The Korean Wave & Domestic News https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/t168290 Runboard| The Korean Wave & Domestic News en-us Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:41:01 +0000 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:41:01 +0000 https://www.runboard.com/ rssfeeds_managingeditor@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds managing editor) rssfeeds_webmaster@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds webmaster) akBBS 60 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2060718,from=rss#post2060718https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2060718,from=rss#post2060718I just knew this song would pop up again at some point during the Super Bowl! LOL! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sun, 03 Feb 2013 19:59:43 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2060717,from=rss#post2060717https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2060717,from=rss#post2060717PSY Gangnam Style Wonderful Pistachios commercial during the Super Bowl! nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Sun, 03 Feb 2013 19:30:25 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2060499,from=rss#post2060499https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2060499,from=rss#post2060499引用 (quote):GilM wrote: After watching Ponponpon: O_o I'd rather watch Gangnam Style again! LOL! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:59:59 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2060492,from=rss#post2060492https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2060492,from=rss#post2060492After watching Ponponpon: O_onondisclosed_email@example.com (GilM)Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:33:32 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059869,from=rss#post2059869https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059869,from=rss#post2059869Oh dear, what would Kiyomori have said if he lived to watch that video? LOL! But going back to the original article, I suppose that's what keeps both K-pop and J-pop so popular. These genres are constantly changing, constantly evolving.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 29 Dec 2012 14:40:51 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059866,from=rss#post2059866https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059866,from=rss#post2059866Psy and Gangnam are not popular with the Japanese ajummas - not pretty or skinny enough, I guess. He may need fashion pointers from Jang Geun Suk when he dressed up as a girl some months ago... Thanks so much for sharing han, I especially enjoyed reading the second link. Here's a YT embed of hantaejun's referenced J-Pop video. I know I said before that in general I much prefer J-Pop to K-Pop in general terms, but I didn't mean this! LOL! This isn't bad though, it's certainly catchy and has an addicting quality - sounds like samey vocaloid and anime music though, but better than average in production and very stylish (and weird ) music video. The other song in the article, that one I'm familiar with, the Momoiro Clover Z one.nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Sat, 29 Dec 2012 13:09:09 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059864,from=rss#post2059864https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059864,from=rss#post2059864Wow, I had never even heard of PonPonPon! Thanks for posting those articles, Hantaejun. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:50:14 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059859,from=rss#post2059859https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059859,from=rss#post2059859 class blockquote Hiroshi66 wrote: LOL! I'm just glad Gangnam Style hasn't made a cameo appearance in any of our J-dramas lately. But never say never! this article explains why Gangnam Style is not in the cards for J-Pop. PonPonPon may be the hottest J-Pop viral video. nondisclosed_email@example.com (hantaejun)Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:24:35 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059857,from=rss#post2059857https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059857,from=rss#post2059857LOL! I'm just glad Gangnam Style hasn't made a cameo appearance in any of our J-dramas lately. But never say never! nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 29 Dec 2012 11:18:39 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059855,from=rss#post2059855https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059855,from=rss#post2059855Feel lucky that you aren't watching every K-Drama, where it's bombarding every Summer/Fall series and sometimes horribly out of place. nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Sat, 29 Dec 2012 11:06:38 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059851,from=rss#post2059851https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059851,from=rss#post2059851Peg, I feel the same way. I'm a little over Gangnam Style. LOL! It's being played everywhere—from shopping malls (it's become the new elevator music, LOL!), to random talk shows/radio channels, etc. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 29 Dec 2012 09:04:28 +0000 Re:https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059847,from=rss#post2059847https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059847,from=rss#post2059847I must be an oddball because I really can't stand Gangnam style any more. It was catchy once or twice but that's it for me. I also don't watch Girls Generation because I can't take all those legs and elbows and awful singing. too many odd voices. I like Kara and T'ara and I really admire Ga-In who is such a talent. I think she is going to be a big star for a long time. Very brave and very well rehearsed in her moves and dancing. If GAGA is 'Lady' then GA-IN is 'Queen' in my book. Good luck to Psy though, because he is a hard worker and gives all he can to his audiences. His outside concerts in Korea are immense.nondisclosed_email@example.com (brad6)Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:43:38 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059792,from=rss#post2059792https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059792,from=rss#post2059792I guess this is one of the consequences of K-pop's newfound popularity across the world. Interesting read.