What is in store for Korea-Japan relations after the elections this month? The New York Times suggests that Abe may try to alter or recant Japan's apology for mobilizing sex slaves.
Denying the mobilization of colonial subjects for war and sex will not change the truth. Give it a rest, Abe. What do you think is in store for Korea-Japan relations?
Since when is there a COMPLEX relationship between power and clothes?
Who cares about this? Earlier this year when
U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton was scrutinized for her fashion and
cosmetic choices, Celinda Lake pointed out that:
I wonder whether the average Korean citizen cares whether Park wears a skirt in the right color on Feb. 25, 2013?
Thank you so very
much, Korea Times, for telling us that “the president-elect, with her power suits and
coiffed hair, portrays an image of veteran politician with aplomb in the
male-dominated political arena.” I suppose this shouldn’t
be too surprising given the Saenuridang slogan ‘Prepared Woman President” while
critics have said she is a female
political leader "only in biological terms" because "for the past 15 years, Park has shown little visible effort to help women in politics or anywhere else as a policymaker."This dialog about Park's performance of gender, criticism of her femininity and womanhood - all of this seems to create a mold and expected role for women in politics. Supporters and critics alike narrow-mindedly link gender and politics as if genitalia pre-disposed one to a policy agenda.
I guess we couldn’t look to her long years of political office-holding
to see that she is a veteran, her successful election, or her prominence within
her party to see her confidence or aplomb as a politician… no we had better take a look
at her fashion and hair style… or maybe we can do a little better and stop
imposing an absurd double-standard on woman politicians.
In 2012 social debate and political battles over domestic
violence, rape and gender equality repeatedly made headlines in both South
Korea and the United States. In Korea, the rape and murder of kidnapped woman
cast a spotlight on weak state and police enforcement of laws to protect
citizens. In the U.S., politicians debated whether or not to reauthorize the Violence
Against Women Act and a number of politicians embarrassed themselves into
election losses with absurd statements about rape. Most disturbingly, some states
cut their funding to domestic violence prevention and support programs.
Domestic Violence and Music 가정폭력과음악
Two powerful music videos portray domestic violence in 2012.
The vocalists Zia and P!nk highlight the complicated emotional and physical
space we navigate when confronting or recovering from domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a major
problem in contemporary society in Korea and the United States, and in regions
all over the world. When I read Choson Court rulings on domestic violence,
rape, adultery and spousal murder, I am reminded that centuries ago the legal
system did not recognize women’s rights and we appealed to the patriarchal rule
of the father or pre-modern state local officials to abide by virtues of
justice and morality and requested that they not abuse the people. There wasn’t
a strong social mindset that recognized the rights of women and children, nor adequate
tools of state to enforce human rights.
가정폭력은한국, 미국, 세계적으로커다란이슈이다.
조선시대에처를살해한사건자료를읽으면서현대사회의인권문제에대한제도가퇴보되어간다고생각됐다. . 옛날에우리나라는국가나경찰대신가장의도덕와공평성을통해그가정의삶의질이결정되었다.
이러한관습은힘없는사람들은자비를구해야했다.
For example, Choson royal court records include the case of Lee Geun-Bin. In this case a wife
was beaten to death with the heavy cast-iron style lid from a cookery. The case
shows obvious domestic violence. She may have been beaten not only by her
husband, but her father-in-law and brother-in-law whom lived in the same home. The
unnamed wife attempted to flee to her natal home, but she lost strength and
died. A pattern of violence had already existed in the home, but in those days
a wife was isolated from society and there were few opportunities for a wife to
appeal for help and the private home was ruled by the father. The Choson
records reveal a number of other cases in which wives were murdered by their
husbands, with rare and light punishments ordered by the royal court.
이군빈의 재판에 보면 실망스럽게도 너무나 명백한 가정 폭력이다.[1]그 자료에 따르면 “부자의 공초에, “부축하여
앉혔다”는 말로 미루어보면, 그녀가 힘이 빠져서 집에 다다르기 전에
인사불성명되었음을 알 수 있”다고 이군빈의 거짓말로 가정폭력의
사실 보여준다: “솥뚜껑으로 때렸다”고 말했다.[1]조선시대의
가부체제 아래에 있는 학대의 희생자들은 도움이 받는 것이 힘들었고 가장은 자신의 집안에서 왕처럼 통치했다.
