Does South Korean Rapper PSY Hate America?

[Great Caesars Ghost]

Source: CBS Local

Does South Korean Rapper PSY Hate America?
December 7, 2012 12:25 PM

PSY has been taking over America with his surprise smash hit “Gangnam Style” but there’s new information on the South Korean pop star that will soon change his popularity among U.S. fans.

It turns out PSY has been involved in several anti-American protest performances. According to Mediaite.com he smashed a model U.S. tank while onstage in 2002 to oppose 37,000 U.S. troops that descended on the Korean Peninsula.

A few years later, PSY cursed Americans after a South Korean missionary was executed. His song “Dear American” sets the record straight.

“Kill those f***ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives/Kill those f***ing Yankees who ordered them to torture/Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers/Kill them all slowly and painfully,” he raps.

Read more: http://923now.cbslocal.com/2012/12/07/does-south-korean-rapper-psy-hate-america/

[DJ13]

1. Is this really LBN material?

[cthulu2016]

23. Since it concerns an effort to drop someone from a presidenitial invitation event, yes

[DJ13]

25. Oh, I forgot that thread, I guess they should carry on then

[Turborama]

52. I totally missed that one

Have you got a link, please?

[pinboy3niner]

54. Suggest you start with something like this (not DU) for gen background...

‘Gangnam Style’ Singer PSY’s Vitriolic Anti-American Past Revealed, Outrage Ensues
http://www.mediaite.com/online/gangnam-style-singer-psys-vitriolic-anti-american-past-revealed-outrage-ensues/

At DU, I *think* the first GD thread here was this one:

Like I Needed Another Reason To Hate 'Gangnam Style'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021941487

Then we had:

Oh NOES!1! A South Korean rapper said something bad about our TROOPS!!!11!!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021941902

CBS Affiliate: Does South Korean Rapper PSY Hate America?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021942860

PSY is apologizing to Americans for participating in anti-US protests several years ago.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021943722

Almost all of these threads remain active. Have fun!

[Politicub]

40. If that nasty fuck Rick Warren was invited the first time around

Then Psy shouldn't be any kind of problem.

[Enrique]

2. this is going to cost him some money

but not all of it.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. So he speaks truth to power, and isn't afraid to stir up the shit?

I'm just more of a fan now.

[Ken Burch]

5. Occupy Gangnam!

n/t.

[Daniel537]

7. +1

I remember that incident in South Korea in 2002. The folks there were rightfully pissed at what happened to those two girls. Can't blame PSY for going all out. Our occupations of sovereign countries is what needs to end, not the careers of artists who speak their minds.

[Taverner]

8. Watch out! The Military Fetishists and Jingoist Brigade will punish you!

They don't like it when people are mean to the poor widdle military

[melody]

69. He's talking about killing innocent people

I'm not a jingoist or a military fetishist (whatever the hell that is) and I think that is obscene. I hope the little bastard sinks into permanent obscurity. He's every bit as bad as the people who think Muslims should die. Just because you share his bigotry doesn't make him right.

[geek tragedy]

18. "Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers" is not speaking truth to power.

It's being a misanthropic asshole.

[jtuck004]

68. Then actually being responsible for them would be...?

Say by being a banker who commits fraud with the assistance of U.S. politicians that directly tie to job loss and a large percentage of the 50K families being removed from their homes each month, resulting in earlier death for some. Or a country that shoots missiles into neighborhoods with children?

Oh, wait. You already said.

But I see your point. His stuff is just silly and designed to make money.

Then again, perhaps he is the perfect one.

[nomorenomore08]

81. "Silly and designed to make money." Exactly!

Though it is kinda funny to watch people freak out, over someone obnoxious but totally powerless.

[MADem]

31. Everyone in South Korea "speaks truth to power." People go to protests there like country folk go

to county fairs. It's a social activity.

It's a national pastime, protesting...it's not like over here, where it's sort of a big deal for many segments of the population to protest.