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:03:34 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059788,from=rss#post2059788https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059788,from=rss#post2059788K-Pop continues to lose some of its essence in the last few years in its attempt to access the highly valued and larger external (western) markets. In the last few years most of the K-Pop is pretty much becoming just western pop/rap/hip hop/R&B with "Korean" singing and less homegrown personalization. Unfortunately that's the name of the game, in business, South Korea's internal market is relatively minor compared to other regions, hence the exportation of K-Pop/Culture as a business model. Popularity or striving for it, comes at a price. I like Girls' Generation, but for me, their recent songs have been losing its luster as far as music to listen to. ___________________________ News via: Korea JoongAng Daily World’s leading composers unite in the name of GG As the leading ladies of K-pop, Girls’ Generation is used to doing things on a global scale. The nine-member girl group has recruited the best of the best producers from around the world to help launch its fourth album on Jan. 1. SM Entertainment said that the group’s title track “I Got a Boy” was the end result of a dream team comprising of SM’s in-house composer Yoo Young-jin as well as Norwegian songwriting company DSign Music and other leading hit-makers from Europe. GG’s agency said that the song is unlike any other K-pop song and that fans will be treated to an array of different genres and tempos in one song. “We recruited the leading names in song composition to refrain from making songs that sound the same as any other K-pop song,” said a spokesperson from SM. Previously, the band’s third album’s title track “The Boys” was highlighted for having been produced by Michael Jacksons’ former producer Teddy Riley.nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:50:29 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059628,from=rss#post2059628https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059628,from=rss#post2059628Wow. I remember when Gangnam Style reached 1 million views. Can't believe he's at 1 billion now.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:31:48 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059619,from=rss#post2059619https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059619,from=rss#post2059619Another notable Psy development. _______________________________ News via: MTV News Psy's 'Gangnam Style' Posts Record 1 Billion YouTube Views: How Did It Happen? 'When I'm reflecting on the year, it was the biggest year ever, not only for my career, but my life and my family's life,' says Psy about his record-smashing 2012. South Korean pop sensation Psy has plenty of things to celebrate this holiday season, but the biggest one is a gift that came wrapped in the gaudiest of bows on Friday (December 21): his one billionth YouTube view. Yes, just five months after the oddball "Gangnam Style" clip began to buzz around the Internet, Psy can lay claim to creating the first, and only, video in YouTube history
 to pass that previously incomprehensible plateau. "I'd be hard-pressed to declare this normal," said Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager. "We're seeing the scale of these things increase over time, but I don't know that it can go much bigger than this ... [it's] a very special thing and it's very difficult to create or recreate." Allocca said the conditions were just right, and the combination of the novelty and catchiness of the song, the rapid sharing factor and the intense connection people all around the world had with the video helping to create the perfect storm. At this point, only one other video is even close to "Style" numbers, and it happens to be by his label mate, Justin Bieber. The singer's breakthrough hit, "Baby," is closing in on 815, but, like the rest of the top 5 (Jennifer Lopez, Eminem, LMFAO, Shakira), he represents a major label artist with global appeal whose success is not as shocking as the formerly little-known South Korean singer whose lyrics are, for the most part, indecipherable to much of the world. "When I'm reflecting on the year, it was the biggest year ever, not only for my career, but my life and my family's life," Psy told MTV News earlier this week about the outrageous ride
 his hit single has taken him on this year. "When I perform 'Gangnam Style' all around the world, I feel happy and sorry at the same time because people have no idea what I'm talking about! They're just waiting for the sexy ladies to come out! But I came to the conclusion that maybe people have their own lyrics for the song, which probably only made it more popular." Allocca said he expected the video might cross the billion mark before year's end, but its steep rise and record-breaking push kept surprising him. "As people are looking back [on the year], it probably accelerated," he said of the hefty December numbers. While the explosive viewership of "Style" signifies one way entertainment is going and the web is changing, Allocca said the numbers are outrageous and still a bit hard to grasp. "Things like 'Charlie Bit My Finger' and Bieber are classic, really mainstream parts of the web," he said. "This is in a whole other place." There are a number of things that he believes make Psy's video different from those more mainstream ones: it's not from an artist most people have ever heard of, it's completely different from everything else out there that the immediate reaction is to forward it to friends and it is one of the first globally shared cultural experiences made possible by a massive platform like YouTube. Add in the desire of fans to post lipdubs, spoofs and commentaries (which are seen an estimated 20 million times a day) and "Style" turns into a shared cultural touchpoint that just about everyone can relate to or enjoy. Someone who knows a lot about the stickiness of global memes, Webby Awards president David-Michel Davies, told MTV News that "Gangnam" is typical in one way. "The stuff that becomes important and has a big impact is [often] different and quirky," which exactly sums up Psy's video. "The way to get to one billion views is by being something that appeals to people in many countries and cultures." Early YouTube hits, like the "Saturday Night Live" digital short "Lazy Sunday," scored tens of millions of views and were considered massive, but had virtually no resonance in say, Korea, where audiences would be hard-pressed to get the quick, inside English-language jokes. "This is so unique because it doesn't really rely much on language," he said. "It relies on visuals and music and can cross boundaries and be appreciated by people all over the place. You don't have to share common cultural norms." The video posted in late July and started taking off in August and by September, at which point it was being seen 7-10 million times a day, and up to 12 million on Saturdays. By then, it had already reached across the world and Allocca said he can't think of a wired country where it hasn't been seen at this point. Psy's explanation for his record-setting success is much simpler. "If you look at K-Pop, it's kind of popular around the world, but it's known for some skinny boys or pretty girls," he said. "So I'm proud to be here without that skinny body! If I can do it, anybody