However, we have since developed
state-managed systems to improve the enforcement and protection of the rights
of all people, such as police, courts and public education. In some regions,
there is not a functioning system to protect or enforce these rights and societies
still rely on patriarchal benevolence, for example when raped women or women
who have sex outside of marriage are murdered, so-called ‘honor killings’ by relatives to ‘preserve’
the family ‘honor’ that was supposedly tarnished by her ‘impurity.’
하지만 근대 국가 아래 우리는 국가관리의 인권, 경찰,
병원, 편파적이지 않은 재판, 사회 복지를
향상시킨 체제가 만들어졌다. 그러나 인권존중이 되지않는 몇몇 국가에서는 지금도 성폭행 피해자와 간통했던 여성이 명예살인이나 공개처형당하지만
전세계사회는
변화되고 있다.
현대 한국사회에서도 가정의 가부적인 계급 사회을 위해 발버둥 치고 있다. 작년의 속초 성폭행 사건에서 보면 효력 없는 경찰들이 가장[아부지]부터의 허가 없는 경우에집을 들러가지 않았고 여자가 살해 일어났다.
비단 그뿐 아니라 우리는 자주 가정 폭력을 무시했다.
Meanwhile, in the United States,
several states have already cut their budget for domestic violence programs,
and more will do so next year:
“Domestic violence calls are second only to
burglary for law enforcement. Police regard them as among the most dangerous in
terms of officer safety because of the violent emotions often in play when they
arrive at the scene. Arrests and prosecution are part of the picture, but only
a part. Victims need options, shelter, counseling, financial assistance, and
education. Victims who want desperately to leave violent domestic situations
without police intervention often need those resources even more. It is in this
context that states across America,
faced with mounting budget crises, are slashing domestic violence programs and
funding. The most widely reported has been the use of the Governor’s
veto pen in California. But
domestic violence prevention and service funding has also met the budget ax in
states like Massachusetts, Oklahoma,
Arizona, Missouri and others.”[2]
Worse, some states such as Kansas have cut response calls by
police, putting many people in danger of abuse and death from domestic
violence:
“Busted budgets have forced tough decisions by
governments and law enforcement officials nationwide, but the Shawnee County district attorney's move to
stop investigating domestic abuse and other misdemeanor cases has
angered victims' advocates who say austerity has gone too far.”[3]
In the United States, some conservative politicians call for
‘small government’ but the consequence could be a return to ‘rule by the father’
wherein women must once again plead for health and life, rather than know these
are enforced and protected rights.
미국에서 어느 지방 등에서 가정 폭력 예방하는 프로그램의 예산을 삭감했고 내년에
더 다른 지방에서도 예산을 절감하려고한다.
더군나 미국 캔자스나 다른 지역에서 예산절감때문에 가정폭력을 신고하여도 경찰은 출동할수 없고 도움을 받을 수 없게되었다.
집에서 가정 폭력 당하는따라서 시민들의 건강와 안전 위험에 직면해서 가정 폭력으로 부터 피살될 수 있다.
미국에서도 보수적인 사람들이 ‘작은 국가’가필요로 하다고 주장하고 있다. 가정폭력예방 예산 삭감이나 국가의인권에 관한 무관심은 그러나 이는가부장제의 통치로 되돌아가는 결과를 나을 것이다. 그래서 여성들이 다시
건강, 안보, 삶을 위해 가장에게 의지하고 무가치한 존재로 보일 것이다.
Meanwhile...Courts fail to punish pervy photographer
The Seoul Appellate Court rules that the lack of
a pertinent law prevents criminal charges against a pervert who snaps photos of
himself without pants behind female college student clients at his studio. [Note: Although legislation has been getting tougher on sex crimes recently, the Courts are still sorting out sentencing and attempting to define the scope of legislation.]
Congrats to
Jeff Kuo for receiving an award for volunteer service from the National
Institute for International Education. “Twice
a week Kuo visits “Nurimter” [Note: a domestic violence shelter in Busan] after his regular classes to provide English tutoring for
middle and high school students there.”