Also, there's context missing from all this...people in SK were majorly pissed off when a US tank smushed a couple of little girls in SK (and IIRC, the apology wasn't sufficient or timely), and that is part of what fueled one of his rants.

[Ash_F]

38. The driver was acquitted even though he clearly swerved off the road in the video

They were charged with negligent homicide and acquitted with no reprimand. If he had ran over a couple of American girls while veering off the road, he would definitely be going to prison, I can guarantee you.

That is the problem with America's exceptionalist bullying of the world.

[MADem]

42. I wasn't there when they were acquitted.

I can't speak to the specific methodology used in the justice process, and I know nothing about how much anyone can see while driving a tank.

I do recall that many S. Koreans were very pissed off at that entire business, though.

In any event, Psy has apologized quite expressively for his harsh rhetoric.

I will bet that the concert will go on (it is a charity thing), and the President will attend.

[Ash_F]

44. This is the problem. There is no excuse.

None. The tank did not stay within the lines of the road, it's not complicated. When American's toss about ridiculous excuses, nobody buys it and we just look even more arrogant, immoral or worse.

[MADem]

50. I was not there when they were acquitted.

The people passing judgment on them were, and they were the ones who determined if factors in mitigation existed. They determined that there was an excuse and their decision was controlling.

I don't think that the driver(s) of that vehicle had any INTENT to murder two young girls, though. That may have factored into the judgment.

However, I wasn't there so I simply can't be decisive about assigning degrees of blame--we'd have to speak with someone who was there to get definitive answers on why the ruling came down as it did.

I can speak to the publicity and responses by USA at all levels attendant to this matter because everyone around the world saw that. USA did not manage the public relations aspect of this tragedy well at all, and they should have done a better job at that. Mister Gangnam Style could have given the US ambassador at the time and the Senior Officer Present in country a lesson on how to craft a heartfelt apology.

[Ash_F]

62. You are not doing too well in PR either.

"I was not there" What does it matter? Are you saying that someone driving a tank, should not be liable for veering off the road?
I severely doubt it was on purpose as well, but that was not the charge. It was negligent homicide. That level of negligence should land a person in jail. It would land a person jail if they ran over Americans.


You just further perpetuate the stereotype that Americans think they are above the rest of world.

[MADem]

72. If I had sat on that courts-martial, I would have had access to the evidence.

You're acting like you "know it all" but I'm betting you didn't sit on that panel, either. In fact, I'd put my life savings on that bet, based entirely on your comments here.

The issue, from what I understand (and I am no expert) is that the guy who could SEE the road had communication issues with the guy who was DRIVING the vehicle. Apparently, the guy behind the wheel drives those things blind, or nearly so.

You're doing a great job perpetuating a stereotype, yourself, there, pal. Pat yourself on the back.

Good day.

[Ash_F]

78. Amazing.

First of all, no the driver is not blind. I know you are not a "Tank Expert" but it is shocking that anyone would actually think that would even be possible. I don't think you actually do, see the bottom paragraph.

Secondly do you think if a tank veered off the road in Fort Hood and crushed some officer's kids, they would not be sitting in Leavenworth immediately? Get serious. Actually, in that case, the sentence would probably have ended up being excessive.

Look, the reason there is anti-Americanism is not because you can't get me to buy it. It is because you can't get non-Americans to buy it. When people know you are not stupid, and you talk to them like that, they think you either consider them to be stupid or don't care enough to have a honest discussion. In either case, they get rightfully angered with you. The tank incident is indicative of the larger problem of how the US treats its allies. And that is why we are loosing them.

[MADem]

79. The only thing "amazing" here is your snide yet blank bravado, as though you're the ONLY person

who "knows the truth" here.

You're not.

And as for all that anti-Americanism you keep crowing on about, you might want to do a little homework. Despite the furor that this incident engendered, the South Koreans have gotten well past the anti-American sentiment that this incident created, and they don't hate us as much as you ardently wish they would. In fact, their relationship with the US now is quite positive, and their view of us is favorable and improving.