can!" ___________________________nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:21:16 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059618,from=rss#post2059618https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059618,from=rss#post2059618 __________________________________ OP-ED via: New York Times South Korea's Generation Gap By HANS SCHATTLE Published: December 21, 2012 SEOUL — There is an expression in Korean — “men-boong” — which means feeling shell-shocked to the point of mental collapse. My university students here are saying they are completely men-boong with the election of Park Geun-hye as South Korea’s next president. And many of us following South Korea’s growing pains as a democracy can understand why. Park is the daughter of South Korea’s former president, Park Chung-hee. He spearheaded the country’s economic miracle, but his 18 years in power are remembered as a very dark period for democracy and human rights. To the younger generation, that Park Geun-hye would run for president is offensive. That their parents and grandparents would elect her is repulsive. The election result exposes a generation gap: Older voters remember the country’s poverty before Park Chung-hee took power in a 1961 military coup. They lived through South Korea’s rags-to-riches transition; they still revere the former president. Some of their children and grandchildren feel the same way. Every year, I have my students write a letter to a past or present head of state, and occasionally students pen valentines to Park Chung-hee. Most of their classmates, like most South Koreans under 40, see Park Chung-hee differently. They never knew the poverty their elders escaped. For them, Park Chung-hee and the two military men who followed him as president in the 1980s were scoundrels who ordered imprisonment, torture and, in some cases, death sentences for people they saw as threats to their authority. At first glance, the election of Park Geun-hye as South Korea’s first female president seems like a milestone. Korean culture is still very male-dominated, even chauvinistic, and Park’s election could be a golden opportunity to improve the standing of women. For the younger generation, though, Park Geun-hye embodies a throwback to the bad old days. They know the stories of student activists who were labeled communists and had to hide to avoid getting hauled in for questioning by the police. These people feel betrayed by their elders who voted for Park. Democracy advocates around the world are also concerned. South Korea’s democratic credentials have been slipping under the outgoing president, Lee Myung-bak. International human rights monitors are worried about an increase in prosecutions as a tactic to silence critics of the government. Freedom House even downgraded South Korea’s press freedom ranking in 2011 from “free” to “partly free” because of government meddling in the broadcasting industry. But the South Korea of Gangnam Style is well beyond the South Korea of Park Chung-hee. Internet media and alternative news outlets are reshaping public debate. South Korea now has its own version of “Saturday Night Live,” and the skits lampooning the presidential candidates were a hit — the male actor who played Park Geun-hye presumably has a steady gig for the next five years. Younger Koreans are addicted to a podcast that combines the satire of the Colbert Report with biting political invective targeting conservative politicians. The program is called “I’m a Petty-Minded Creep” — a shot at Lee Myung-bak — and the title just might become even more harsh once Park Geun-hye takes office. The big television networks have become more deferential to the ruling party, but South Korea’s netizens have no plans to hand her a free pass. Winning the election with 51.6 percent of the vote is one thing, but it will take much more for Park Geun-hye to win widespread confidence and trust. And South Korea has a tragic history when it comes to presidents — corruption has been rampant over the years, and not a single president since the country’s founding in 1948 has left office in high public esteem. Is there any chance Park Geun-hye could break this cycle just as she has broken through the proverbial glass ceiling for women? As a first step, she needs to show her country and the world that she is wholeheartedly dedicated to advancing a robust and transparent model of democracy. Hans Schattle is an associate professor of political science at Yonsei University. _________________________________nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:13:11 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059502,from=rss#post2059502https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059502,from=rss#post2059502Looks like Ms. Park has won the election! I'm not too surprised, since most of the polls had been predicting her victory for the last few weeks.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:50:55 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059500,from=rss#post2059500https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059500,from=rss#post2059500Looks like it played out as expected and as the polls suggested. __________________________ News via CNN: Park Geun-hye claims South Korea presidential victory Conservative candidate Park Geun-Hye claimed victory Wednesday in South Korea's presidential election, a result that will make her the country's first woman president. Addressing crowds in Gwanghwamun Square, Park said her win was a victory for the people. "I will be the president of the nation who keeps pledges," she said. Her rival, liberal candidate Moon Jae-in, conceded victory, according to South Korean network YTN. South Korea's outgoing President Lee Myung-bak congratulated Park on her win. The result has not yet been confirmed by the country's National Election Commission. But Park was leading with 51.63% of the vote to 47.94% for her rival Moon, with more than 90% of the vote counted, election officials said. The three major broadcasters in South Korea all projected a win for Park, the 60-year-old who heads the governing conservative Saenuri party. Voters who headed to the polls amid frigid temperatures faced a choice between a conservative and a liberal candidate to lead the strategic Western ally and fourth largest economy in Asia. Opinion polls suggested Park, 60, had an edge over the left-leaning candidate of the Democratic United Party going into the vote, held at a time of rising economic anxiety. She will assume office in February 2013, in a country grappling with income inequality, angst over education and employment prospects for its youth and strained relations with North Korea. "I hope the next president can put what the people want and how the country can develop before the interests of their own party," said Yong Sung-hwa, who voted in the morning. Like many other elections around the world, the economy is the No. 1 issue for South Korean