And… self-defense tips for children ran in the Korea Herald
last week, reposting to share:
There are only a few techniques children can
use to defend themselves, mostly because children are vulnerable. Children have
less strength than a full-grown adult and can easily be overcome.
Therefore, self-defense for children should
focus on escaping the situation as quickly as possible rather than trying to
stand up against a powerful opponent. This is the safest way for children to
protect themselves from harm.
Here are several techniques for children to
defend themselves from strangers.
How to escape from a grip (1)
Stay calm and take the following steps to get
away from a situation in which an opponent has a firm grip on your wrist.
1. The most important point in escaping from a
firm grip on your wrist is to check which direction the opponent’s hand
grabbing your wrist is open to. The opening of the grip is the direction of
where the opponent’s fingers are overlapped. The opponent’s hand will be
wrapped around your wrist. Usually it is close to the palm but open at the
fingers. In pictures 1 and 2, the opponent’s hand grabbing the child’s wrist is
open towards the left.
2. Once you check where the opponent’s fingers
unfold, combine the strength of both arms by clasping your free hand on the
forearm that is seized by the opponent.
3. Joining your free hand with the bound wrist,
you can force your bound wrist free from the opponent’s grip by pushing both
arms through the opening of the grip.
4. As soon as you are free from the grip, run
away as fast as you can from the situation and request help from the nearest
police station or adult nearby.
Children cannot break away from an adult’s grip
by just pulling on the clasped arm because children are naturally weaker than
adults. But by using both arms children can effectively escape from situations
that can easily become dangerous.
By Seo Gyo-sun (selfdefense777@gmail.com)
Seo Gyo-sun, an internationally certified
Taekwondo Grand Master, judge and coach, holds a B.A. in taekwondo from Kyung
Hee University. ― Ed.
“The
time is ripe for the nation to have a strong female leadership as the harsh economic
reality facing grass-root citizens calls upon a leader who can sacrifice
herself like a mother for the sake of people’s livelihoods.” - Park Geun- Hye[1]
In the bid to become Korea’s first female president, Park Guen Hye has been type cast in a double role of leader and mother. In politics, everyone has a role to play and this year, the theatre of Korean presidential elections offers a unique performance of Shakespeare’s renowned Merchant of Venice. While a tragedy of comedies it may have been in the late 16th century England; this week in Seoul, the curtains are being drawn for the final act.
[Scene 1] Enter, the merchant Antonio artfully played by DUP’s very own – Moon Jae In. Like Antonio, Moon Jae In is happy to help his friends but unfortunately like Antonio’s ships, Moon Jae In’s policies are lost at sea. So he willingly sings a contract with Shylock promising things he, himself is not quite sure he can give, since all his good intentions may very well be a shipwreck. Since Shylock asks for no interest on repayments, this alliance between them seems most advantageous to Antonio who intentionally fails to acknowledge the ‘pound of flesh’ clause.
[Scene 2] Lights dim, a giant ‘Ahn lab’ logo flashes up on stage. Young students in the audience jeer and clap. Enter Shylock, the moneylender who despite his business success is treated as an outsider, played by the independent Ahn Cheol Soo. Like Shylock, Ahn’s grievance is against a system which sees people like Antonio flourish while he himself is barred from furthering his ambition. So he agrees to support Antonio in the hopes of getting something in return. Where Shylock wants a pound of Antonio’s flesh, Ahn wishes the alliance with Moon to propel his own political career. Yet in the end, Shylock walked away with less than what he started out with and at present Ahn too has little to show for his efforts.
[Scene 3] Sombre songs from the 70’s resonate through the auditorium. Those from the Gyeongsang in the audience sing along. Enter Portia, the daughter of a man long dead whose memory lives on with his daughter, played by the solitary figure of Park Geun Hye. Indeed, this solitude is where the characters of Portia and Park Geun Hye differ. Unlike Portia’s father who chose a husband for her from his grave through the use of a clever riddle, Park Chung Hee’s sudden assassination prevented him from arranging his daughter’s marriage. Today 33 years later, Park Geun Hye is as much criticised for being unmarried as she is for being her father’s daughter.
