As one, we can do something more productive, such as ask Japanese Gov’t(not people) to repent for their past.. Stop Westerner(mostly American) to take over control on our economy… something like that..

Jaewoo, you could develop some critical thinking skills and do some real reading; that would help greatly or just quit posting nonsense about how the evil white-people are trying to take over your economy. Perhaps you should read up on your own history and consider the similarities between Tibetans and the colonial period in Korea but I guess that would require thought on your part.

If you have never heard of 中韩两兄, you have now. This is a sentiment that was shared by almost everybody around me while I was growing up.

As for the “唇亡齿寒” phrase that Mao uses, that has less to do the fraternity of brotherhood than the geopolitical climate of the time.

It is also underlies not only Korea’s strategic importance during the cold war, but its historical and continuing significance. It’s just a bit of regrettable that so many sorrows had visited the peninsula because of it. To some extent the same is true for Vietnam.

Just think about invasions routes to China. Think about which ways are the easiest? If you had to put boots on the ground, where would you start? And if both of those routes are in accessible, where would the third route be? Well, you don’t have to think that hard about it. Ain’t it obvious?

Well, anyhow 中韩两兄 shouldn’t be conflated with the “唇亡齿寒” philosophy of the Mao. The former is what I and many other take to heart. A camaraderie, between two groups of people who had seen much suffering the the past century, that should be nurtured and fostered.

Best
Kain

I have never heard of 中韩两兄, but I do recall Chairman Mao saying something about “中朝是唇齿之邦.” During the Vietnam War, Chairman Mao also expressed his solidarity with the Vietnamese using the lips and teeth metaphor. The 1979 invasion must have sent him spinning in his grave.

You’re going to have to excuse my ignorance wrt 高丽棒子. That’s what happens when someone is taught while growing up that Chinese and Koreans are brothers, 中韩两兄. I still don’t quite get what the former means, but I know the latter quite well.

Best
Kain

He Caitou and others concerned about the fate of the arrested student surnamed Jin will be relieved to know that he was released on his own recognizance after expressing remorse for his act. He still awaits trial but is not incarcerated. His arrest warrant stated that 3-4 other students participated in the beating, no others have been arrested yet.

@Kain,

Language is best understood in context. Google 高丽棒子 and brush up on your Chinese slang.

Also, Gook is the suffix of many soups eaten in Korean Meals, such as Mijuk Gook (Seaweed Soup), Denjang Gook (Similar to Japanese Miso, but lots stronger flavour, due to a lot more Soybean Paste being used).

Also, in Korea, you have different types of Gokksos, which refer to noodle and soups.

I am speaking from a perspective of being 50% Gook and 50% Norseman – Viking with Norwegian and Icelandic descent. I have been blessed to have seen both sides of the world, growing up in a Northern European country, and visiting Korea once or twice per year the past 30 years, I know what makes a Korean, respectively Westerner (depending which country, continent, social & economical background, educational level, what religion, if religious at all, the list goes on and on.)

Koreans have had a tough history, often been in war with the Mongols and Chinese from the North and by sea, as well as being attacked by the Japanese.

The almost half century Japanese occupation, where Koreans were stripped of everything they had of value, and, their girls being raped and forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Occupiers. The occupation also includes big parts of Manchuria – North East China.

After the Korean War a mere 50 years ago – (note that technically, the two Korea’s are still at war – no Peace Treaty has been signed) the country got split into two. Being one of the most homogenus races alive, the division of the country is extremely painful, brothers, separated from each other, one Mother – on one side of the border and the Father, a husband, with 3 of his 6 children in the “Free” South. Seoul is only 40 kilometers away from the most dangerous and heavily armed and fortified strip of land in the world. Literally millions of soldiers and thousands of warheads are ready to go off on each side, aimed to Wipe out Seoul, respectively Pyong Yang from the Map.

Millions of Chinese died during the Korean War. The result of the fighting no victory for any side, ending at the 38th parallel as both the North and South, were at some stage, almost victorious. After the War, Korea was one of the poorest nations on earth, Ghana and India having a higher GDP than the South Korea.

I apologize to have gone off track here, writing and commenting about the history. In my opinion, it is by studying history, we can understand and gain a better understanding about the psyche of us living today.

Every year since I can remember – early 1980′s til today, I can with certainty say that in the Korean mind, everything, has been about beating Japan in every aspect one can compare. Sports – baseball, football (2002 Soccer WC JAP/KOR), increasingly the Koreans have been able to take the lead in technology and science.