voters. Though the Asian country has fared far better than other countries, including the United States, during the economic crisis, its export-led economy has still felt the pinch. "This country depends on the world's economy," said Jong Kun Choi, associate professor in the department of political science and international studies at Yonsei University in Seoul. "Eighty-nine percent of our GDP comes from the international trade." The election appeared to be a showdown of generations. Park enjoys broad support from the older Koreans in their 50s and 60s, while Moon has strong support from younger Koreans. In a survey conducted by the National Election Commission, 80% of the respondents said they would vote. Lee, the current president, is not running for re-election, as it is prohibited by Korea's constitution. He will leave office next year dogged by low approval ratings, an impasse with North Korea, and corruption scandals involving his family and inner circle. The Korean presidency has not enjoyed a sterling reputation. Park and Moon also bring baggage from the past. Park is the daughter of former president Park Chung-hee, whose legacy left the Korean public divided. Some claim he was a dictator who ignored human rights and cracked down on dissent, while others credit him with bringing economic developement to South Korea. Her father's assassination in 1979 ended his 16 years of rule. Moon is a former human rights activist who was imprisoned in the 1970s for protesting against Park's father's regime. He is also a former Special Forces commando and holds a black belt in judo. Like Park, he carries divisive associations with the past. He was chief of staff for the late President Roh Moo-hyun, who was in office from 2003 to 2008. Roh committed suicide in 2009 amid an investigation into a bribery scandal. Throughout the campaign, Moon portrayed himself as the down-to-earth choice, calling for welfare reform and economic democracy. Both candidates pledged reforms including engagement with North Korea, reining in the country's big conglomerates -- like Samsung and Hyundai -- support for small and medium-sized businesses and more social spending, although their proposed methods differ. .... __________________________nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:28:02 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059485,from=rss#post2059485https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059485,from=rss#post2059485And so it begins... results should available tomorrow morning our time. _______________________ News story via: Yonhap News (Election) S. Koreans go to the polls to pick next president SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- Voting began for South Korea's presidential election early Wednesday, with the outcome of the race between ruling Saenuri Party candidate Park Geun-hye and main opposition rival Moon Jae-in expected to be decided by the slimmest of margins.    Before the blackout on all nationwide polls last week, Park, the 60-year-old daughter of late former President Park Chung-hee, was slightly ahead of Moon with her lead within the margin of error in most surveys taken.    Because of the slim lead, the Democratic United Party (DUP) claimed over the weekend that its hopeful effectively caught up with Park and could pull off an upset victory, while Saenuri countered that its contender has maintained her lead. The country is expected to get the first glimpse of the winner at 6 p.m. when three major broadcasters will announce the results of joint exit polls right after ballot booths close.    In South Korea, presidential election day is a national holiday.    A clearer view of the election's outcome should be known within a few hours of the ballot counting process with the winner likely to emerge after 10 p.m. at the earliest, even if the final tally won't be completed until early Thursday.    The National Election Commission (NEC) said that voter turnout will probably be higher than the 63 percent reached in the 2007 race, when the one candidate had a clear lead over weaker rivals. A turnout of over 70 percent could occur as both the conservatives and liberals are expected to turn out en masse to vote for their candidates.    An earlier poll announced by the state election watchdog showed close to 80 percent of the 40.4 million eligible voters said they would cast ballots this year. The total number of voters eligible to cast there ballots rose by 2.81 million from the 2007 presidential election.    This year's race, meanwhile, showed all contenders calling for national unity, economic democracy, welfare and sweeping political and social reforms.    Park claimed if she is elected the nation's first woman president, every effort will be made to improve the livelihoods of the people and build up the middle class that had been hard hit by weak economic conditions.    Moon, a former human rights lawyer, has said that only by bringing about a change in government can meaningful political, economic and social reforms take place.    The NEC, meanwhile, said that besides the Sasenuri and DUP candidates there are four minor candidates running in the election, with one having quit on Sunday. Lee Jung-hee of the left-leaning Unified Progressive Party (UPP) dropped out of the race so as to give Moon a better chance at the polls.    In addition, before presidential candidates formally registered with the NEC on Nov. 25-26, one time independent hopeful Ahn Cheol-soo quit and declared his support for Moon.    Election experts added that this year will mark the third time automatic ballot-sorting machine will be used in the presidential election to speed up the counting process.nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:27:40 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059466,from=rss#post2059466https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059466,from=rss#post2059466Interesting that some believe Park Chung-hee's daughter may revert the country back to dictatorial military rule! It's something that hadn't crossed my mind, but I'm sure some Koreans (perhaps even those who lived under her father's rule) might feel that way.