[KS] Re: Kim and Nobel

[Thomas Duvernay]

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>Jina,
>
>I understand that some of the people in Korea are very disgusted simply
>because this year's awardee of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize is the
>one
>they have hated for so long.

Hmmm.

>
>Well, the prize could have gone to Kim Jong-il unless he did not kill
>innocent people in his terrorist act(s) against the South Korean
>civilians.
>He has also been negligent in protecting the lives of his people
>suffering
>from famine.

I think the point being was not what was done in the past, but what was 
trying to be done for the future.  Granted, KJI has a history that would 
make any dictator/terrorist proud.  However, the great strides that have 
been made in the past several months couldn't have been accomplished
without 
him; President Kim Dae-jung almost certainly wouldn't have received the 
Nobel if he hadn't travelled to Pyongyang.

>Kim Dae Jung has
>endeavored to get closer to North Korea against the entrenched
>right-wing
>backlash in Korea. I don't care whether it is an ingenious strategy or
>not.
>What matters is whether it's good for the country or not.

The same could be said for KJI.  Maybe this is all part of his
'ingenious 
strategy', but if it gets the two countries talking, so much the better.

>
>A lot of people outside Kyungsang province are celebrating the fact that
>his
>decades of efforts for peace in the Penisula was recognized by the
>world.
>What I don't understand is why the people in Kyungsang Province hate him
>so
>much whilst he has not done anything injurious to them.

That's a pretty broad brush stroke, isn't it?  I live in Kyongsang
Province 
(Kyongju, the cultural seat of the region) and have lived here
continuously 
for the past dozen years; I first lived here back in '84.  KJ is my
wife's 
home town.
It is true that before he became president, Kim Dae-jung was not what
you 
would call an 'admired' person here.  Many people were afraid that he
was 
going to take the historic regionalism to a national level. 
Fortunately, 
their fears turned out to be unnecessary; KDJ promised to promote
harmony 
and he has kept his word.  This impressed many people in the region.  My
own 
thoughts about him were negative before the election, but are now 180 
degrees different.
When he was named the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the people
here 
cheered (I was among them); it was both for the man and the mission. 
There 
are congratulatory signs all around KJ, put up by various groups and
people; 
where is this hate you talk of?
When KDJ went to Pyongyang, I didn't meet a single Kyongsang Korean who, 
when talking of it, didn't have a tear well up.  Yes, probably much of
it 
was for the moment, but all realize it was the men involved who made it 
possible.
There are certainly still those who have regionalistic thoughts, but
many of 
them live outside of Kyongsang Province.

>
>He is still making his best efforts to cure this regional problem as far
>as
>I know. Hatred does not cure at all. I think the people who decided to
>give
>Mr. Kim the Nobel Peace Prize was not that ignorant. Many cheers to the
>people who are endeavoring to bring peace to the world!

On this we agree.

Thomas Duvernay


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