Loose change for March 27, 2010

 Economic and business news 

• Korea Telecom will collaborate with Intel on expanding Wi-bro.
• The Korea Times says that Samsung's triumphantly returning leader, Lee Kunhee, will be as powerful as ever.
• South Korean taxpayers have the second-lowest tax burden in the OECD.

 North Korea news and stuff 

• Gordon Chang of Fox News notes that North Korea is trying to nuke "us," so why is China trying to help them?

 Other Korea-related stuff 

• The Chosun Ilbo says that young people's "willful ignorance" of the Korean War — its date and its causes — must stop.
• Outlets of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Holly's may have to suspend business due to health violations discovered by the Korea Food & Drug Administration (story also here). Coffee Bean being a personal favorite of mine — except for them having taken out all the electrical outlets — I'm a bit disturbed by this. The only time I ever got sick from a coffee house in Korea was at the Starbucks on Yongsan Garrison.
• US commanders seem to be leaving open the possibility of a delay in the transfer of wartime operational control.
• President Lee has promised every effort to find the remains of An Chunggŭn. There is a movie plot somewhere in there; let's call Dan Brown.
• On a related note, a committee is being launched to bring back from Japan the sword that was used to kill Chosŏn's Empress Myŏngsŏng, in commemoration of the centennial of An Chunggŭn execution. The sword is called Hizendo.  

 Americana and miscellany 

• As Kim Yuna chokes at the World Figure Skating Championship in Torino, Italy, the US's Mirai Nagasu emerges as the leader.

Public health reader (March 26, 2010 edition)

• Accidents that involve drunk driving, which account for one-eighth of all reported accidents, kill about one thousand people annually in South Korea.

• According to a study by the National Cancer Center, some 42% of terminal cancer patients were unaware of the severity of their condition (i.e., that their cancer would kill them). 

• The ROK government is working to put a dent in Internet addiction with technical workarounds that will block people from staying online for too long. A UPI story on the subject is found here.

• The Korea Insurance Development Institute has issued a report showing that cars sustain about three times more damage when hit by an SUV than when hit by another car. 

Daily Kor for March 26, 2010

There's a lot of North Korea news today. Bipolar as ever, the regime is demanding tourists come. Demanding! Frankly, I prefer the self-loathing approach of South Korea's KNTO, which comes out with a mixture of "come see the best stuff ever" and seminars glumly asking Westerners, "Why don't you come? What did I do wrong?" 

Frankly, South Korea needs less of that introspective stuff, which they should hand off to North Korea, which could do with a little more of it. I mean, come on, "You'd better come or else!", while being the kind of tourism slogan one would expect from a murderous regime like Kim Jong-il's, is really not very effective.

Meanwhile, there seems to be a lot of people in Washington and Geneva talking about the impending collapse of the North. Oh, and beef. Despite the candlelight vigilantes' best efforts, South Koreans are eating that stuff up. One more sign that the vocal fringe in South Korea so rarely represents the thoughts and aspirations of the general public.

1. UN Human Rights Council slams North Korea on abuses (Reuters)
2. Pyongyang blasts US-led plans to look into contingency scenarios in North Korea, warning of "unprecedented nuclear strikes" against anyone trying to overthrow the DPRK regime (Yonhap)
• Speaking to a US House committee, USFK commander warns of sudden regime collapse in Pyongyang and recommends urgent preparations for such an event (Chosun Ilbo)
3. Pyongyang threatens to take "extraordinary measures" if cross-DMZ tourism is not resumed within one week (Yonhap)
4. US beef imports soar in first two months of 2010, up 57 percent in January and February from a year earlier to 13,800 tons (Yonhap)
5. Senior Hannara Party lawmaker urges Seoul and Washington to begin talks on delaying wartime operational control of ROK military (Yonhap)
6. LG announces plans to sell 1 million 3D television units this year to gain 25 percent market share (Reuters)
7. Nuclear plant producer KOPEC, an arm of KEPCO, receives $569 billion subcontract for UAE nuclear plants (Reuters)
8. South Korea's economy grew at 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, as previously thought, but private consumption was stronger than earlier thought (Reuters via CNBC)
• Bank of Korea says economic growth expected to pick up in first quarter of 2010 (Yonhap)
9. Despite failing ratings, North Korean surreality program "Leader Knows Best" renewed for another season (Yonhap)

Loose change for March 26, 2010

 Economic and business news 

• The US is losing its lead in nanotechnology to countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. 

 North Korea news and stuff 

• The EU is expected to relax restrictions on North Korea's Air Koryo.

 Other Korea-related stuff 

• South Korea has renewed its commitment to finding Korea War-era remains.

 Americana and miscellany 

• Citing some prominent South Korean cases involving cheating on the American SAT, this Washington Post piece discusses what little happens when someone does this kind of thing.
• The US is looking to export drone technology to some of its allies, including South Korea.
• The attorney of a Japanese-American man cited decades of racial slurs that have "scarred" him as a factor in the unintended death of a neighbor who supposedly made racial and sexist remarks to him and his wife.