You were not there when the tragedy--and that's what it was, a horrific accident, not a deliberate murder-- happened, yet you claim to "know" what the two men in the armored vehicle could see or not see, and you disregard the communication issue because it doesn't suit your "fact free argument."

Your opinions and strawmen don't hold any water with me here because they aren't backed up with a single fact--just rude snark, scornful delivery of half-baked opinion, and "Do you thinks?"

Try reading up on the case, maybe you'll learn something. Or maybe you won't.

I won't hold my breath.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangju_highway_incident

Pay particular attention to the issues of communications and driver visibility.

In the months following the incident, both the U.S. military and the South Korean government took actions to attempt to address the circumstances seen as having led to the deaths of the two schoolgirls. As of August 2002, the U.S. Army banned all armored vehicles of the type involved in the June 13th accident from civilian roads. In addition, the U.S. Army announced more than 20 additional measures to improve safety during training exercises, including improvements to the notification system used to communicate with community leaders about upcoming training exercises, the installation of additional mirrors on U.S. Army vehicles to improve driver visibility, and the retrofitting of additional intercom systems on U.S. military vehicles to allow for direct communication between drivers and vehicle commanders.

Officials from Gyeonggi Province also took actions to address another issue seen to have contributed to the accident, inadequate transportation infrastructure. Reports indicated that one factor that may have contributed to the deaths of Shim Mi-son and Shin Hyo-sun, was the width and design of the roads in the area near their home village. Not only are roads in the area narrow, they do not always have space allocated along their periphery for pedestrians to use as walkways. Some have posited that this design contributes to the number of traffic accidents in South Korea in general. Given that the armored vehicles traveling in the convoy on June 13 are wider than both a typical passenger vehicle and than the lanes marked on most roads, and that the two girls were struck on the right-hand side of an uphill S-curve curving to the right, some reports posited that the design of the road where the accident occurred, and the width of the vehicles, the lanes on the road, and the road itself may have exacerbated the dangers already inherent when military vehicles operate within a civilian environment.

[Ash_F]

82. This response was pretty asinine

"And as for all that anti-Americanism you keep crowing on about, you might want to do a little homework. Despite the furor that this incident engendered, the South Koreans have gotten well past the anti-American sentiment that this incident created, and they don't hate us as much as you ardently wish they would. In fact, their relationship with the US now is quite positive, and their view of us is favorable and improving."

First of all, lighten up Francis. Remember, serious discussion here. Secondly, what do you mean improving? Opinion against military presence and our government is stronger than ever. If you mean their opinion of our pop culture and music, well yes but that's not what we are talking about here. Newflash: Our pop-culture and music is ardently against rampant right-wing militarism too.

And that last paragraph has nothing to with the fact that you asserted that the driver was driving blind. They can, in fact see what is in front of them through three view-ports, IF THEY ARE WATCHING THE ROAD.

But whatever, I am not a "Tank Expert", in the same way Marco Rubio is not a scientist. Never mind me. The Koreans wanted to try the driver themselves. Why not, I ask? They are our allies, are they not?

[MADem]

88. Anyone using the snarky expression "Lighten up Francis" is not interested in

"serious discussion."

How nice that they can see everything "in front of them." They can't see to their sides if they're rounding a curve, and apparently that was the problem in this case.

If the driver could see everything, why would he need. and the Army provide, additional mirrors and improved communication devices? But go on and ignore that bit--like you do with other inconvenient facts, over and over again.

You haven't said anything "serious" in this entire exchange.

Go fight with someone who likes shitflinging. And try looking up the history of SOFA--you'll have your answer to your jurisdictional question. It's not just Korea where we insist upon a vigorous SOFA with regard to troop jurisdiction--that's part of why we left Iraq. We have a SOFA agreement in every nation where we maintain BRAC-level installations.

