Stories about South Korea from November, 2007
South Korea: Crackdown on Migrant Workers
Jamie from Two Koreas posts the call for international solidarity by local labour union against the government violent crackdown of migrant worker union. More background can be found at local newspapers Hankyoreh (reposted in Two Koreas)
South Korea: Wartime Propaganda Movie
Matt looks into a propaganda movie Volunteer (Jiwonbyeong) from 1941 in detail to study traces of Korean contemporary nationalism.
South Korea: Migrant Worker Trade Union Leaders Arrested
CINA blogs about the South Korea government's crackdown of the migrant worker trade union yesterday (Nov 27).
Korea: Foreigners on Korean TV
A TV program in Korea featuring foreign women who are able to speak Korean and who give their opinions about Korean society and culture has been popular recently. Participants in the program have fast become celebrities due to their exotic appearance. While TV audiences like the program and talk about...
Korea: The Entrance Examination for Colleges
The entrance examination for colleges finished last week. Every year it comes along with several events and stories. A story that is never omitted is a tragedy where examinees give up their lives due to the result of the examination. The story always generates opinions and complaints about the current...
South Korea: Arrested for Calling Police
Michael Hurt blogs in detail how he got arrested by police because he called up the police to report on a street harassment by a drunken man.
South Korea: Anti War Protest
CINA blogs about the weekend anti-war protest against the ongoing presence of S.K. troops in Iraq.
Korea: Samsung Scandal
Samsung lobbying scandal – the creation of a slush fund, the bribery of prosecutors and government officials, and an effort by the chairman, Lee Kun Hee, and his aide to illegally help his son take over control of Samsung – recently has shaken Korean society and seems to affect the...
South Korea: Workers’ Protest
Jamie from Two Koreas blogs more on last weekend's workers’ protest commemorating Chun Tae Il, a worker who immolated himself in the early seventies in protest of the regressive labour relations that animated the sweatshops of the textile boom of those days.
South Korea: Cheering for Test Takers
Matt from Gusts of Popular feeling blogs about the cheering activities related to the annual university entrance examination in Seoul.
Korea: Role of the National Election Commission for the Coming Presidential Election
The National Election Commission (NEC) announced on the 22nd of June that internet netizens can’t support or criticize specific parties or specific candidates for the presidential election on the internet. Since the announcement, there are many worries that the NEC is taking freedom of speech away. In particular, one post...
South Korea: National Worker Rally Not Just Anti-FTA
CINA from Jinbo net criticized AP and Reuter for interpreting the recent rally as an Anti-FTA protest. It is an annual national worker rally and this year the messages included anti-war and civil rights.
Korea: Conflicts over Subway Seats
Young people respect old people. Old people take care of young people. That is one of the major traditional philosophies in East Asia. Regarding this perspective, excessive behavior is now bringing up questions about what the extent of the mannger between the elderly and young should be. Especially if you...
Taiwan: South Korea's Experience in China Trade
Michael Turton comments on The European Chamber of Commerce's criticism over Taiwan's trade policy. The Chamber chair suggested Taiwan to learn from South Korea's experience while the blogger wondered what exactly Taiwan should learn.
South Korea: Ancestral Worship
Matt gives more background on the politics of ancestral graves.
Korea: Special Compartments for Women on the Subway
What do you think about special compartments for women on the subway? One reason given for its necessity is to protect women from male sex criminals. A new policy that Seoul suggested causes a new kind of battle between men and women. 도쿄 경찰에 따르면 지난 2005년에 검거된 지하철 성추행범은...
South Korea: Mourning for Dead Migrant Workers
On Sunday, Buddhist groups and migrant workers mourned for imported labours who have died as a result of accidents that occurred in the difficult, dirty and dangerous industries. More from Two Koreas.
Korea: Punishments at school
What is the best education? A series of recent incidents in Korean schools reflects the difficulty of striking a balance between the demands of teachers, students and parents. Teachers’ qualifications are always an important issue when school scandals emerge. 선생님들 체벌을 하세요 폭력을 휘두르지 마시고 최근 선생님들과 관련된 정말 씁쓸한...
South Korea: E-Land and its Conflict with Temporary Workers
Jae Young Lee from Ohmynews reports on E-Land, a company specializing in the fashion business and distribution industry, and its recent conflict with temporary workers.
South Korea: Samsung Bribery Fund Scandal
Mins0306 from Marmot's Hole blogs about Samsung's scandal of bribery fund.
Asia: Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies
Interlocals.net puts up an announcement from Inter-Asia Graduate School of NGO Studies (based in Seoul) inviting application for master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies. Some scholarship are available for developing country students and activists.
