Monster Island (actually a peninsula)*

Pearls of witticism from 'Bo the Blogger: Kushibo's Korea blog... Kushibo-e Kibun... Now with Less kimchi, more nunchi. Random thoughts and commentary (and indiscernibly opaque humor) about selected social, political, economic, and health-related issues of the day affecting "foreans," Koreans, Korea and East Asia, along with the US, especially Hawaii, Orange County and the rest of California, plus anything else that is deemed worthy of discussion. Forza Corea!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Daily Kor for December 30, 2010

Daily Kor is back, hopefully on a daily (or near daily) basis. It looks like President Lee is really taking the North Korean situation seriously, what with a clear statement that we're going to stop talking for talking's sake (er... at least I hope that's what he means) and strong reminder that North Korea and South Korea are two halves of a divided nation. The message: China, keep your hands off.

ROK President Lee calls for six-party talks to end North Korea's nuclear program next year (WaPo, AP via WaPo, Reuters, BBC, Yonhap, Joongang Daily, Donga Ilbo)
South Korea describes North Korea as "enemy" and sets nation to prepare for reunification (Bloomberg, CSM)

Seoul in 2011 to seek global consensus for reunification (Yonhap)
Seoul to emphasize North Korean human rights in new year (Korea Times)
China calls South Korean plans provocative (Korea Times)
South Korea expects more North Korean attacks in 2011 (CSM)
South Korea to create military command aimed at beefing up combat capability (Yonhap)
ROK Defense Ministry alarmed as North Korean troops along border seen wearing camouflage uniforms like South Korea's (AFP)

South Korea's Constitutional Court says Internet law aimed at stopping rumor-mongering is unconstitutional (AFP)

Ruling party to seek alternative legislation (Yonhap)

South Korea raises foot-and-mouth disease alert to highest level (Bloomberg, Korea Times)

AES struggles to find way to blame outbreak on English teachers

Arex rail link from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station fully opened (NTV, Korea Times)
Repeatedly unruly students to be suspended in lieu of receiving corporal punishment (Yonhap, Joongang Daily)
South Korea seeks 16 percent rise in foreign direct investment in 2011 after rise of 12 percent in 2010 (Reuters)
Hyundai sets sales record in China (Joongang Daily)
Average South Korean household has average net assets of W230 million and debt of W42.6 million (Yonhap)

Chŏnse debt weighing on families (Korea Times)

DPRK announces national beef recall: Average North Koreans are told to try to remember what cow meat tastes like (Yonhap)

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Ask Kushibo.

My Google/Blogspot data shows that a lot of the 2 million people who have landed on my site (yes, that's the real number) are looking for cultural information on Korea (e.g., “When did Syngman Rhee die?” “What did the Indians bring to the first Chusŏk?’ etc., etc.), as well as practical or historical stuff.

That got me thinking that, hey, I have a master’s degree in Korean studies and a minor in Japanese studies, I’ve lived in Seoul far longer than most foreans my age (whether they're kyopo or non-kyopo), I teach introductory courses on Korea and its cultural trappings and history, so why not offer a free service where I attempt to answer people’s questions, point them in the direction of where they can get them answered, and/or offer my regulars (that’s you!) a chance to take a stab at some of this stuff, too.

So if there’s something you’d like to know from a “contrarian scourge,” click on ASK KUSHIBO and just ask a succinct question in the comments section below.

Oh, and play nice. Please don’t make me regret this.

九十五大怪獣란? 쿠시보의 몬스터 아일랜드란?

Pearls of witticism from 'Bo the Blogger: Kushibo's Korea blog... Kushibo-e Kibun...
Now with Less kimchi, more nunchi. Random thoughts and commentary (and indiscernibly opaque humor) about selected social, political, economic, and health-related issues of the day affecting "foreans" ("foreigners" in Korea be they kyopo or non-kyopo), Koreans, Korea and East Asia, along with the US, especially Hawaii, Orange County, and the rest of California, plus anything else that is deemed worthy of discussion. Forza Corea!

* Monster Island (actually a peninsula)

The name of this blog comes from a line in "Lisa on Ice," a beloved episode of The Simpsons, perhaps my all-time favorite television show (even though for several seasons there, it really did suck). Lisa is imagining being sworn in as president, but at the last minute, it is discovered that she failed P.E. (physical education) and she is thus "sentenced to a lifetime of horror" on Monster Island. "Don't worry," the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court confides in her, "It's just a name."

Fast forward to Lisa and other prisoners running in panic through a tropical jungle, chased by Godzilla-like creatures, including a monster turtle and a monster firefly.

"He said it was just a name!" Lisa screams to the man next to her. While he, too, runs for his life, the unidentified man calmly says, "What he meant is that Monster Island is actually a peninsula."

Anyway, I thought in some ways that punchline summed up modern-day Korea in a nutshell. For many people—foreigners and Koreans—the ups and downs and everyday travails of the Republic of Korea make it as precarious as a Monster Island would be (and with the DMZ being the only land border, it really is like an island). But it actually is a peninsula. Okay, it made sense in my head.

So as you can see, despite the hits I get from people looking for Japanese tentacle porn, it has nothing to do with anything salacious as that.

Monster Island (actually a peninsula)*

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Daily Kor for December 30, 2010

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