If we're going to do the heavy lifting for a nation in terms of their defense, that's a non-negotiable aspect. If you knew your subject, you'd know that. You'd also know that you're wrong about the defense relationship--it's not just "pop culture" that appeals to SK.

But I'm starting to figure out, the more you snark rudely, that you really don't know what you're talking about.

Have one of those nice days--go play with some other, lighter Francis, why don't you?

[Ash_F]

92. Despite your litany of non-sequiturs...

South Koreans still didn't buy it, and opinion against US presence continues to intensify each year. Until yes, probably the same thing will happen as in Iraq. Along with a further tarnished image, and rightfully so. That's the bottom line.


I'm not sure who you are trying to convince here.

[MADem]

94. Not you, Friend of Francis. Have a nice day. nt

[sulphurdunn]

57. I'm a Yankee.

It sounds like this fat little fuck threatened to kill my wife and daughter. I know it's all bullshit, but it still gives me satisfaction to imagine ramming my rather large Yankee boot up his punk ass, which, by the way, is a far less violent image than he conjures.

[biohazard9550]

67. yikes!

Quite harsh

[countryjake]

105. You might like these Yankee boots...

Gangnam Afghanistyle!

[trouble.smith]

103. what?!? you're more of a fan now because he wants to "Kill those f*ing Yankees and their daughters

along with their, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers and slowly and painfully to boot? Pretty fucking sick.

[Systematic Chaos]

108. Cry me a river.

Words in the heat of the moment are one thing. Actions are another.

When Psy gets convicted of killing someone, then we'll discuss how sick I am, okay?

[trouble.smith]

110. I think you and psy will say anything for a little attention.

[Systematic Chaos]

111. Yar. And we never ever EVER forget to oppa Gangnam style.

[bitchkitty]

4. Who cares?

ETA -

The people who would care probably don't listen to that song any way.

Maybe the Republicans can start boycotting dance clubs that play his music....see what I mean?

And is this really breaking news?

[geek tragedy]

13. Obama's scheduled to attend a perfomance by him.

So, yeah, this could get sticky.

[bitchkitty]

19. Ah, that changes everything.

Still - under most other circumstances, I'm kind of disappointed in the way our society places such importance on pop stars, actors, celebrities and the like. I mean, who really cares what they think? I care less about their opinions than I do about their personal lives - that is to say, not at all.

Bet Obama cancels.

ETA - just read that the song in question isn't even his song. And since I'm doing what I said I wouldn't do, care about this shit, I'm out!

[meegbear]

6. From Gawker.com ...

<snip>

... The lyrics are from this song — "Dear America" by the South Korean rock band NEXT. We've been told that "Yankees," the word used by the CNN iReporter, is more accurately translated as "a bad curse word like 'assholes' or 'motherfuckers.'"

According to the Chosun Ilbo and several Korean-language music sites, NEXT, Psy, and other musicians jointly performed "Dear America" at a protest concert in 2004. ...

<snip>

http://gawker.com/5966599/kill-those-fucking-yankees-slowly-and-painfully-the-anti+american-past-of-gangnam-style-rapper-psy

I'm not justifying it, I'm just posting that it is not his song.

[Politicub]

41. There were a lot of people protesting America during the Bush era

It was a pretty shitty time for all concerned.

[bunnies]

9. "hate America" ? lol

Seems like he "hates" our military torturing innocent civilians. That doesnt exactly put him in a class by himself.

[harun]

10. That's what artist's are suppose to do

[liberalmuse]

11. A rapper causing controversy?

Shocking! I guess if your country tortures people, then someone might just call you out in a rap ditty or song. I'm pro-American but am against war, torture and a lot of the shit our country does abroad and here at home (prisons, drug wars, etc.).

[Crow73]

12. I have seen this “Gangnam Style” thing

I think it was at 4chan

[slackmaster]

14. Given that President Obama is the commander in chief of the US military, I think it's safe to say...

...that PSY hates Barack Obama.

