Korean Beef Protests

[bkim1974]

What do you guys think about the ongoing protests?

Is this another example of the deadly combimnation of Korean nationalism and insecurity?

Personally I think Koreans are overracting. Their protests appear to be fueled by online rumors and half truths. They seem to think the US will be exporting mad cow laden beef that is forbidden to be consumed in the US. Apparently they never had burgers from university cafeterias.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by bkim1974

Their protests appear to be fueled by online rumors and half truths.

Hey, if their protests are fueled by half-truths, ... then that's better than over 90-something% of the rest of the world. Certainly much better than the USA.

[Player 0]

http://www.nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=17812

This has relevance.

[SunWuKong]

given Korean populist opposition to the recently signed FTA between South Korea and the US, does anybody think that the beef protests are fueled in part by trade protectionism?

[Yeahman]

It's not just about beef now. It's about President Lee. They call him the "bulldozer" for a reason. Rumors that we Americans eat mad-cow infected beef just gave people an excuse to march against the president.

[yoMAMA]

there are strong political opposition for the Korea FTA here at home, Obama is against, while McCain is for it.

[Yeahman]

Unfortunately, free trade, like criminal law, is something that the state needs to impose on people against their will.

[VV o n g B a]

odd how such a nationalistic nation has such low trust. i would have thought nationalism promoted trust and a general sense of cooperation. instead, it seems to be a national pastime to demonstrate and riot.

[yoMAMA]

Originally Posted by VV o n g B a

odd how such a nationalistic nation has such low trust. i would have thought nationalism promoted trust and a general sense of cooperation. instead, it seems to be a national pastime to demonstrate and riot.

Korea has a history of being oppressed by larger powers.

It's understandable their sensitivity of being pushed around.

[BeTheReds]

Protesting is Korea's national passtime, and most Koreans don't even know what they are protesting. It also happens that the largest protest over the beef was the 20th anniversary of the pro-Democracy demonstrations, so although there was a gathering of over 500,000 people in Seoul, the issues that they were protesting were everything. Sometimes in direct conflict with each other, one section was protesting U.S. military presence in Seoul, the other section was protesting relocation of farmers so that a new military base can be made outside of Seoul.

As for the beef issue itself, I think American beef is safe. More Koreans will die from drowning in the coming decade than they will die of mad cow. The FTA is beneficial to Korea and if it falls through, and restrictions are kept on US beef, I don't think it's a far stretch that the US decides to stop importing Cars or cell phones from Korea.

The Koreans who protest this are usually the least informed segment of society who are attracted by crowds. They are the same people who still remember Apolo Ohno like it matters, who think that the US somehow makes money off of Korea by having a troop presence in Korea (when actually the US could SAVE a lot of money by not having a troop presence in Korea), who shout at the top of their lungs that they hate Japan, but they watch Japanese cartoons and play with their Nintendo DS Lite...

Ridiculous. Some Koreans I have talked to who aren't against lifting the US beef ban are afraid to say so because they think that others will think of them as traitors to the nation. So much for democracy.

[stonedasian]

Originally Posted by BeTheReds

Protesting is Korea's national passtime, and most Koreans don't even know what they are protesting. It also happens that the largest protest over the beef was the 20th anniversary of the pro-Democracy demonstrations, so although there was a gathering of over 500,000 people in Seoul, the issues that they were protesting were everything. Sometimes in direct conflict with each other, one section was protesting U.S. military presence in Seoul, the other section was protesting relocation of farmers so that a new military base can be made outside of Seoul.

As for the beef issue itself, I think American beef is safe. More Koreans will die from drowning in the coming decade than they will die of mad cow. The FTA is beneficial to Korea and if it falls through, and restrictions are kept on US beef, I don't think it's a far stretch that the US decides to stop importing Cars or cell phones from Korea.

The Koreans who protest this are usually the least informed segment of society who are attracted by crowds. They are the same people who still remember Apolo Ohno like it matters, who think that the US somehow makes money off of Korea by having a troop presence in Korea (when actually the US could SAVE a lot of money by not having a troop presence in Korea), who shout at the top of their lungs that they hate Japan, but they watch Japanese cartoons and play with their Nintendo DS Lite...

Ridiculous. Some Koreans I have talked to who aren't against lifting the US beef ban are afraid to say so because they think that others will think of them as traitors to the nation. So much for democracy.

