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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B>Peter Schroepfer</B> </FONT><A
title='[KS] "Sugi" Flag Issue'
href="mailto:Koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws?Subject=%5BKS%5D%20%22Sugi%22%20Flag%20Issue&In-Reply-To=002201c5ca19%2419c792f0%24fb6efccb%40duvernay"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">schroepfer at gmail.com </FONT></A><BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><I>Thu Oct 6 </I><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:time Hour="14"
Minute="26"><I>14:26:44 EDT</I></st1:time><I> 2005</I> </FONT></P>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>
</FONT></DIV><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">><I> However, there has been an initiative by another American, Doug Sterner, who<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">><I> runs a website dedicated primarily to Medal of Honor recipients<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">><I> (<A href="http://www.homeofheroes.com/">http://www.homeofheroes.com/</A>).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He has been in contact with a U.S.<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">><I> congressman who is willing to sponsor a bill supporting the return of the<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">><I> flag to </I><st1:country-region><st1:place><I>Korea</I></st1:place></st1:country-region><I>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The hurdle now is not so much in the </I><st1:country-region><st1:place><I>U.S.</I></st1:place></st1:country-region><I> Congress as it is<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">><I> with the Korean people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As few people outside of military and academic<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">><I> circles in </I><st1:country-region><st1:place><I>Korea</I></st1:place></st1:country-region><I> know much of anything regarding the 1871 conflict, there<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">><I> has been no general call for the flag's return.<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>I can't imagine how the Korean people would ever be a hurdle to<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">anything like returning something what was pillaged from </SPAN></B></EM><st1:country-region><st1:place><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">Korea</SPAN></B></EM></st1:place></st1:country-region><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">'s<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></FONT></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>shores, or that rekindling an issue that would for many be loaded with<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>anti-American undertones (to say the least) would be anything close to<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>difficult, although it would be nice to see the issue be an issue that<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>isn't written off by Korean conservatives as an mostly anti-American<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>one and therefore not something to be openly pursued.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but is not a replica on display at the<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>Kanghwa YOksagwan? I was just there last Saturday and next to the<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">description, which describes the original as being an a </SPAN></B></EM><st1:country-region><st1:place><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">U.S.</SPAN></B></EM></st1:place></st1:country-region><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"> archive<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">(don't remember which), is a picture of it in the custody of </SPAN></B></EM><st1:country-region><st1:place><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">U.S.</SPAN></B></EM></st1:place></st1:country-region><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"> navy<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">men. Unless there are _two_ flags that the </SPAN></B></EM><st1:country-region><st1:place><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">U.S.</SPAN></B></EM></st1:place></st1:country-region><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"> took from the area and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></FONT></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>that it currently keeps in storage somewhere, then we're talking about<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">the same flag. Kanghwa isn't exactly downtown </SPAN></B></EM><st1:City><st1:place><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">Seoul</SPAN></B></EM></st1:place></st1:City><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"> or a university<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></FONT></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>campus so it isn't at the center of attention, but I have to believe<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>that if it really looked like it could be returned that people would<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>pay attention.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>I would like to bring up the subject with friends in the<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>(vernacular!!) Korean media and I imagine many others on the KS List<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">might like to know: (1) at what stage would the </SPAN></B></EM><st1:country-region><st1:place><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">U.S.</SPAN></B></EM></st1:place></st1:country-region><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"> congressman be<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></FONT></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>willing to have his name mentioned, since you haven't done so here,<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>and (2) what grounds are there to believe with confidence that the<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><st1:country-region><st1:place><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">U.S.</SPAN></B></EM></st1:place></st1:country-region><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"> Congress wouldn't be a hurdle? Has the congressman informally<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></FONT></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>surveyed his colleagues? What happens if Congress votes _against_<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>returning it? I don't mean to doubt your thinking but I myself would<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>like to hear more about why Congress wouldn't be the biggest obstacle<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>before encouraging a "general call for its return." Finally, (3) would<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>you, Doug Sterner, or perhaps even the congressman be willing to be<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>interviewed by the Korean media?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>When (I think) I saw a replica of the flag at Kanghwa YOksagwan I<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>thought of your website. It would be very nice to see the flag<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>returned and that's why I ask so many questions.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>Regards,<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p><FONT size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><FONT size=2>Peter Schroepfer<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></EM></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">Peter,<SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">Thank you very much for your response.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Korean people, themselves, are not a hurdle to the flag's return, but rather <SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">it has to do with </SPAN>their not knowing of its existence.<SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It does not need to become a negative issue at all regarding Korean-American relations; in fact, it could be a small building block in that area, if handled well.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New"><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">You are correct that a replica of the flag is on display at the </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Kanghwa</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Historical</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Center</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">; I have seen it on several occasions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was copied from the original that is, as I mentioned in my original post, rolled up on the bottom shelf of a display case at the </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">United States</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Naval</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Academy</SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Museum</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">, in </SPAN><st1:place><st1:City><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Annapolis</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">, </SPAN><st1:State><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Maryland</SPAN></st1:State></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> (see <A href="http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/flaghistory.html">http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/flaghistory.html</A>).