[Daniel537]

15. No, its not "safe to say" anything...

He said this years ago when we had a war criminal as our CIC. And considering that PSY accepted an invitation to perform for the Pres., i doubt he "hates" him.

[slackmaster]

16. Our present CIC is carrying on many of the policies of our war criminal CIC.

Does that make him a war criminal too?

And considering that PSY accepted an invitation to perform for the Pres., i doubt he "hates" him.

I don't care. He's just a person of size who happens to be a One-Hit Wonder. He'll fade away soon enough.

[Daniel537]

17. Well he hasn't carried out a ground invasion of a foreign country

based on false premises, so i wouldn't equate him to Bush on that front. But unfortunately he has continued despicable practices like the Patriot Act and the occupation of Afghanistan, so we should continue holding his feet to the fire on those fronts, but either way, this PSY thing is irrelevant. Just the media looking to cause a swirl.

[slackmaster]

21. Don't forget Guantanamo.

He said he would shut it down.

[Daniel537]

24. And he issued an executive order to do so.

But our beloved US congress blocked him from doing so.

[slackmaster]

46. And someone talked him out of pushing it

[JimDandy]

59. But does the Secret Service want to chance it? n/t

[LanternWaste]

22. That's one of many possibleimaginative extrapolations.

That's one of many possible (regardless of how probable or not) imaginative extrapolations.

[OnyxCollie]

30. Isn't that what RWers do?

Hate the war = hate the troops.

[Posteritatis]

32. Why yes, yes it is

Isn't it interesting how Pavlovian even DUers can get on some topics?

[MADem]

37. See post thirty five--he has apologized for his remarks of several years ago. nt

[Javaman]

20. Meh.nt

[Iggo]

26. I've heard worse.

[Posteritatis]

27. Nice - couple days after O'Reilly's tantrum and the hatchet jobs begin. (nt)

[Stuckinthebush]

28. Can't get worked up over this

The US is kind of brutal. I'd imagine that a lot of non-US citizens have similar anti-American feelings. Hell, a lot here do.

As another poster above said, "Meh."

[customerserviceguy]

29. Mr. PSY, your fifteen minutes are up. n/t

[Daniel537]

33. Doubt it.

The guy is an international star now. I doubt anybody outside the US cares about this. Hell, even within the US i doubt most care.

[customerserviceguy]

98. He can fade as easily as he rose

And many do. This will just grease the skids under that process.

[MADem]

35. He has apologized--quite sincerely, it would seem--for his intemperate comments.

http://923now.cbslocal.com/2012/12/07/psy-apologizes-for-anti-american-song/

“As a proud South Korean who was educated in the United States and lived there for a very significant part of my life, I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world. The song I was featured in – eight years ago – was part of a deeply emotional reaction to the war in Iraq and the killing of two Korean schoolgirls that was part of the overall antiwar sentiment shared by others around the world at that time. While I’m grateful for the freedom to express one’s self, I’ve learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I’m deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted. I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words.

“I have been honored to perform in front of American soldiers in recent months – including an appearance on the Jay Leno show specifically for them- and I hope they and all Americans can accept my apology. While it’s important that we express our opinions, I deeply regret the inflammatory and inappropriate language I used to do so. In my music, I try to give people a release, a reason to smile. I have learned that thru music, our universal language we can all come together as a culture of humanity and I hope that you will accept my apology.”

In 2002, shortly after U.S. military vehicles killed two South Korean teenage girls outside of Seoul, South Korea, PSY took the stage in gold face paint and smashed a model U.S. tank to make his thoughts on the tragedy known....


Similarly, “Dear American” was also a protest, this time after Korean missionary Kim Sun-il was kidnapped by an Islamist group and then was executed. This triggered PSY’s response.

[customerserviceguy]

99. I guess I don't consider him that talented to begin with

He's a flash in the pan, an Internet-made overnight sensation, he can just as easily fade back into the woodwork as those with way more talent have already done. This just might accelerate the process.