Don't expect this to happen with Tokto anytime soon

It seems a dispute over a small island between India and Bangladesh that first emerged from the sea in the 1970s has been resolved: the island sank back into the sea. Some say this is because of rising sea waters, which are attributed to global warming:

Global warming appears to have finally resolved a dispute that gunboats never could: An island midway between India and Bangladesh that became a catalyst for military threats in the 1980s is now submerged under the rising sea. The Bay of Bengal island, which India called New Moore Island and Bangladesh referred to as South Talpatti, has ceased to exist, the Jadavpur University's School of Oceanic Studies declared this week.

Sugata Hazra, director of the program, said he started looking at satellite imagery recently after reading news reports that the island, which peaked at 1.3 miles long and 1.1 miles wide, was actually becoming larger. Close examination failed to reveal anything. He then checked with local fishermen.

"They confirmed the island had gone sometime back," he said. "We raised the alarm that we'd better take stock of how much loss is occurring."

The tiny island was first noticed after a severe cyclone in the early 1970s. Both countries soon laid claim amid speculation that there might be oil or natural gas beneath its sandy shores.

Now lest you think this would be a good solution for the competing claims on the Korea-held Tokto Islets, bear in mind that the kind of rising sea level you'd need in order to put Tokto under the surface would also submerge hundreds of millions of people in places like Los Angeles, New York City, almost all of Florida, a huge chunk of Europe, and pretty much all of Bangladesh, just off the top of my head.

Plus, there's nothing to stop a dispute about geographic features that are underwater anyway, witness the case of China's stance on Iǒdo (Ieodo).

Obamacare reader (March 25, 2010 edition)

• Just moments after President Obama signed the healthcare insurance overhaul, attorneys general from thirteen states filed suit, challenging the law on constitutional grounds. This is part of the three-pronged effort to challenge the Democrats on the issue.

• President Obama's approval ratings saw a slight uptick after the bill passed.

• The healthcare victory is demonstrating that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is one tough and savvy political leader.

I respond to Lisa Ling

Note to readers: The following is my response to a letter Lisa Ling wrote me, which she allowed to put up as a post (found here). [UPDATE (May 18, 2010): Comments are open at this "final" post in our correspondence.]

Before I begin, I want to again thank you for allowing me to address your privately sent remarks in a public forum (and wish I hadn't taken a whole month to do so). I appreciate the respect you have shown for my viewpoint, and I hope you will feel that I have been respectful of yours. Though we may disagree on some important points, we are ultimately on the same side in that we both look at the DPRK regime as an ongoing atrocity and humanitarian nightmare. Your words have given me food for thought, causing me to rethink the way I approached some things, but also strengthen other opinions. I will try to address those points respectfully over the next several paragraphs.

[click here to read the rest of my lengthy response]

[image from Amazon]

Anti-Obamacare violence?

During the Vancouver Olympics, some Korean netizens were so enraged at Jim Hewish, the judge who disqualified the South Korean team women's relay team in 2010 and Kim Dong-sung in 2002, that he got police protection both in Vancouver and in Sydney. Indeed, his address and a picture of his house had been put online by some of those same crazed Netizens, and there were legitimate fears for his safety [above image stolen from Brian's site].

I was reminded of that today when I read in the Los Angeles Times that Democratic supporters of the controversial healthcare that just passed have apparently been targeted. In some cases it's verbal assaults — racist and homophobic comments — but some of it is far more severe:

One of the most serious incidents involves a severed fuel line at the home of the brother of Rep. Tom Perriello of Virginia. The cut line was discovered the day after tea party activists posted the address online. The incident is being investigated by the FBI.

“My No. 1 priority right now is ensuring the safety of my brother’s family, and I am grateful to law enforcement for their excellent work,” Perriello said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

“While it is too early to say anything definitive regarding political motivations behind this act, it’s never too early for political leaders to condemn threats of violence, particularly as threats to other members of Congress and their children escalate. And so I ask every member of House and Senate leadership to state unequivocally tonight that it is never OK to harm or threaten elected officials and their families with anything more than political retribution. Here in America, we settle our political differences at the ballot box,” he stated.

This goes beyond the pale, and I don't think it's out of line to blame the pundits — particularly those online or on the air — who use extremist rhetoric to describe their political foes as an un-American, anti-American, Marxist or Stalinist enemy that must be destroyed. Really, what the hell country is this?

Katherine Heigl's Korean baby forces her to quit Grey's Anatomy

Never underestimate the power of whiny Koreans to get you to do things that you might not want to do. Katherine Heigl, made famous by "Grey's Anatomy," a hospital drama named for the medical books that were compiled about the same time the show first went on the air, and made famouser by Knocked Up, in which she showed a bajayjay comin' out her vajayjay, is leaving GA for good and with little fanfare.

And the reason is her screaming, pooping, spitting-up ball of joy:

"I am done. We just finalized our agreement. Everyone had been working really hard to find an amicable and gracious way of letting go and moving on. It’s sad but it’s what I wanted.”