Perhaps ‘criticised’ is too light of a word. She is downright ridiculed on two ends of the spectrum. On the one side, Hwang Sang-min, a professor of psychology at the prestigious Yonsei University, has publicly dehumanised[2] Park Geun Hye by saying on a talk show, that:
“[In Korean society, the role of a woman] is defined
by marrying a husband, giving birth and raising a child. That’s someone you
call a woman. Just because her reproductive organs are different from a man’s,
you don’t call her a woman…Park never played the role of woman, although she
has female genitals”[3]
Moreover, according to Professor Hwang’s
definition of a woman’s role in Korean society, Park Geun Hye is prevented from
making a contribution to Korean society through her failure to fulfil her duty
as a woman, by which he means wife and mother. So in basic terms, Professor
Hwang’s argument is founded on the premise that Park Geun Hye’s involvement in the
public domain is made void by the fact that she has not created a life for
herself in the private domain.
While on the other end of the spectrum,
Park Geun Hye’s own campaign manager, Kim Soon-joo has proclaimed that:
“Her[Park
Guen Hye] [virginal] life has been dedicated to
the state and as such it is no exaggeration to call it ‘marriage to the state.’[4]
So the flipside to
Professor Hwang’s argument is that that Park Geun Hye has compromised a life in
the private domain in order to be involved wholeheartedly in the public domain.
So in other words, if a woman is not married with children, then she is either
altogether not a woman, or she should make a sacrifice to the public domain in
order to compensate for her deficiencies in the private sphere. So Park Geun
Hye, 60 and single, has only but one choice - to become ‘married to the state’
and to ‘sacrifice herself for the people’.[5]
A message clearly
conveyed by the ad campaign released by the Park Geun Hye’s team last week. If
I could offer words to the images of this 60 second video clip, they would read
“my solitude is my sacrifice.”
Simply put, a woman may enter the public
sphere so long as she excels in the private sphere. Do you remember when you
were in high school and asked your parents if you could join the sports team?
Their answer would usually go something like ‘yes, but only if it doesn’t
distract you from your studies and you keep your grades up.’ The same principle
applies here. Because in the eyes of society, a woman’s career is an
extracurricular activity, in order to gain admission, she must first pass the preliminary
requirements of successfully managing the private sphere. In this case, Park
Guen Hye is especially disadvantaged because being unmarried means that there
are no photo ops where her husband is snapped with a ‘Vote Park Geun Hye’ badge
pinned to his business suit which translates into an A+ in the private to
public sphere entrance exam.
The lines between the private and public
sphere are as clearly marked today as they were in Shakespeare’s time, when only
men were allowed to act on stage. Luckily, in the Korean theatre of
presidential elections, we have both men and women up on centre stage. Yet,
although the candidates are auditioning for the role of President, the audience
are judging the women’s, and here namely Park Guen’s Hye’s talent on how well
she plays her role of woman. In the play of Merchant of Venice, the character
of Portia removed this judgement and forced the audience to focus on her skill
as a lawyer by appearing in court in a disguise of a man. So maybe there is a
lesson in that and in the play for the top job at the Blue House, Park Geun Hye
should be encouraged to come without a disguise, not without her womanhood.
[1] Kang, Hyun-kyung, ‘Ice
Princess’ finally plays gender card’ The
Korea Times, 30 October, 2012
[2]The
Collins Dictionary online defines ‘dehumanise’ as ‘1. to
deprive of human qualities’
and ‘2. to render mechanical, artificial, or
routine.’
By debasing Park Geun Hye as a woman, yet having made an anatomical distinction
between her and a man, Hwang Sang-min has deprived Park Geun Hye of human
qualities and has rendered her neither man nor woman due to the fact that she
has neither husband nor children. [Online at] http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dehumanize
[3] Ser Myo-ja, ‘Park
plays the gender card to draw contrast’, Korea
Joongang Daily, 08 November 2012, [online at] http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2962007
[4] Justin C
‘Presidential Candidate Park Geun-hye is ‘Married to the State’, Korea Bang, 9 November 2012, [online at]
http://www.koreabang.com/2012/stories/presidential-candidate-park-geun-hye-is-married-to-the-state.html
[5] Interestingly enough,
a man’s claim to be ‘the father of his nation’ or even the term ‘fatherland’,
traditionally implies left wing patriotism. Think Francisco Franco in Spain,
Stalin in Russia and of course Kim Il Sung in North Korea.
