Korean History Dilemma

There are many taboos in South Korea, especially history relating to Japan.
Under the Japanese rule, Korean lost their pride or wounded because they believed it was superior to Japan, while it was not.

So since its independence, "anti-Japan" has become Korean National Policy. In fact, until some 10 years ago, S Korea banned Japanese film, literature, anything about culture. Anti-Japan policy worked somewhat especially to encourage own people for its economic growth.

SK's anti-Japan policy was not an issue for Japan because SK relied on Japanese technology and exports. Japan has continued to benefit from SK, and SK has been a good customer of Japan. And Japan thought SK's anti-Japan sentiment would disappear soon or later when SK adopt democracy and freedom of speech.

However, things didn't go well, but got worse. Usually "democrats" are liberal, not nationalistic and pro-freedom of speech in most of countries, but in S Korea, democrats are ultra-nationalistic.....

In fact, during President Roh Moo Hyun regime, SK enacted "Special law to redeem pro-Japanese collaborators' property", in December 2005, which allows SK government to confiscate properties and land of Korean collaborators (chinilpa) to the Japanese government during or shortly before Japanese colonization, or of their descendants. Prosecution against Chinilpa (Pro-Japan Korean collaborators) has been getting more tough. And any claims about Pro-Japan are now bashed and banned in S Korea. Chinilpa - Wikipedia

In this sense, SK is not a democratic country yet and no freedmon of speech.
However, fabrication of history and propaganda cannot last forever. Although still small, some Koreans begin to speak out about historic truth between Japan and Korea.

"An apology for the Chinilpa" of Kim Wansop is the typical example. It is the first book that is written fairly by Korean intellectual about the history of Japan and Korea. This book was banned in S Korea in 2004 before publication but publicized in Japan.

Amazon product ASIN 479421152X
SK government is afraid of historic truth. In this sense, SK is similar to North Korea. But SK governemtn is unlikely able to keep blocking accurate information that penetrate the country. More Korean tourists are visiting Japan, and people have more chance to see truth via internet and books from Japan. SK will face more history dilemma.

I am very interested in how Korean overcome such history dilemma.

Here is one Chosunjin author on S Korea's " watch list of pro-Japan race traitors ",he exposed many cultural ills of Korean people.

http://www.eslitebooks.com/Program/Object/BookCN.aspx?PageNo=&PROD_ID=2680013907008

http://www.epocaclub.com/kagayaku/zz16kin.htm

◆反日という甘えを断て◆
韓国には、日本人の想像をはるかに超えた反日感情、反日体質がある。
反日を裏返して見ると、そこには、自分を弱者・被害者に仕立て上げ強者日本へ甘えるという意識がある。
このような反日を繰り返している限り、韓国が自立した先進国と見なされることは絶対にないし、正しい歴史認識に目覚めることもない。

As for South Korea,anti-Japanese sentiment far exceeds imagination of Japanese.There is an anti-Japanese indoctrination.

Astroboy said:

More Korean tourists are visiting Japan, and people have more chance to see truth via internet and books from Japan. SK will face more history dilemma.

I am very interested in how Koreans overcome such history dilemma.

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Nutty ultra-nationalistic S Koreans have already answered it by publishing revisioned commercial history books with a map labels Japan islands as former Korean colony & there was an ancient Korea Empire once ruled much of Asia continent ( present day China ).

tokapi said:

Nutty ultra-nationalistic S Koreans have already answered it by publishing revisioned commercial history books with a map labels Japan islands as former Korean colony & there was an ancient Korea Empire once ruled much of Asia continent ( present day China ).

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Yes, it's funny in a way. But I assume that S Koreans are overly reacting "History Dilemma". Koreans are increasingly facing more historic truth, and thus they need to DENY it completely with totally different logic. This mentality is similar to Chinese & Westerners. In fact, Japanese are always COOL with smiling.

From Japanese perspective, it is the typical history dilemma of Koreans.
They will need to experience more struggling until next stage of Korean identity.

Astroboy said:

Yes, it's funny in a way. But I assume that S Koreans are overly reacting "History Dilemma". Koreans are increasingly facing more historic truth, and thus they need to DENY it completely with totally different logic. This mentality is similar to Chinese & Westerners. In fact, Japanese are always COOL with smiling.

From Japanese perspective, it is the typical history dilemma of Koreans.
They will need to experience more struggling until next stage of Korean identity.

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Hi Astroboy:

Seriously, what are the main issues between South Korea and Japan?

Kyoto Returnee said:

Seriously, what are the main issues between South Korea and Japan?