[MADem]

100. I actually think he IS talented. I'm old, but I can see his skill.

Apparently, he's been making a living doing this music/rap stuff for at least eight years, though this one hit, unlike his others, has gone INTERNATIONAL.

I think this song could well be the South Korean equivalent of "Sukiyaki" of the first half of this century, and he'll never have to work again if he doesn't want to.

I remember when this came out--everyone was trying, anyway, to sing it!

The Gangnam tune is catchy, the dancing is very...unique...it's a combination of controlled spasticity and "Hammer Time" with a bit of Romper Room horsie riding thrown in for good measure. It's high energy, and it's a lot more "fun" than the fare coming out of the "Top 40" meat grinder, normally.

It manages to make me smile--particularly when I see people who are ordinarily staid trying to imitate his dance moves!

[rocktivity]

34. He certainly hates rap.

And dancing. And dressing well.


rocktivity

[WinkyDink]

36. Since PSY is referring to Bush, Cheney, and Co., I have no problem with his song.

And "Gangnam Style" is very catchy!

[Politicub]

39. me-ow! Kitty has claws!

But I still like Gangnam Style.

[hack89]

43. If he loves his bank account

he better find a way to defuse this mess.

[SemperEadem]

61. his bank account is just fine

all of Asia loves him. He wont' be hurting any time soon.

[McCamy Taylor]

45. So?

[rachel1]

47. I think he's more opposed to US foreign policy and

US foreign policy in his own country than he is disdainful of the US people.

[bhikkhu]

48. In 2002, you didn't have to hate america to protest the war, and the war crimes

I don't blame anyone who did.

Having read his apology upthread, he seems like a pretty intelligent and straightforward guy.

[AAO]

49. Thanks for the info, GCG!

I wish the best for all involved.

[Agnosticsherbet]

51. Does it matter?

It is his opinion.

It is my understanding that opinions are like assholes.
Everybody's got one.

[amuse bouche]

53. Didn't you see his explanation and apology?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/07/psy-apology-gangnam-style_n_2260603.html

[Dokkie]

55. I think he hates the American military

Not the American people. Please don't confuse the two.

[BadGimp]

56. who cares?

[WilliamPitt]

58. This fellow is about to stop enjoying his American experience.

Here lies a toppled god,
His fall was not a small one.
We did but build his pedestal;
A narrow and a tall one.

- Frank Herbert

[SemperEadem]

60. yawn...

he wasn't talking about me... and this was a while ago...

this isn't going to impact him--he's worldwide famous, not just US famous. A couple of weekend patriots will get their panties in a twist over it... that's all.

and I love Gangnam style...

[cire41]

63. This type of rhetoric was extremely common during the Bush years...

Anti-Americanism was at its highest in 2004, which is when this song was written.

My guess is that this makes Psy more popular internationally. Most of his Youtube views have been from outside the US anyways. He doesn't need to be popular in America to be successful.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

64. I posted this because this story was taken way out of proportion

Psy, believe it or not, went to school in America. I just think he was upset at the perps and not the nation as a whole. The right on the other hand is wanting a Duk Ku Kim moment.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

65. I used to live in Suwon. I got told many times "Korea for Koreans" by Koreans

This does not surprise me. Their hiring practices are very neanderthal, there is no sexual harassment law in Korea, the national identity is one of superiority to everyone and the people I was around for my year there disliked everyone not Korean.

The nasty I was told about China when I left was borderline Klan-talk. PSY is a symptom.

My time in Korea was rather unpleasant. I'm happier in China, making about $5000 USD teaching geography, history and economics in Suzhou (just outside shanghai).

[there_is_no_spoon]

70. My experience was similar

I thought Korea was a polite quiet society. I suppose it is only with some major caveats. I agree with you on the strong sense of nationalism there. I know non-native people there who would live nowhere else, while I hated living there.

I was surprised to hear the despicable things said about the Chinese (and the Japanese)...made me wonder what they really thought about me.

I'm glad you're enjoying China. Big money to be made there.

