The New Corea

The other day an English friend of mine who teaches in a university in Japan was talking about trends in foreign language popularity in Japan over the past few years. He noted that at the time the Iraq war began, there was a noticable decline in Japanese studying English and an increase in Japanese studying the Chinese language. However, when the Chinese went a little overboard over Japanese history books, Chinese language became less popular.

Finally, he noted that language institutes had a sharp increase in Korean language study lately, attributed to the popularity of Korean dramas.

Well, I have a feeling that trend has just about run its course as well. Occidentalism has a good post on how the Japanese media is picking up on anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea.

Nothing new for us expats in Korea, but scroll down to the bottom and hear what some Korean children are learning about Kim Jeong il.

"He [Kim Jong-il] is a good person!"

“He is working hard for the unification of this country, so I think he is a good person”

If Kim Jeong il can just tough out the next decade or so, South Korea will be his for the taking.

On a different topic, here's a pic I swiped from the same site.

Not bad eh?

Well, for all of you who had nasty thoughts about this girl, I hereby proclaim you to be perverts. Why? She's only 11 years old, that's why.

Now get off my site. I will not be host to a pack of pedophiles.                                                                                          

Comments on original post



Holy Crap! no 11 year should look like that. And even if she really is 11 years old, where are her parents - if my daughter looks like that when she is 11, I'll be locking her up in a closet until she turns 18.... I certainly wouldn't be letting her do provocative photo shoots.

Posted by: EFL Geek | July 20, 2005 at 05:25 PM

Someone should let her know it's not okay to grow breasts yet.

Posted by: Joel | July 20, 2005 at 05:28 PM

Ack!

I googled till my fingers cramped and everything I found says that she's indeed 11, but I'm still having a hard time believing she's that young.
As for the remarks made by those students...not really that surprising.

Posted by: Nomad | July 20, 2005 at 07:57 PM

"I googled till my fingers cramped" Uh, so did I...I didn't know she was 11, officer!

Posted by: Brad Spit | July 20, 2005 at 11:23 PM

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Posted by: Yabl | July 25, 2005 at 07:31 PM

I miss sarcasm and half naked minors. Bring it back!

Posted by: Joel | August 16, 2005 at 08:24 PM

Hi sweet cheeks! I'm just getting a bit concerned that you haven't blogged for so long - I'm missing your sexy scribble......
Love ya
Leone xxx

Posted by: Leone | August 18, 2005 at 08:13 AM

This sure is one hell of a long vacation (?) you're on. Get your ass back here and blog, damn it!

Posted by: Nomad | August 28, 2005 at 01:45 AM

Senor Pooper, donde esta?

Posted by: Vicente Fox | August 30, 2005 at 04:23 AM

Honourable Pooper,

Far too long between posts.

Posted by: kimchipig | September 05, 2005 at 09:55 AM

Wo ist Herr Pooper?

Posted by: Gerhard Schroeder | September 05, 2005 at 06:49 PM

Two things. First, you are correct the South Korean youth are like baby seals waiting to be clubbed. Second, if the South Korean youth all look like that girl in the bikini they must be doing something right! Must be in the kimchi!

Posted by: Mike | October 08, 2005 at 11:40 PM

The "Corea" spelling is a red herring: http://kushibo.blogspot.com/2005/05/korea-versus-corea.html.

And that video was focusing on Chonkyojo teachers, a union outlawed until very recently and a group opposed by most Koreans, including most teachers.

Posted by: kushibo | October 24, 2005 at 02:20 AM

thoese captions are in JAPANESE. Surely it says 'II hito desuyo.' BUT, where's the evidence that this is about Kim Jung Il?? How much knowledge about Korea do you actually have?? South Korean kids will NEVER be taught that, and you wouldn't even see anything from North Korean tv from the first place, they are a strict communist country!! When the media refers to 'Korea' without mentioning whether its south or north, it's ALWAYS SOUTH KOREA.

Also please don't make such disgusting and ignorant statements like 'If Kim Jeong il can just tough out the next decade or so, South Korea will be his for the taking.' as a JOKE. You are truly one messed up man. Don't even dare to act sarcastic to that, you should be ashamed.

Posted by: omg | November 15, 2006 at 05:48 AM