South Korean national symbol goes up in blaze

[Yeahman]

South Korean national symbol goes up in blaze (http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/WorldVideo/tabid/313/articleID/45784/cat/41/Default.aspx#video)

For Koreans this is like watching the Statue of Liberty fall into the river. Heart-wrenching.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Maybe I'm an individualistic asshole brought up on misguided American ideals that cares nothing for symbolism then. If the Statue of Liberty fell into the river it'd generate little more for me than a "whoa that sucks, but I'm curious as to what that'd look like." and then proceed to search for the vid on YouTube.

[yoMAMA]

Dude that sucks.:frown:

Hopefully they can rebuilt it soon.

[SunWuKong]

wow, and they suspect arson. people are going to be crying for blood.

[Joeschmoe]

kill him. Destroy him.

[VV o n g B a]

Maybe I'm an individualistic asshole brought up on misguided American ideals that cares nothing for symbolism then. If the Statue of Liberty fell into the river it'd generate little more for me than a "whoa that sucks, but I'm curious as to what that'd look like." and then proceed to search for the vid on YouTube.i don't know that a lot of other americans feel that way. case in point (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Desecration_Amendment).

[Napoleon Chynamite]

^ ok then i'm just an asshole then

[yoMAMA]

South Korean police arrest suspect in fire that destroyed landmark

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-fire12feb12,1,7724337.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

[KenTsui]

nationalism is a problem anyway

[Yeahman]

For those who aren't registered to see yomama's link:
South Korea Arrests Man in Landmark Fire (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hrf46pX7U031c818NO-1doBn1bmwD8UODUP01)

A 70-year old!

[yoMAMA]

For those who aren't registered to see yomama's link:
South Korea Arrests Man in Landmark Fire (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hrf46pX7U031c818NO-1doBn1bmwD8UODUP01)

A 70-year old!

maybe he forgot to take his meds.
:wink:

[Yeahman]

What's this sign say?
http://photo-media.hanmail.net/200802/11/newsis/20080211142209.185.0.jpg

[yoMAMA]

What's this sign say?
http://photo-media.hanmail.net/200802/11/newsis/20080211142209.185.0.jpg

Dude, you are Korean and you don't read hanja?!?!?!?!

:wink:


It says, My deepest cry/sorrow for the (name of the gate)

[SunWuKong]

i haven't read about the 70-year old guy, but my Korean co-worker tells me that the reason he did it is because he's got beef with the government. they seized his house to build something, and ever since then, he's been very anti-government. the police found him only because he tried a similar stunt at another monument two years ago.

[yoMAMA]

i haven't read about the 70-year old guy, but my Korean co-worker tells me that the reason he did it is because he's got beef with the government. they seized his house to build something, and ever since then, he's been very anti-government. the police found him only because he tried a similar stunt at another monument two years ago.

the older you get, the grumpier you get.
:wink:

[j&j2]

Maybe I'm an individualistic asshole brought up on misguided American ideals that cares nothing for symbolism then. If the Statue of Liberty fell into the river it'd generate little more for me than a "whoa that sucks, but I'm curious as to what that'd look like." and then proceed to search for the vid on YouTube.

Forget symbolism then - it's a great loss just due to its historical and architectural value (you really can't replicate that craftsmanship these days).

One major issue I have w/ the developed/developing Asian countries is that they are too eager to tear down old, historical buildings in the name of "progress" (unlike the Europeans) - resulting in bland, concrete jungles.

China should have learned from Korea's, Japan's, HK's mistake - but it seems that that China is going down the same path.

[yoMAMA]

Forget symbolism then - it's a great loss just due to its historical and architectural value (you really can't replicate that craftsmanship these days).

One major issue I have w/ the developed/developing Asian countries is that they are too eager to tear down old, historical buildings in the name of "progress" (unlike the Europeans) - resulting in bland, concrete jungles.

China should have learned from Korea's, Japan's, HK's mistake - but it seems that that China is going down the same path.

yeah totally agree.

There was an article in the ny times about Japan being one of the ugliest country in the world (architectural wise), because of its urban planning.

at least they still have kyoto.

[SunWuKong]

One major issue I have w/ the developed/developing Asian countries is that they are too eager to tear down old, historical buildings in the name of "progress" (unlike the Europeans) - resulting in bland, concrete jungles.

China should have learned from Korea's, Japan's, HK's mistake - but it seems that that China is going down the same path.

well, what historic landmarks has China been tearing down in recent years? actually the government has been putting money in to restore and maintain many landmarks so they can register them as World Heritage sites. they increase tourism and that improves China's image. even local villagers that live near some of the landmarks have contributed to restoring and maintaining them because they draw money to the villages from tourists, domestic and foreign.

however i can agree that HK needs to do more to preserve landmarks though. just recently they've been tearing down old and symbolic piers to reclaim land and build new buildings.

there are older buildings, in both HK and mainland China, that i can understand tearing down. many have no historic significance and people can't live in them. HK and many mainland China cities are crowded enough. they need the space to build new buildings.

but you know, Namdaemun was a 600-year old city gate. it wasn't just some old building that nobody can use anymore. i doubt any (current) government would allow a 600-year old city gate to be torn down.

[j&j2]

^ Yeah, but China can make more of an effort preserving/rehabbing some of the traditional homes/architecture.

It's not like most of the buildings in Paris or Prague are historic landmarks either.

[SunWuKong]

It's not like most of the buildings in Paris or Prague are historic landmarks either.

yeah and they ought to be torn down to make way for newer buildings.