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:56:09 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059453,from=rss#post2059453https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059453,from=rss#post2059453Interesting take by Wall Street Journal on this week's elections, where economy seems to be the pressing issue, surprising given the recent, neighboring developments. ____________________________ News story via: Wall Street Journal Korea's Remarkably Unremarkable Election The change in tone is striking, even if the platforms aren't. South Koreans head to the polls Wednesday to elect a new president, the country's sixth since democratization. And somewhat surprisingly, it has been a subdued affair. Koreans—and their economic and military partners around the world—can be both encouraged and dismayed about the seeming nonchalance. This is in some ways a very consequential vote. Economic growth has slowed at home and traditional export markets remain weak. Japan has elected a nationalist Prime Minister with whom Seoul's relations could turn frosty. China's rise and increasing aggression in regional territorial disputes is causing heartburn across Asia. And the erratic Kim Jong Eun regime to the north has launched a satellite, marking new progress in its long-range missile program. Of all these issues, only the economy has resonated with voters, and in this regard the candidates have been largely disappointing. Both Park Geun-hye of the ruling center-right New Frontier Party and Moon Jae-in of the center-left Democratic United Party promised to crack down on the family-run conglomerates, or chaebol, long at the center of Korea's growth. Neither has offered a credible alternative vision, however. Proposals to limit cross-shareholdings among chaebol subsidiaries or enforce stricter fair-trade practices (the "economic democratization" that has become a buzzword this year) might be popular, but they won't enable faster growth. Neither will promises for social-welfare spending, which at least have the virtue of being modest enough that Seoul has a hope of being able to afford them (for now). In this respect, Koreans are lucky that they can still get a lot more mileage out of the policies of the incumbent, Lee Myung-bak, and his predecessor Roh Moo-hyun. The most dramatic, growth-boosting reforms to hit the Korean economy in the next few years will come as a result of the free-trade agreements Mr. Roh signed with the U.S. and Mr. Lee signed with the European Union. These and other deals Seoul is now pursuing with China, Japan and Southeast Asian nations will open Korea's long-sheltered domestic economy to greater competition in both goods and services. The result will be a more vibrant marketplace that gives more Koreans better access to affordable products and that could create more opportunities for domestic entrepreneurs stifled by the current chaebol-dominated economic model. As for foreign affairs, the quietude of the campaign is more understandable than at first it appears. North Korea wasn't a key issue, despite last week's missile launch, because Ms. Park and Mr. Moon offer relatively similar proposals. Both favor opening the door to greater aid to the North and would be open to talks with the Kim regime (although their stances on the conditions they would set have changed over time). The main reason for the similarity—a contrast to previous elections that pitted Sunshine Policy-style unconditional openness against a cut-off-the-aid hard line—is that South Koreans are reaching a broad consensus on how to deal with the North. While kindred feeling leaves voters unwilling to cut off humanitarian aid, they also have grown jaded about the promises Pyongyang has made to secure other economic aid, only to renege later. There may also be a growing recognition that only action by outsiders, chiefly Beijing, will ultimately solve the Kim problem. So too with other foreign-policy challenges, especially China and Japan. Seoul will have to work with a new leadership in Beijing and the new government in Tokyo on a range of issues, from economics to regional stability to North Korea. Neither capital will necessarily make life easy for Korea. Meanwhile, although the re-elected Obama Administration in Washington talks a good game about engagement with Asia, that has yet to yield substantive policy changes. No wonder Korean voters have generally taken a wait-and-see approach. *** Noticeably absent from this campaign is a sense of crisis about Korea's democracy itself—especially since Ms. Park is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, the military strongman who ruled in the 1960s and '70s. In previous cycles, at least one candidate roused passions with warnings that his opponent would return the country to authoritarianism. Koreans now seem to take it for granted that whoever they elect this week will step down as scheduled in five years, when voters will have another chance. That change in tone is striking, even if the candidates or policy proposals aren't. ____________________________ nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:33:45 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059332,from=rss#post2059332https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059332,from=rss#post2059332Will South Koreans want a more hardline approach against North Korea with this rocket launch, or a return to the Sunshine Policy? We shall see!nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:30:32 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059330,from=rss#post2059330https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059330,from=rss#post2059330Speaking of that issue... Today's WP story. __________________________________ News story via: Washington Post South Korea to soften policy on North Korea after elections despite Pyongyang’s rocket launch By Associated Press, SEOUL, South Korea — It is not too early to predict one sure winner of South Korea’s presidential election next week: North Korea. President Lee Myung-bak’s hardline approach to Pyongyang is going away, no matter who replaces him. The question is: Just how soft will Seoul go? Not even Pyongyang’s successful launch of a long-range rocket Wednesday has changed the determination of both the liberal and conservative candidates in South Korea to pursue policies of engagement, aid and reconciliation with the North. This matters because whoever wins the presidential Blue House on Dec. 19 will set the initial tone for new North Korea policy not just in Seoul but in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo. Those countries are undergoing political changes and have been waiting for a new South Korean leader before making any big decisions on North Korea policy. Washington, especially, is keen to see who will take over when Lee leaves in February. U.S. policy toughened after the embarrassing collapse of an aid-for-nuclear-freeze deal with Pyongyang following a failed April rocket launch attempt by North Korea. However, barring more rocket or nuclear tests from Pyongyang or other acts Washington considers provocative, a new thaw on the Korean Peninsula could eventually provide Barack Obama with a cover to pursue more talks meant to encourage North Korean nuclear disarmament. The need for more dialogue and aid for Pyongyang is one of the few things the South Korean candidates — conservative Park Geun-hye and liberal Moon Jae-in — agree on. Many South Koreans are frustrated with Lee’s efforts on North Korea. His policy links large-scale government aid to North Korea making progress on past commitments to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Instead of