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Hi Kyoto,

Don't worry. There is no issue at the moment, but history dilemma looks like one of issues for SK, based on my objective observation, and may affect Japan.

Astroboy said:

Koreans are increasingly facing more historic truth,and thus they need to DENY it completely with totally different logic.

They will need to experience more struggling until next stage of Korean identity.

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In recent years,some freakish ultra-nationalistic Mongol/Chinese-looking S Koreans fudged own origin on circumstantial archaelogical evidence in Siberia so they could prove 100% solid genetic tie to proto-Tungusic looking Japanese.

They have trumped up countless fake theories of all sorts.

Astroboy said:

In fact, until some 10 years ago, S Korea banned Japanese film, literature, anything about culture.

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That is simply wrong, because I was there many times between 1991 and 1999, and at no time this was the case. In contrary, we had our Korean symposiums every year even (!) with the Japanese, who were invited by the Koreans and vice versa, sponsored by both sides, and the cultural exchange on any level was very well and alive, including big international film and other art festivals, and loads of japanese books around etc.
In fact, the exchange worked perfectly well, and also many Koreans were invited to Japan's biggest museums and vice versa. I have lots of according material plus big catalogues etc.. enough to fill a museum!

Also many filmers were in closest contact between both countries, I can give you the names as well as the film companies. Many of them I know personally, plus I attended several filmings, often also Japanese on Korean traditional grounds. I stilll have according fotos.
We also had them both here in Berlin, together, also far before 1991, and the contacts went very well!

Not to mention the WOMAD participations, where they also cooperated very well. I also know the organisers and was also there myself (incl. fotos) and helped connecting.

And in all above cases we were accompanied by the big public TV stations, plus appeared in the main art magazines, from up 1991, with absolutely no exceptions nor oppressions!
Japanese alike, BTW. I can give you loads of names.
And the Koreans had absolutely no problems with their own identities either, in contrary, we have been in wonderfull museums and historical villages, temples etc. etc.
Ever heard about the Tripikata Koreana at Haensa Temple? Probably not.

Its a very rich, beautifull and old culture.
Their music alone is breathtaking and unique.

Culture of Korea - Wikipedia

Its simply hair standing up BS and uninformed ignorance, to say the opposite!

Astroboy said:

In fact, until some 10 years ago, S Korea banned Japanese film, literature, anything about culture.

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Astroboy .... you're correct

South Korea & Taiwan only lifted ban on Japanese cultural imports in the mid-1990's.Prior,there were limited government-sponsored " cultural exchanges " between Japan & S Korea or Japan & Taiwan.

I read, that "some" film factories (but I do not know which ones, obviously only a few) were not allowed, but in general, it all worked, as described. So, the real outcome was very well alive and well. You can have the names and pictures, as said before.
We were in fact sponsored by several forces, high and local, even via army (tents) and kitchen, from the local mayor, the press etc. And we were up to 150 people, at least 10 Japanese amongst them, who in exchange then did the Japan-located following symposium. We did a German one, then it was in Korea again, then Japan etc. Hard facts, as only one example.
"Anything about culture" is still very wrong.

Again, since 1991. . .and the films etc. also as described.

Some reference materials for those who are itnerested:

S.Korea to ban Japanese pop song from performance
(Asian Econimic News, Oct. 19, 1998)
FindArticles.com | CBSi

Breaking the Ice: South Korea Lifts Ban on Japanese Culture
(Web Japan, Dec. 7, 1998)
BREAKING THE ICE: South Korea Lifts Ban on Japanese Culture

South Korea to ease ban on Japan cultural goods
(Japan Times, Sept. 17, 2003)
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20030917a6.html

An interesting thing in relation to what undrentide posted was that even while Japanese songs, shows, etc. were banned in South Korea there was a sort of black market for these things. Some anime from the 70s, such as Candy Candy and Mazinger Z, even made it on Korean TV (I don't know how they got past the ban, but they did air on TV), and I've seen these two shows in particular referenced in K-dramas. Likewise, in Mikawa Ossan's blog entry about his trip to South Korea, he mentioned that when he went to sing karaoke with a Korean acquaintance, the Korean person sang an old J-pop song from 1988.

I think that the government's policy is one thing, but people's idea and opinions are quite another (which turned out to be nice in this case. )

Once I've heard that anything in Japanese language was prohibited, so maybe once they were dubbed in Korean language, they were OK - Candy Candy is a story in UK and America, and Mazinger Z is a kind of SF so they were not regarded as "Japanese" any more?
That's only my wild guess, though.

