.
In fact, I am very safely warm during sleeping hours. Of course, thick cotton quilt and bedcover will do me good greatly. To a larger extent, I owe my warm, comfortable and sound sleep during wintry nights to my wife. How come? Because she is so hot.
She has been. Allow me a big talk Chinese type (The wise man used to wear 100-meter-long white hair, etc.), and I'll say my wife has been so hot you'd risk burns. Really. In my bridal youth, I had called her "My Fireplace." I incidentally asked her, "how come you're so hot?" She did not know about the origin and cause of her high body heat. She revealed an interesting episode to me instead that her sisters (five sisters and one brother)had made their extra efforts, during her adolescent nights, to snuggle close to her.
Sunday, December 07, 2003
How about Going Haldway?
What do you think comprises happiness? It's the state you have been consummated. So be it. You rightly think that consummation gives you a fertile ground for your ecstasy. You are on Cloud Nine. You wish yourself a prolongation of high elation. The next time you know, you will fumble for a cigarette on the bedside.
If consummation was not the way why not try another? Why go the full length? How about going halfway? Why not stop in the middle of the tour? How about leaving things undone? How about putting off till tomorrow what you can do today? Might settlement out of the court, instead of lawsuits, not be more beneficial to both parties?
What do you think comprises happiness? It's the state you have been consummated. So be it. You rightly think that consummation gives you a fertile ground for your ecstasy. You are on Cloud Nine. You wish yourself a prolongation of high elation. The next time you know, you will fumble for a cigarette on the bedside.
If consummation was not the way why not try another? Why go the full length? How about going halfway? Why not stop in the middle of the tour? How about leaving things undone? How about putting off till tomorrow what you can do today? Might settlement out of the court, instead of lawsuits, not be more beneficial to both parties?
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Free Lunch Boxes for Prosecutors
Free lunch boxes for high prosecutors were delivered at lunch time on the 2nd of December, 2003 here in Seoul, Korea (the Republic of). It's been a weird landscape that, in this age when the political establishment is looked down on for their shadowy practices, a few members of the nation's Law Enforcement Agencies have been visited by their 'fans', appreciated for their efforts and cheered up for future roles.
The lunch boxes, in which modest fare of hot rice, fried bulggoggi, fried sausage and boiled beans was wrapped, were prepared by the Action for Community Cleanup members as a token of appreciation for cleanup efforts by High Prosecutor Dae Hee Ahn and his investigators of High Prosecutors' Office. The medium-size lunch boxes with three-tiered compartments were festooned with toppings of heart logo made of boiled red beans.
The investigation team have put some big shots of Former President Kim Dae Jung's government behind bars on charges of kickbacks, for which they have been nicknamed the Pietros (Antonio di Pietro) of Korea. The nerves of corrupt politicos of ruling and opposition parties are on edge these days. The age-old corporate practices of greasing the palms of National Assemblymen are undergoing prosecutorial grilling.
The well-meaning lunch boxes from 'the ordinary citizens', however, have never been accepted on the entrance of the High Prosecutors' Office. They have been returned with an attachment "in thankful mind only." They have ended up in the deliverers' hands and had the opportunity for taking photos. In memory of "the Clean Korea" to come.
Free lunch boxes for high prosecutors were delivered at lunch time on the 2nd of December, 2003 here in Seoul, Korea (the Republic of). It's been a weird landscape that, in this age when the political establishment is looked down on for their shadowy practices, a few members of the nation's Law Enforcement Agencies have been visited by their 'fans', appreciated for their efforts and cheered up for future roles.
The lunch boxes, in which modest fare of hot rice, fried bulggoggi, fried sausage and boiled beans was wrapped, were prepared by the Action for Community Cleanup members as a token of appreciation for cleanup efforts by High Prosecutor Dae Hee Ahn and his investigators of High Prosecutors' Office. The medium-size lunch boxes with three-tiered compartments were festooned with toppings of heart logo made of boiled red beans.
The investigation team have put some big shots of Former President Kim Dae Jung's government behind bars on charges of kickbacks, for which they have been nicknamed the Pietros (Antonio di Pietro) of Korea. The nerves of corrupt politicos of ruling and opposition parties are on edge these days. The age-old corporate practices of greasing the palms of National Assemblymen are undergoing prosecutorial grilling.
The well-meaning lunch boxes from 'the ordinary citizens', however, have never been accepted on the entrance of the High Prosecutors' Office. They have been returned with an attachment "in thankful mind only." They have ended up in the deliverers' hands and had the opportunity for taking photos. In memory of "the Clean Korea" to come.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
The Language of the President
President Roh Moo Hyon of Korea (the Republic of) was not the man he was supposed to be. (The exclusive interview with SBS TV on the 24th of Nov., 2003) There were no sparks in his eyes. No spleens in his voice. No bones in his messages. He groped for apt words when he described the situation he was in. His wanton preferences for stereotyping gave way. His rapid-fire speech was stymied by his consciousness of slips and the subsequent lashings by the press.
The diagnosis of a Quack neurosurgical doctor:What a pity. He must be a bruised man. He must be in a trauma. The enormous stress heaped upon the president might make him a basket case. He had been an active volcano of speech and behavior, which should have found an exit for the vent of his resentments and frustrations toward the major press and the majority opposition party. If the natural urge of expression were suppressed and if political surroundings coerced him to make an unnatural silence for a long duration he would get his brain injured to a certain extent.
President Roh Moo Hyon of Korea (the Republic of) was not the man he was supposed to be. (The exclusive interview with SBS TV on the 24th of Nov., 2003) There were no sparks in his eyes. No spleens in his voice. No bones in his messages. He groped for apt words when he described the situation he was in. His wanton preferences for stereotyping gave way. His rapid-fire speech was stymied by his consciousness of slips and the subsequent lashings by the press.
The diagnosis of a Quack neurosurgical doctor:What a pity. He must be a bruised man. He must be in a trauma. The enormous stress heaped upon the president might make him a basket case. He had been an active volcano of speech and behavior, which should have found an exit for the vent of his resentments and frustrations toward the major press and the majority opposition party. If the natural urge of expression were suppressed and if political surroundings coerced him to make an unnatural silence for a long duration he would get his brain injured to a certain extent.