disarmament progress, though, the last five years have seen nuclear and missile tests — including Wednesday’s rocket launch — deadly skirmishes and all-around simmering nastiness between the rival Koreas. Park and Lee are members of the same conservative political party, so her comments on greater engagement and aid have been striking. They also stand out because Park is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, South Korea’s late anti-communist dictator. While Park’s rhetoric on North Korea has hardened after Wednesday’s launch, there’s no plan to change her underlying policy, her aides say: She still envisions aid shipments, talks meant to spur reconciliation and the restart of some large-scale economic initiatives as progress occurs on the nuclear issue. The aid would be goods that can’t be used for military purposes. Park has also held out the possibility of a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but only if it’s “an honest dialogue on issues of mutual concern.” She’ll also push for progress on nuclear disarmament, human rights and other sensitive issues and says North Korea will pay the price for any provocations. Her North Korea policy is seen as thin on specifics, however, and there could be limits to her outreach. Many in Park’s political party and conservative base have strong anti-North Korea feelings that could be an impediment if she pushes ahead with serious talks. Moon, on the other hand, intends to quickly resume shipments of government-level food aid to North Korea, though details of how much aid would be worked out if he wins, aides say. He also wants an early summit with North Korea’s Kim. His policy isn’t influenced by the latest rocket launch, his aides say. Moon is a protege of the late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, a champion of the so-called “sunshine policy” of no-strings-attached aid to Pyongyang. Lee replaced Roh in early 2008. For Moon, aggressive engagement isn’t a reward for North Korean nuclear movement; it’s the means to transforming the relationship so that “North Korea has an economic stake in a more moderate foreign policy and eventually has even an economic stake in denuclearization,” said John Delury, a North Korea analyst at Seoul’s Yonsei University. Moon’s candidacy has some in Washington worried about the return of the tension and anti-U.S. feelings that marked Roh’s term — that “the ghosts of the anti-Americanism of the South Korean left will rise again,” according to Delury. The North’s rocket launch was magnified because of its timing. Obama will be inaugurated in January to his second term, Japan and South Korea both have national elections this month, and China has just formed a new leadership. But the test is probably not going to “blunt South Korea’s desire for renewed inter-Korean dialogue as a necessary step toward stabilizing peninsular relations,” Scott Snyder, a Koreas specialist for the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote recently. The Obama administration has consistently emphasized its solidarity with Seoul, and that rhetoric is unlikely to change, whoever is elected. A rocket launch could actually “solve any alliance split problems” between Washington and either of the South Korean candidates by forcing a more unified stance, said Victor Cha, a former senior Asia adviser in President George W. Bush’s administration. Washington could also be willing to give either Park or Moon some leeway in reaching out to North Korea if it leads to movement on nuclear disarmament, the issue the United States cares most about. During a November visit to Myanmar, Obama said a decision by North Korea to give up its nuclear aspirations would result in “an extended hand” from the United States. “A more flexible policy from Seoul also gives the Obama administration more political cover to try another overture toward the North,” said Ralph Cossa, president of Pacific Forum CSIS, a Hawaii-based think tank. Much will come down to the way North Korea treats the new South Korean leader. Pyongyang may expect, for instance, Moon to deliver everything his liberal predecessors promised, something seen as impossible in the current political environment. Pyongyang could also dismiss Park’s attempts at engagement, dooming talks before they begin. North Korean media routinely criticize Park’s North Korea policy as insincere and confrontational. North Korea considers the United States, against which it fought during the 1950-53 Korean War, a major enemy. Seoul, on the other hand, is labeled a puppet of Washington, which has more than 28,000 soldiers stationed in South Korea. “At the end of the day,” Cossa said, “it will be the North’s willingness, or not, to treat the South as a sovereign equal that will make meaningful dialogue possible, regardless of who is elected.”nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:01:25 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059308,from=rss#post2059308https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059308,from=rss#post2059308This is proving to be a most interesting week in the ROK—an impending election scheduled to occur right after North Korea's successful rocket launch. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:33:40 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059301,from=rss#post2059301https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059301,from=rss#post2059301A week to go until the election. Unique angle of coverage with the article from Washington Post about the candidates. _____________________________ News story via: Washington Post S. Korea’s presidential contenders have near-opposite backgrounds SEOUL — The race to become South Korea’s next president pits two candidates who’ve talked on the campaign trail about center-leaning policies. But they arrived at this middle ground by taking nearly opposite paths, one as near-royalty — the daughter of a former president who seized power with a military coup — and the other as an activist who once was jailed for protesting the strongman’s rule. Though conservative Park Geun-hye and liberal Moon Jae-in differ in some economic policies, they share similar rhetoric about creating jobs and cracking down on corporate corruption, and they represent a country that is far less divided than usual about its priorities. The debate leading up to the Dec. 19 vote is as much about what the candidates have done as what they say they’ll do once in office. The race is close: Most polls show Park with a lead of three or four percentage points. Ten percent of voters remain undecided. And Moon still could get a slight bump from the endorsement last Thursday of independent Ahn Cheol-soo, a software entrepreneur who reluctantly dropped out of the race in November to avoid splitting the liberal vote. Voters’ preferences for the top two candidates break by age. Moon, from the Democratic United Party (DUP), leads significantly