Perhaps...I know it's still very common for dubs of anime in Korean to change the characters' names to Korean names as well, maybe that has its roots from back in those days.

(American TV anime dubs did this commonly too, up until about the late 90s. Dubs for anime that were only released on video didn't, though...at least most of the time.)

Hotaru no Haka, or Grave of the Fireflies
...
The release of the film in South Korea was delayed indefinitely because authorities feared it would be thought of as justification for Japan's role in World War II.
Grave of the Fireflies - Wikipedia

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I don't know why the Korean government still fears the movie with strong anti-war messages.

(If I remember correctly, it was aired only in a cable channel there. And probaly many watch it illegally like downloaded softwares of Nintendo DS, just my guess though...)

doinkies said:

Perhaps...I know it's still very common for dubs of anime in Korean to change the characters' names to Korean names as well, maybe that has its roots from back in those days.
(American TV anime dubs did this commonly too, up until about the late 90s. Dubs for anime that were only released on video didn't, though...at least most of the time.)

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They changed the production staff name into a Korean and broadcasted ANIME.
The Korean believed that it was Korea ANIME.
The Korean plagiarism ANIME which is famous for a Japanese ANIME fan.
KOREAN anime "TAEKWON V"
"MACROSS"?? KOREAN anime "Space GUNDAM V"
A Korean child considers "INUYASYA, Doraemon, Sergeant KERORO" to be made in Korea.
http://blog.livedoor.jp/dqnplus/archives/783976.html

What might also be very interesting, is the fact, that artists always found ways to bypass. They could get in fact any information and productions and did. It made them even more interesting, I suppose. Thus the government points were pretty pointless in the end.
Particularly with Korea, because they already were hosted in many countries, and as said before, a lot went via Germany. Whoever was here, could get it all anyhow, and we had and have a very vivid exchange with Korea.. . .and Japan (also due to our history!)
And we host and hosted also famous composers (Isang Yun, for example)as well as University staff, and when they got into trouble in their own country, we did everything, even worldwide if necessary, to get them out again, even if imprisoned, which also happened. We have been very succesfull in doing so and will do so again, if necessary. This does not make us enemies of either country at all. Racism splits, we are into repairing those splits.

And many Koreans met Japanese in our artschools, which went on since early 70ties to my personal knowledge, on my own artschool and time in Berlin, where the Koreans and Japanese were very well friends with a lot of respect for each other.

So much for culture, the exchange-flow never stopped in fact.
The only thing, that we realised in Korea, while being there, was the fact, that some Japanese artists (but to my knowledge, any Japanese in general)only had a limited allowance of stay, but that time they used and they were fine pals indeed, for everyone!

Its the exchange, that counts.

By the way, we had some very fine Korean animes here during the last years, short and long, on own festivals as well as during the Berlinale. They very well found their own ways and are very appreciated hereabout. Beside the Japanese.
We love them both.

Astroboy said:

Hi Kyoto,

Don't worry. There is no issue at the moment, but history dilemma looks like one of issues for SK, based on my objective observation, and may affect Japan.

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Surely it stems from the war days.

My wife is not fond of South Korean people as she shared accommodation with two in Australia many years ago.

Personally, I never had an issue.

A little story:

Do you know a place in Sydney named Bondi Beach?

Well, my GF, now wife shared an apartment with a Korean student boy many years ago. The other share mate, now good friend was also Japanese.

They had huge issues, mainly because this Korean boy would take over the entire apartment wih his friends to all hours of the morning, and my wife and Japanese friend could not sleep.

To make matters worse, whenever I slept over the Korean boy used to dissaprove due to the extra water usage when I had a shower..

One day, my wife had cooked something in the kitchen.

She emptied the saucepan, and put the empty saucepan back on the stove, but had forgot to turn the heat off.

Suddenly, the suacepan started to smoke, my wife turned and picked it up and turned the stove off. When she moved it away to go in the sink, the meatll from the suacepan had melted, and drops dripped over the lino floor, possibly around 50 small drips.

The melted metal burnt holes allover the vinyl.

By this time, the heat was on with my wife and our now Japanese friend, against the Korean boy and his Korean buddies, male and female.

The Korean boy had called his so called "cousin", possibly just a term for good friend, who was a permanant resident in Australia, so I guess he though he was quite powerful.

He became violent with my wife and our Japanese female friend, who by the way, is now home in Chiba, and in turn, I stepped in to break the argument up.

This Japanese cousin, had a swing at me, I dodged, he missed, I then slapped him very hard on the cheek and he fell to the ground.

