From: andrew@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Andrew Sung Hyun Kim)
Subject: Re: Orange-jok
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 17:54:57 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.100430.21065@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> kim_nl@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Nina L Kim) writes:
>In article <1ghditINN9uj@menudo.uh.edu> wjin@cs.uh.edu (W. Woody Jin) writes:
>>In article <1992Dec14.062717.10343@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> kim_nl@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Nina L Kim) writes:
>[....]
>>This is rather due to the system (government) and you really cannot
>>blame such people.    If USA have had the same system as Korea, the situation
>>could have been similar (in fact, there were many such cases if you take a
>>close look at US history).  Basic thing is that everyone wants better life,
>>which can be possible by money.  And the system should control it.

>  Read my statement again.  I was not blaming the riches.  I believe
>that the whole culture evolves together: economy, art, scholarship,etc
>are interdependent.  For this reason, I have great respect for the
>business leaders in Korea.  

I do blame the riches in part.  The rise of Korean economic miracle
was due largely in part by dictatorial control of economy by Park;
here I am not saying any thing about its rightness or wrongness.
Jae-Bul were in collusion with the government, with such practices
as zero percent interest loans, and government policies which gave
them advantage in competition.  Yes, I do have respect for these
business leaders; however, they should understand that part of reason
for their success was due to sacrifice of people as forced upon them
by the government.  And as such they should be more willing to give 
more back to the people than what I see in Korea.  Therefore, their
profligate children can be a justifiable source of ire by the 
people who sacrificed.

>>>All these lead to attitude of 'money can buy everything'.  
>>I believe this is the true spirit in USA.
[...]
>>This is also true in USA (and probably in other places also).

>   I don't understand why you have to constantly mention USA.  This is
>actually a common trend I find among Korean people.  So if it is a
>case in USA, then it's o.k.?  Why do you need validation from outside?

My sentiments exactly ... two wrongs do not make right.

>>However bad they may feel, it does not justify to condemn how other people use
>>their own money.   I think that "SaChonYi TangSaMyeon BaeAhPeuDa" still
>>works quite well among Koreans.
>
>   Whether their feelings/actions are justifiable was not the issue.
>As I stated before, regardless how morally right your statement above
>may be, kind of anger these people feel deserves more careful thought
>before any judgment.

Yes, but I do think, their anger is at least understandable, and
to my perspective very well founded.

>>Wide spread of rap music is one of good proofs that human culture/civilization
>>does not alway improve.
>
>   I cannot even begin to argue with you on this.
>   Tongue got my cat!   Dog!

Well Mozart died as pauper, as did Schubert... Did they accept Van Gogh?
I personally do not care for the rap music that much.... but the original
statement which use proof of degeneration of culture via rap music
that is bit too much.  A comic relief, I suppose....

Andrew Sung Hyun Kim

Newsgroups: soc.culture.korean