Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-02-25
KOREAN SPEAKER is
VERY ENLIGHTENING
No Yong Park Tells That Koreans
are Oppressed by the
Japanese.

The lecture given in Askov
Monday evening by No Yong
Park, Korean writer and lecturer,
on Far East problems, was at
tended by a good sized audience
and thoroughly appreciated. The
program was presented under
auspices of the Young Peoples
Society.
Mr.. Park has good command
of the English language and
speaks also four other languages,
being we'll versed and exper-
fenced for as young as he is only
%. = He was born in Korea but
raised in Japan. At the age of
Is, when it is customary that
young folks marry, the mating
being done by parents or other
interested parties, Parks life
mate had also been selected but
he refused to marry, something
telling him he should marry only
for love and therefore ran away.
He came home later only on con-
dition that he be left alone on the
marital proposition and be al
lowed to select the woman whom
he loved if he desired to marry.
He is still single. The Korea
young folks who marry are en-
tire strangers to one another.
This form of marriage, however,
is gradually changing, said the
speaker, adding also jokingly that
in Korea they do not see one
another before marriage and in
the United States they can't bear
to see each other after mar
riage."
Mr.. Park said that while Theo-
dore Roosevelt was president
of the United States secret
treaty was entered into between
Japan and this country to the
effect that if Japan would keep
its hands of the Philippine Is
lands the u. S. would leave the
Japs free to take care of the
Koreans. As result of that
treaty Mr.. Park said Korea has
been greatly oppressed by Japan.
Their liberties have been taken
away, thousands have been man
handled and killed, newspapers
have been suppressed and child
rem are allowed but one hour a
week to study the Korean lam
guage in the public schools. At
one time the Japs killed $500
Korean students. This secret
treaty which was severe blow
to Korea came to light in 1924.
Mr.. Park was not condemning
America for it but said he
thought that Mr.. Roosevelt had
been misinformed regarding Ko-
rea. The speaker also added
that while America is not en-
tirely free from Imperialism it
is however far from being in the
same class as England and other
European countries.
While editing a newspaper, Mr..
Park was jailed on account of
articles he had written that did
not suit the japanese govern
ment. Then he disguised him
self in a coolie uniform and pub
lished his paper secretly in a eel
lar. Finally he was imprisoned,
but through stratagem he es-
capped and fled from the japanese
oppression. Since his escape, he
has travelled around the world
through China, India, Africa,
Europe, America, and now is in
the state of "watchfnl waiting"
of Japan's movements.
Mr.. Park has been in America
about three years, studying the
language, customs, and ideals of
the Western people. He attends
the State University and lectures
through the Extension Division
1t is his purpose to go back to
Korea and help his. people
through writings.
Asked about the advancement
of Christianity in the Orient he
said there is one Christian for
every 1000 people in China; one.
Christian for every 400 people in
Japan and one Christian for every
20 peoplein Korea. He also said
that the Korean language is a
very simple one, easy to learn,
with only Is letters in the alpha
bet. Ninety per cent of their
people can read and write. Their
writing is vertical, the same as
Chinese. Mr.. Park left with