among voters in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to a recent poll from the Asan Institute, a Seoul-based think tank. But for those 50 and older, the sentiment flip-flops toward Park, whose father, Park Chung-hee, took control of the country 51 years ago. In other words, Park has the support of those who remember her father’s 18-year reign but lacks it from those who don’t. Park Chung-hee remains one of South Korea’s most divisive figures, somebody whose legacy is still being fought over. But older Koreans tend to be sentimental for his reign, remembering it as an economic boomtime and a period of national optimism. South Koreans widely agree that Park Chung-hee was an autocrat, but conservatives tend to think of him as a relatively benevolent one — and less corrupt than some of his predecessors. He also pulled the strings for South Korea’s remarkable economic take-off by channeling bank loans to big businesses and forcing them to export, a means to become internationally competitive. But Park is controversial because he drew up a constitution allowing him unlimited six-year terms, won elections with vote-rigging and oversaw violent crackdowns on dissenters, including university students. He was eventually assassinated by an aide in 1979. An earlier North Korea-led assassination attempt — in 1974 — missed Park but killed his wife, opening the door for a mourning Park Geun-hye, at age 22, to become de facto first lady. Park Geun-hye’s aides say they are sensitive about her connection to her father. They sent a memo to media earlier this year asking that articles not refer to Park Chung-hee as a “dictator.” On the campaign trail, Park has also apologized for some of her father’s actions, including his coup and crackdowns on students. “These things delayed the political development of the Republic of Korea,” Park said in a heavily publicized remark. Moon, a former human rights lawyer, was jailed in 1975 for participating in street protests against Park Chung-hee. He was later a chief of staff for former president Roh Moo-hyun, a liberal who committed suicide in 2009 amid allegations of corruption. Moon has said little recently about his competitor’s family background. In South Korea’s first televised presidential debate last week, he didn’t have to. A third candidate, ultra-liberal Lee Jung-hee, admitted at the outset that her goal was not to win the presidency, but to castigate Park, whom she called the “first lady of the dictatorial era.” After the debate, even Moon’s campaign spokesman told Korean reporters that Lee had been too aggressive, preventing actual debate about policy. nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:36:04 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059241,from=rss#post2059241https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059241,from=rss#post2059241I guess at this point, we'll just have to wait until the final results of the election to see how this all ends up.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:47:00 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059236,from=rss#post2059236https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059236,from=rss#post2059236Nothing really significant from last night's debate it seems in terms of substance or changing the course of the race. ___________________________ Story via Wall Street Journal 2nd Presidential Debate Produces No Meaningful Shift On the day after the second presidential debate, the watercooler consensus is that the candidates are getting better at this kind of thing. However, little happened at Monday night’s debate to change the momentum of the race, which is still in favor of conservative Park Geun-hye. Wednesday is the final day that media are allowed to publish polls before the vote on Dec. 19. Polls can still be taken, but any final swings in voter sentiment won’t be known publicly until Election Day. At Monday’s debate, the main liberal candidate, Moon Jae-in, challenged Ms. Park more directly than he did at the first such outing last week. But he was still overshadowed by the arch criticism of the far left candidate Lee Jung-hee. Ms. Lee began the debate not just by criticizing Ms. Park but also roping in the Lee Kun-hee family that controls the Samsung group of companies and the chairman of the Hyundai Motor Group , Chung Mong-koo. She reached into 1990s history to say that Jay Y. Lee, the son of Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee and likely next chairman of the country’s biggest business group, got special favors from Samsung when an Internet-related business he had started got into trouble. The generational transfer of power at a South Korea’s conglomerates is problematic on many levels. But, with both the Lee and Chung families having done very well with their businesses in recent years, Ms. Lee would have more credibility if she was current on the performance of the executives she was attacking. Ms. Park put a pin in Ms. Lee’s attacks after Ms. Lee asked whether Ms. Park knew the country’s minimum wage. Ms. Park responded with both the current minimum wage and the level it would rise to next year, then said, “You come to a debate and ask me questions as if you’re playing a game.” The debate, which was focused on economic policies, made plain the different approaches that Ms. Park and Mr. Moon have towards the big conglomerates. Mr. Moon said he would like to dismantle the cross-holdings of shares that allow the founding families to remain in control of the conglomerates, with the aim that the firms “could be loved” by the South Korean people. Ms. Park said that would be too expensive. “If that money is spent to resolve the circular cross-unit equity investment, no one will benefit from it and the workers for the conglomerates’ subcontractors will have to suffer,” she said. Of course, many bankers, attorneys, accountants, investment firms and media would benefit from the dozens, if not hundreds, of transactions that would result from breaking the cross-holding structure. Plenty of work to do and jobs would abound from structuring deals that are worth billions of dollars worth. But then, when the candidates throw around their catchphrase “economic democratization,” they’re not talking about the moneyed elite who work in those places. ___________________________ Another angle, story via: Bloomberg/BusinessWeek Park Clashes With Moon Over South Korea Economy Before Election South Korea’s main opposition presidential candidate accused front-runner Park Geun Hye of failing to take responsibility for her ruling party’s oversight of an economy hindered by slowing growth and rising inflation. In the second of three debates before the Dec. 19 election, the Democratic United Party’s Moon Jae In said today the administration of outgoing President Lee Myung Bak had failed to fulfill its economic pledges. “Everything, including economic growth, balanced regional