Drawing parallels to China, by living here for one year, I can see nationalism forming, due to similar reasons as in Korea. There is a strong urge and sense of glory and achievement as the country is on the track on becoming the Centre Kingdom again, already emerged as a superpower, with, technology and science not far behind.

I remember 1988 – Olympics in Seoul, S. Korea. It was a very hot summer. There was electricity in the air, something magical, a sense of common achievement, that, finally, finally, we can say for sure, that we are on the right track. All eyes were on Korea that hot summer 1988. 14 years later, 2002, it was as if history once again repeats itself, only this time, the arch rival, Japan was co-hosting the biggest most popular sports World Cup. Ever since the news broke that Japan and Korea were to Co-Host the World Cup, in the minds of the Koreans, there was only one thing, which mattered. Winning, beating, being better than Japan! They sure did put on a show, and, with the backing of the whole nation, not only won over Japan but putting Asia and Korea, firmly on the football map.

I live in South China – Guangzhou, Guangdong. There certainly is a buzz in the air. It is difficult to compare, but China, being much larger and diverse than Korea on every scale – different ethnicities etc. it does not feel as hand in hand as Korea. I have not been in Beijing, but, from what I have heard from friends and collegues in the North, the Han Chinese sure have high hopes.

This is now the time for China, to show the rest of the world, how much, how quick, they have been able to achieve this incredible pace of development. Today’s world incomparably complex, if measured with 20 years ago.

Whatever People say, about China, in my opinion, there is no other country who would be able to (at the moment) host a better and more spectacular Olympic Games than the P.R.C..

Sure there are many negatives and problems, how can anyone argue against that, with a population of circa 1.500 million, and a Vast country, with the highest peaks in the South West, driest and coldest desert in the north, with, some of the most fertile soils to grow crops, and, with an incredible biodiversity.

We are all human beings – people – homo sapiens. We often learn by making mistakes, trial and error. When looking back in history, watching how other nations in the West became Industrialized, considering the never-before-seen Scale and speed, things are maybe not that bad here in China?

Looking at the man power, skill and thousands of years of written historical data as a solid track record and foundation, again, I, humbly and convinced that what we will witness this summer is of a proportion, caliber and scale which can only be pulled of by 1.5 billion people – citizens of the world, make their dreams come true! 5000 years of focus, planning and energy is to be discharged.

Let’s all make Beijing 2008, a point in history, where mankind unifies, by forging a common path to make our home – Biosphere – Mother Earth, a better place for us all.
It is up for us, generation x, full of hopes and dreams, growing up in today’s world, to think green – repairing the damage done by past generations (who did not know better) to reverse the adverse effects we have on the world, make changes in every aspect, in the way we live, the way we eat, they way we treat each other.

Let’s stop hating and killing each other. Black, White, Yellow, Red – Negro, Ghost, Gook, Native American Indians, indigenous people – Aborigines , North SE Asian Hilltribe, Mountain People around the world, Reindeer Hearders and Nomadic People of the North, Eskimoes, Hutsi & Tutsi, Albino’s to blue eyed and everything in between let’s come together and become nationalistic for the sake of our only home, which begs us to stop our destructive behavior.

Zhonguo’s, Hangoo’s, Audalians, Meigoos, Ryydyens, – let’s make 2008 something we will look back at and be proud. Let’s help out our fellow Chinese to pull this off… they are also busy preparing to host Asian Games 2010!

Sincerely Yours,

Citizen of The World

-The Global Nomad

You are the real trouble maker. When you are busy pointing out the Seoul issue during torch relay, one for Dalai Lama, one for North Korea. Why not check up from
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,552510,00.html

and

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,552671,00.html

http://cn.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1006/4/1/8/100641840.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=100641840&mdate=0511093458

Dalai lama said he is one of Chinese, and said, China govt is my boss.

Clearly this Chinese commenter and one who expressed agreement have no idea about Korean press coverage of GI crimes. Perhaps the 2002 candelight vigils after the accidental deaths of two Korean schoolgirls were ignored by the Chinese media. Crimes involving GIs, English teachers, ethnic Korean-Chinese, and just about any other foreigner are usually front page news in Korea.

A note to the blogger/translator John Kennedy:

I don’t think “gook” is a suitable translation for 棒子. Although “gook” may have originated in Korea, it is an American English epithet that can be directed at any East Asian, and one that is rarely used anymore. “Bangzi” and “Gaoli bangzi” are Chinese insults specifically for Koreans. These epithets are so common that Koreans and foreign expatriates in Korea are aware of the terms, and we use them without translation.