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!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Daily Kor for January 4, 2011

The new year is looking very good. We've got the KOSPI at an all-time high, Kia and Hyundai riding a 10-percent rise and anticipating 10 percent more, and President Lee cautiously looking for a balance between diplomacy and strength as it deals with North Korea. All this good news in the first week of January can only mean one thing: It's all downhill from here. (Just kidding... wouldn't want to jinx anything.)

In New Year's address to nation (full text), President Lee Myungbak opens door to possible peace talks with North Korea while vowing not to let Pyongyang "covet even an inch of our territory" (Yonhap, AP via WaPo, BBC, UPI, Reuters, Bloomberg, Korea Times, Joongang Daily)
On first day of trading in new year, South Korean stocks rise to all-time high (WSJ, Korea Times, Joongang Daily)

Goldman-Sachs says KOSPI will rise 32 percent in 2011(Bloomberg)

South Korean manufacturing accelerates in December to highest level in seven months (AFP)

KRW expected to strengthen 7.2 percent to 1050 won per dollar (Bloomberg)

Military brass eye battle-ready troops as top priority for 2011 (Yonhap, Korea Times)

Kushibo's note: Um, shouldn't that have been the priority since, like, 1950?
Antisubmarine defenses also boosted (Joongang Daily)

After strong 2010, Hyundai and Kia eye 10 percent rise in sales in 2011 (Reuters, WSJ)
Korea's National Health Insurance Corporation posts W1.3 trillion (US$1.1 billion) loss in 2010 (Korea Times)
Kim Jong-il says coveted Ronald McDonald footwear contract will lead North Korea to economic prosperity in Juche 100 (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)*

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Daily Kor for January 4, 2011

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