Heigl, who has been on maternity leave, explained that adopting a daughter has changed her priorities and she no longer wants to work full time. She was scheduled to appear in the season's last five episodes. But ABC Studios allowed her to leave without fulfilling that part of her contract.

That means the Jan. 21 episode was Izzie Stevens' last hurrah.

“I know I’m disappointing the fans,” she said to EW. “I just had to make a choice. I hope I made the right one.”

Well good on her for not just having a nanny raise her baby while she's on the set. And just to remind readers, Katherine Heigl's child is an adoptee from South Korea (see here, here, and here), just like her sister.

Daily Kor for March 25, 2010

Daewoo is sort of the bastard child of the mighty chaebol, so I don't expect too many people to get upset about Swedes buying out Daewoo Electronics. Now if it were LG or Samsung, on the other hand. Oh, and as a public service announcement, I'd like to remind everyone that there are nine more shopping months until Christmas.

1. Sweden's Electrolux in bid for Daewoo Electronics (BBC, AP via WaPo, AFP)
2. Seoul okays visit by North Korean tour operators to visit DPRK to stave of Pyongyang threat of asset confiscation (Yonhap, Korea Herald)
3. Amidst calls for rethinking Roh-era agreement, USFK commander tells US House committee that operational control (OPCON) transfer is on schedule for 2012 (Yonhap)
4. Seoul seeks arrest warrant for 27-year-old Korean-American English teacher on charges of growing and selling 20 million won worth of marijuana (Yonhap)
5. South Korea to introduce international guidelines on livestock welfare (Yonhap)
6. Speaking to an audience of Korea University students, former US President Jimmy Carter declares Pyongyang's belligerent rhetoric to be inconsequential, the real threat is the return of Voldemort (Reuters)

Loose change for March 25, 2010

 Economic and business news 

• Could South Korean companies get involved in a multi-billion-dollar tourist development and new city on the West Bank of the Dead Sea designed to boost the beleaguered area's economy?
• Samsung has teamed up with a global biotech company to expand into the personal genome service sector.

 North Korea news and stuff 

• Kim Jong-il is reportedly undergoing dialysis every two weeks, lending credibility to reports of kidney failure.
• The US could resume humanitarian food aid if Pyongyang lifts a year-old refusal of such aid.
• US Congressional hearings on North Korea fell victim to the healthcare battle.

 Other Korea-related stuff 

• The Education Ministry has signed an agreement with the bar association to give schools legal advise on dealing with school violence. 
• Starting next month, slow-moving electric cars will be given permission to clog up Seoul traffic even further.
• Two conservative parties — the ruling party and a minor opposition party — are proposing a merger in order to avoid splitting their voting bloc.

Gomes is a friend of Bob (as in Robert Park)

When we first got news last January about Aijalon Mahli Gomes crossing into North Korea, this is what I wrote:

I just hope this isn't one of Robert Park's fellow travelers thinking they can change the regime with their arms stretched out in love. All they're doing is making things worse for people who might need the paths they're using as escape routes.

Well, it turns out I was right. From AFP:

Gomes, an English teacher in South Korea, apparently crossed the border from China on January 25, one month after missionary Robert Park did the same.

Gomes met Park last November, said Jo, a Seoul-based associate of Park and member of a group called Pax Koreana.

"I believe he may have gone to North Korea after being inspired by Park," Jo told AFP.
Jo said Gomes attended rallies in the South on December 30 and January 12 calling for freedom for North Koreans.

"I have a picture showing him praying and weeping at that time. I remember he was a quiet but devout Christian who was very interested in the rights of North Koreans."

Jo said that while Gomes had not mentioned any plans to go to the North, "I believe his firm faith as a Christian prompted him to make a dangerous journey to North Korea as Park did."

Please, people, while your willingness to risk your life to help others may seem admirable, it loses its value and even becomes detrimental if you are putting others at risk and/or helping the very regime in Pyongyang you hate so much. What political or financial capital was required to release Robert Park? Who suffered by him traipsing into the North? And what similar outcome can we expect from Gomes's odyssey?

It's time for Pax Koreana to disavow such behavior.

UPDATE:
Joshua at One Free Korea has more on Mr Gomes and his apparent motivations.

GIST produces 3-D books

So says Reuters:

At South Korea's Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, researchers used 3-D technology to animate two children's books of Korean folk tales, complete with writhing dragons and heroes bounding over mountains.

Pictures in the books have cues that trigger the 3-D animation for readers wearing computer-screen goggles. As the reader turns and tilts the book, the 3-D animation moves accordingly.

"It took us about three years to develop the software for this," said Kim Sang-cheol, the team leader of the project.

Kim said the technology could be used for any type of book and sees it eventually being used for images displayed over smart phones or at museums to enhance exhibits.

But those waiting for 3-D books may have to wait long.

"It will take a while to market this technology to the general public," Kim said. He was not sure of the eventual price but thinks it will be affordable enough to be mass marketed.

Two observations: First, I think the porn or manhwa/manga industries will find a way to bring this to market sooner rather than later (and the national, metropolitan, or provincial governments might also work to give it a boost).

Second, let's hope it's not running on ActiveX.