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!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Daily Kor for Sunday, June 5, 2011

From story #X, US Defense Secretary meets his Chinese counterpart, General Liang Guanglie, in Singapore. This is not a Korean story per se, but any discussion of the US's deterrence role in East Asia has repercussions for Korea (see here and here).

Since it's summer weather almost everywhere, I guess there's no point in bragging about the beautiful weather on Oahu. Have a great weekend!

ROK Defense Minister Kim Kwanjin vows a far stronger response than in the past to future North Korean attacks, what he termed "proactive deterrence": "I don't think we can be reserved because they are being bolder and bolder" (AP via NPR, Korea Herald)
US Defense Secretary, speaking in Singapore, says US budget woes and war fatigue will not deter US involvement in East Asia (Bloomberg, NYT, AP via WaPo, Korea Herald)

Gates warns of clashes in oil- and gas-rich South China Sea without a code of conduct (Bloomberg)

In Korea to encourage local Toyota dealers, company president Akio Toyoda says Japanese automaker will return to full capacity by November, after 51 percent dive in South Korean market following devastating Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and ongoing nuclear crisis (Reuters, WSJ, Bloomberg, Korea Herald, Korea Times)
Five North Korean defectors to be allowed to attend American universities under US-sponsored exchange program (Yonhap)
Prosecutors angry over lawmakers' plans to get rid of the investigative unit of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Yonhap, Korea Herald, Korea Times)
Trump dazed after being hit in head with cartoon hammer (CNN)

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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)*

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Daily Kor for Sunday, June 5, 2011

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