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New"><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">I will try to answer your questions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>First, I kept my comments brief and general on the first post, so that I could answer questions (such as these) on subsequent posts.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think it is o.k. for me to mention the congressman’s name—John Salazar.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also, I have discussed the matter in the past few years with a congressman from my state of </SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Michigan</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">—Bart Stupak.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Next, I never said the U.S. Congress wouldn’t be a hurdle; on the contrary, it is a big one.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The flag (and all war prizes) were added into the country’s inventory by an Act of Congress, and requires an equal one to have it returned to </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Korea</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The problem, from my understanding, is that the U.S. is worried that if they return one war prize, other countries will be asking for theirs back too (However, it is not without precedent, as I believe the way is being cleared for a church bell, captured at the turn of the twentieth century by U.S. forces, to be returned to the Philippines).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If a bill is written (and that’s a big IF), and it is voted down, then it would be back to the drawing board.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There needs to be an interest generated on both sides of the Pacific in order for Congress to gain an interest; they would need to know that both the American people support its return, and that the </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Korea</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> people want it returned.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">I would be willing to be interviewed by the Korean media.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Presently, I am writing an article (English and Korean) that I will submit to Korean newspapers; if they would like to follow up on it that would be fine.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New"><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">I think the hurdles are not insurmountable.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As for the </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">U.S.</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> worry that returning the flag might bring calls to return other objects, they wouldn’t even have to call it a <I>return</I>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They could call it a <I>long-term loan</I>, or some other euphemism.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Although it was unintentional on the part of its captors, they unwittingly did </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Korea</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> a favor.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If the flag had not been captured, it most likely would have been destroyed over the years; as far as I know, it is the only original of its kind extant.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, now is the time for it to return home.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New"><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">I’ve heard other reasons from the </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">U.S.</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> government why they do not want to return the flag.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They have said things like, “Many U.S. servicemen fought for that flag and some even died.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My reply was that many Koreans fought to defend that flag and <I>hundreds</I> died (there were <I>three </I></SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">U.S.</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> battle deaths and more than <I>three hundred</I> Koreans killed).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy wrote me, “The flag is an inspiration to our Midshipmen.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My response was that most Midshipmen probably have no idea of its existence, and few even know the battle in which it was taken.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New"><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">It should also be remembered that </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">U.S.</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> ships traveling up the Kanghwa Straits in 1871 would have been akin to a foreign warship traveling up the </SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Potomac</SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">; I find it doubtful that the </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">U.S.</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> would not have defended itself against such an action.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">U.S.</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region></FONT><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><FONT face="Courier New"> used the Korean military response as its pretext to attack (as did the Japanese in 1875/76). </FONT><PRE><FONT face="Courier New"><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">I think the </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">U.S.</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> would have wanted Old Glory back if the circumstances were reversed.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New"><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Although not government-oriented, there was a war prize returned to </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Korea</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A Korean horn bow, captured in the 1866 French military action, was returned three years ago (I was the intermediary); it now is housed at the </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Korean</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Army</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Museum</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> at the </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Korea</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Military</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">Academy</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Also, I discussed with the curator of the medical museum at </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Transylvania</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">, in </SPAN><st1:place><st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Lexington</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">, </SPAN><st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Kentucky</SPAN></st1:State></st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> the return of a cannon captured in 1871; it is presently housed there. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO">They are not unfavorable towards its return, but many details still have to be worked out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They also have in their inventory several other items that were captured, but the cannon is the only one that was located.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">Last week, I gave a special lecture here at my university on the 1871 conflict.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It went well, and the audience was very receptive.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I mentioned to them that the issue of the flag needs to be told to the Korean people; hopefully, the word will get out that way too.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">I really appreciate your interest.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><FONT size=2><FONT face="Courier New">Thomas<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-fareast-language: KO"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New" size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></PRE>
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