Sometime after this, the Koreans determined through the real estate that my wife had to pay for the damage on the floor.

Morally, she should have and I agree, but legally, it was the Korean boys lease, so he was fully responsible for etting that damaged repaired.

Anyway, late one night when they were even with the rent, I parked downstairs, and my wife and our Japanese friend quielty moved out.

We then all disaapeared late into the night to find a new abode..

I was of course living at my parents house at this time..

My wife also once shared with a Korean girl in Sydney at a different apartment and they never got on..

Apart from that, I have always been involved with japanese and Korean students in Cairns, and they always appear to have a love hate relatiosnhip, although most of the time it appears to be from ignorance more than anything with a touch of jealosuy from the Korean side.. Japan VS Korea, etc.

I think the main problem here, and like I said, I am not really sure, is that Korea feels that Japan never apologized for possible war time attrocities. but then again, North Korea, Burma, Thailand, China, Australia, NZ and a few other's I believe all feel the same, although it seems to carry on with affect a lot more in Asian countries for some reason..

Looks as if they behave more in our country. . .although in general, some, not all, Koreans are more hot headed, yes, but also as clear about their sympathies.
Anyhow, its not a good idea for them, to fight each other in our country. . . .we will be there right away.

I could never understand how serious they all get over even the smallest things either, although the attrocities committed during the war were something else.

I have heard that Koreans are actually a lot more conservative than the Japanese, coming from westerners who had worked in South Korea.

We have a large foreign student, backpacker and working holiday visa base in Cairns so we definitely see the looks towards each other here.

Chi65 said:

Looks as if they behave more in our country. . .although in general, some, not all, Koreans are more hot headed, yes, but also as clear about their sympathies.
Anyhow, its not a good idea for them, to fight each other in our country. . . .we will be there right away.

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A graffiti of the Hangul Alphabet of BMW Museum

As for the Korean, manners seem to be surely good in Germany.

They seem to be a little anxious as the sign forgot to include the Korean language which is understandable.

Nobody likes to be left out.

The South Korean is the politest in the world.

The British Museum


Belgian chocolate Museum



Italian Florence

Astroboy said:

Don't worry. There is no issue at the moment, but history dilemma looks like one of issues for SK, based on my objective observation, and may affect Japan.

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Dispute over Dokdo 獨島 in 2005 ignited nationalistic fervor in S Korea,thus heightened diplomatic tensions between Japan & S Korea.

* The islets are known as Dokdo (or Tokto) ( 독도/獨島, literally solitary island ) in Korean and as Takeshima ( 竹島, literally bamboo island ) in Japanese.

Liancourt Rocks - Wikipedia

Hiroyuki Nagashima said:

As for the Korean, manners seem to be surely good in Germany.

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Guess, why, we accept them for what they are and want to be. Everybody would behave then.

But to be honest, we have been lucky to have had the right Germans over at korean courts long ago. . .which is not the case with many other countries, ahem, very well confessed.

And strange enough, we were even closer connected via the splits in both our countries. But that also means, that by now, we have contacts to both sides, because the former DDR was North Korea related! Yet, as far, as I know, we only have a South Korean embassy. I must check out, how that issue is handled.
Anyhow, we for long have loads of cultural and historical and political German books about Korea, plus many items in our museums, which I always thought to be known for the rest of the world as well.
It looks, as if the Japanese obviously left something out!
The story about what has come from and via Korea to Japan is in fact also a very interesting one! We know all about it here, also due to our long relationship.
I am not surprised at all, that we are called their mothers at their schools. And Koreans do behave in front of their mothers. It would be very unwise, if not.
They can in fact be very hard fighters, also within Korea itself! Lots of according very dangerous confrontation often led to questions, if I am not afraid to go there. But nothing ever happened to us but utterly friendly behaviours, and thus open doors to their cultural heritages, which are plentifull and simply great!

But as for wronged Koreans, be aware, they hardly ever forget! Wherever they are in the world. Thats for sure true.

tokapi said:

Dispute over Dokdo 獨島 in 2005 ignited nationalistic fervor in S Korea,thus heightened diplomatic tensions between Japan & S Korea.
* The islets are known as Dokdo (or Tokto) ( 독도/獨島, literally solitary island ) in Korean and as Takeshima ( 竹島, literally bamboo island ) in Japanese.
Liancourt Rocks - Wikipedia

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Takeshima etc. is an on and off topic for long, as is the northern islands with Russia.

Nothing new so far.

And actually, I like the East Sea proposal. . .and would not call the Japanese to be more polite on Korean issues.