development, inter-Korean relations, democracy and national security, has fallen apart while household debt and inflation rose,” Moon said in the televised debate in Seoul. Park in turned blamed the “ill-designed policies” of Lee’s predecessor Roh Moo Hyun, whom Moon served under as chief of staff. While Lee’s popularity has fallen by more than half amid public discontent with growing inflation and a widening income gap, Park has maintained her lead in the polls to govern Asia’s fourth biggest economy. The daughter of former dictator Park Chung Hee is attempting to become South Korea’s first-ever female president. Today’s debate took place as North Korea extended its time frame for a rocket launch this month. Both Moon and Park have pledged to re-engage with Kim Jong Un’s totalitarian state, rejecting Lee’s isolationist stance, regardless of whether North Korea fires the rocket in defiance of international pressure. Park’s approval rating was at 50.6 percent while support for Moon stood at 43.8 percent, according to a daily poll published today by Realmeter and JTBC, a cable television affiliate of the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper. The Dec. 8-9 survey of 2,000 people had a 2.2 percentage-point margin of error. South Korea is unlikely to meet the central bank’s growth estimate of 2.4 percent for this year, Bank of Korea Director Jung Yung Taek told reporters in Seoul on Dec. 6. While there are signs of improvement, with exports rising the most in nine months from a year earlier in November, Jung said the expansion will “not be strong” in the fourth quarter. ___________________________nondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:10:19 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059235,from=rss#post2059235https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059235,from=rss#post2059235That scandal with the doctored photo reminds me of how some American celebrities are accused of "buying" Twitter followers to make it look like they have thousands of more fans than they actually do (on Twitter). nondisclosed_email@example.com (Hiroshi66)Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:05:22 +0000 Re: The Korean Wave & Domestic Newshttps://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059218,from=rss#post2059218https://bcjkdramasincalifornia.runboard.com/p2059218,from=rss#post2059218Right now she is within the margin of error to around 5% ahead in polls, so she has the advantage. Tonight in SK is the second debate, so there will probably be news coming out in a few hours/tonight/tomorrow morning from the English news sites. Speaking of press shenanigans, the Korean netizens have been fired up and frustrated with the media over there and Park Geun Hye Rally doctored to look more like she has more supporters - they also picked up the Time's use of strongman, whereas in their full article it used "Dictator's" - netizens are poking fun at Time's softening of the cover language. __________________________________ News story via KoreaBang: Park Geun Hye Rally Photo Doctored Park Geun-hye’s campaign team are once again the most-talked about thing on the internet as a doctored photo of a Saenuri Party rally that inflated crowd numbers was circulated in South Korean online communities, causing controversy and attracting thousands of comments from netizens. On Saturday afternoon, Park presented herself to vast crowds in Gwanghwamun, for a major rally 9 days before Koreans take to the polls. However, scandal erupted on Sunday morning as it emerged a photo originally published by news company News1 was doctored by someone to show artificially enchanced numbers in the attending crowds (see above). Last month, Park’s campagin team threatened a satirist with legal action for painting a pitcure of her giving birth to her father and, just yesterday, TIME magazine was forced to change the headline of a Park Geun-hye cover story to ‘Dictator’s Daughter’, after the Saenuri Party claimed the use of the word ‘strongman’ meant ‘strong leader’. Many have atrributed the doctoring of the photo to the Saenuri Party itself, and the news will come as a blow to Park and her campaign as it tries hard to shake off her ‘Daughter of a Dictator’ image. It is not clear if Park’s campaign team were directly behind the doctored photo, or if the netizen who uploaded the image was acting alone. Nevertheless, netizens have found both outrage and humour in the incident, likening it to the practises of a dictatorship not so far away: ..... Via a Korean News story translated: From NoCutNews: Controversy Over Doctored Photo of Park Geun-hye’s Gwanghwamun Rally Press photo randomly doctored to increase the crowds While Saenuri Party candidate Park Geun-hye and Democratic United Party candidate Moon Jae-in came together on the 8th in Gwanghwamun Square for a large-scale ‘Joint Campaign Event in Seoul’ in order to garner popularity, manipulated photos of the gathered crowd quickly spread online community, attracting concern. One photo showing candidate Park Geun Hye’s campaign event at 2pm in Gwanghwamun Square yesterday caused much controversy within the online community after an anonymous netizen enlarged the size of the crowd. In the original photo, while there are chiefly crowds gathered only to the south of the statue of King Sejong the Great, as well as around the left-side steps of the Sejong Centre for the Performing Arts, in the doctored photos, it looks as if there is a crimson crowd [supporters of Park wear red] in all directions around the statue of Sejong, filling Gwanghwamun square, and crowds surrounding the entire Sejong Centre for the Performing Arts. In particular, due poor photoshopping, part of the statue’s shoulder is missing and there is a difference with the number of cars passing from Gwanghwamun in the direction of City hall. With regards to the scandal, News1 made an announcement via ‘News1’s position on the fabricated Gwanghwamun campaign picture,’ saying, ‘We have not disclosed any photoshopped pictures,’ and ‘We will track down the details and dissemination routes, and hold the culprits responsible.’ The news sparked a big reaction from netizens after an image comparing the original picture and the composite one was uploaded to an online community. Some Netizens criticized the making of composite pictures of a certain candidate’s campaigning, saying, “It’s really anachronistic,” “It’s not that surprising. I assumed they faked it or paid someone to do it. The problem is those people accepting news without doubting it,” “It’s somewhat childish so I can’t help cringing.” Since the news photo is copyrighted by the newspaper however, the culprits could potentially be punished for using it without the consent of the newspaper under the Copyright Law and the Public Official Election Actnondisclosed_email@example.com (SuperRookie)Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:07:23 +0000