You need to stop talking out your ass and give your people more credit for actually understanding what they're/were mad about when they protest. Hear both side of the story before deciding what's what.

the beef thing simplified:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/arti...icle_12387.cfm

Do you even know why your people are against FTA? You ever weigh the pros and cons? Someone mentioned that FTA should be forced on the population, this question is for you too.

You need to rethink your shit man. Your line of thinking is like that old school, obedient, "let the higher ups decide what's best for us because they know what's good for us" bullshit mentality.

Fuck a democracy, this is the Republic at work and I think we need to see shit like that here in the States.

Have a good day :D

[deez nuts]

Why would you protest beef? Beef rocks.

I will rap about it:

Kickin it in the geumchon oh oh
where's the beef in my bibambap oh oh
there's no beef in my bibambap oh oh

[bkim1974]

Originally Posted by BeTheReds

Protesting is Korea's national passtime, and most Koreans don't even know what they are protesting. It also happens that the largest protest over the beef was the 20th anniversary of the pro-Democracy demonstrations, so although there was a gathering of over 500,000 people in Seoul, the issues that they were protesting were everything. Sometimes in direct conflict with each other, one section was protesting U.S. military presence in Seoul, the other section was protesting relocation of farmers so that a new military base can be made outside of Seoul.

Ridiculous. Some Koreans I have talked to who aren't against lifting the US beef ban are afraid to say so because they think that others will think of them as traitors to the nation. So much for democracy.

I couldn't have put it better myself. Many Koreans can't get away from the mob mentality, where they are drawn to the majority and are deathly afraid of stating their opinions.

One teacher in Korea assured her students that altough she doesn't agree with the government policies, American beef should be safe and not to worry. Within days, the poor teacher was flamed all over the internet, her name and phone number spread around. She was called a traitor and received threatening phone calls on her cell.

This is the kind of society they live in.

These people still belive US consumers only eat Australian beef and you can catch mad cow from eating ramen because the soup base contains beef products.

Just because it's a democracy it doesn't mean everyone should rule. I believe in the 80/20 rule. 80% of the population are illinformed idiots. Like the ones who are protesting in Korea right now.

These people used to WHINE SOOO much about the left leaning president No, calling him a commie and accusing him of sending money to the North that should be spent on the South. Now that they elect a right leaning pro American president, they WHINE that the country has become a puppet of the US government. What they heck do they want? Didn't they at least get an idea that just MAYBE Lee's policies could be pro US?

Originally Posted by deez nuts

Why would you protest beef? Beef rocks.

I will rap about it:

Kickin it in the geumchon oh oh
where's the beef in my bibambap oh oh
there's no beef in my bibambap oh oh

That's pretty funny^^

[Craig]

Originally Posted by bkim1974

Many Koreans can't get away from the mob mentality, where they are drawn to the majority and are deathly afraid of stating their opinions.

If you changed the word "Koreans" to "humans" or essentially almost every (if not every) other ethnicity of people on this planet, it wouldn't change the validity.

For us unenlightened about the nuances of Korean culture, how would they be different from the reference points most of this board has (Chinese, Western, Vietnamese, Asians that grew up in Western countries, etc.)

[Sunflare]

Originally Posted by stonedasian

You need to stop talking out your ass and give your people more credit for actually understanding what they're/were mad about when they protest. Hear both side of the story before deciding what's what.

the beef thing simplified:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/arti...icle_12387.cfm

Do you even know why your people are against FTA? You ever weigh the pros and cons? Someone mentioned that FTA should be forced on the population, this question is for you too.

You need to rethink your shit man. Your line of thinking is like that old school, obedient, "let the higher ups decide what's best for us because they know what's good for us" bullshit mentality.

Fuck a democracy, this is the Republic at work and I think we need to see shit like that here in the States.

Have a good day :D

I'm not trying to get into this discussion because I am not Korean nor am I particularly knowledged on Korean politics.

But, dude, give BeTheReds a break. He's entitled to his opinion.

Originally Posted by deez nuts

Why would you protest beef? Beef rocks.

I will rap about it:

Kickin it in the geumchon oh oh
where's the beef in my bibambap oh oh
there's no beef in my bibambap oh oh

I literally started choking on my spit on this shit laughing. Oh man.