[biohazard9550]

75. i see

Last edited Sun Dec 9, 2012, 07:51 PM - Edit history (1)

a real eye opener. Thanks

And regarding their hatred of Chinese and Japanese, recent history between the 3 probably had something to do with that.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

87. They still believe in Fan Death. What does that tell you?

Everyone knows someone that died due to Fan Death.

[davidpdx]

89. It has and continues to be a problem

But has improved in the 9 years since I came here. One of the reasons is there are now more multi-cultural families and the government has passed laws to help them. I married a Korean 7 years ago and the her family was initially shocked, but accepted me fairly quickly. Her parents treat me as if I'm their son and they fuss over me (which actually drives me nuts).

The three things that are difficult for me are the language, the food, and the heavy drinking. I have sat down several times to try to learn Korean and just get too frustrated. Some of the food I can eat, but I dislike seafood, which pretty much rules out 80% since that is a good portion of their diet. Being one of the pickiest eaters in the world doesn't help. The heavy drinking I just avoid because it's not my style.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

91. And I'm Kosher, do that ruins the other 20% of the Korean diet.

I can relate.

Soju makes people act dumb. Their idea of teaching Korean is "learn the alphabet."

My Chinese wife dotes on me. Her parents kind of got the "you need to change the way you act around him and include him in the family or else you will never see your grandchildren" talk. Let's see if it sinks in.

One thing about China though. . .they are immovable stubborn to change their idea, because that is a loss of face.

[davidpdx]

95. Yeah, soju is nasty

If you drink that stuff with juice (like syrup or cool-aid) it becomes difficult to determine just how much you drank at least until the next morning. I did that one year on Christmas Eve with a male business student and it was the worst Christmas ever.

The Koreans are stubborn to a point as well, maybe not as much as the Chinese though. I drive in Korea, but I would never drive in China. Even as a pedestrian in China I was scared out of my mind I was going to get ran over.

[jberryhill]

101. Is that the white milky stuff?

I picked up a plastic bottle of whatever-it-was from some guy who was selling them out of the back of a truck in the street in Myeongdong. It wasn't half bad at first, kind of like cider, but it packed more of a punch than I expected.

[davidpdx]

104. No that's mokoli

They drink that when it is raining (don't ask me why). I don't like that either. Most of the beer sucks. They have some new darker beers that are pretty good. We have a few microbreweries, but none close to where I am.

[Qanisqineq]

83. I live in Korea

and have for 7 years. I can definitely agree with your experiences and others posted in reply to yours. I am often treated like an animal in a zoo, so much so that I haven't been to the doctor in years. Leaving the exam room door open and nurses pointing at me and laughing is too much.

But the young Korean women sure do like the American soldiers.

[nomorenomore08]

84. I assume that $5000/yr is enough to live decently on there...?

And as for your experience in S.K., I figure there are assholes like that in every country. No society (that I know of) is immune to nationalism, or to general dickishness.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

86. $5000 a month, not a year.

And it's princely.

[davidpdx]

90. I've been in Korea for 9 years

During that time I spent 10 months in China (the last academic year) and feel the reverse. It could be that I have grown so accustom to Korea that China was just too different. That and the school I was at was shit. I made some good friends there, both foreigners and Chinese. I'd never go back though.

[davidpdx]

66. I came to Korea at the beginning of 2004 and have been here since

So I wasn't here when the incident with the schoolgirls getting killed happened. I do know there was a lot of anti-American sentiment from the people and the Korean Government. Roh Moo hyun was elected at the end of 2002 on a anti-American platform.

There were also massive protests against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the human rights violations in the Iraqi prisons. The first year I was here I was in one of the larger cities near the southern tip of the peninsula and I remember two things. One a shit load of riot police watching protesters (seriously never fuck with the riot police in South Korea they mean business) and second a group had set up booth with pictures of the torture in the Iraqi prisons. It was not a good time to be an American here in Korea.

Fortunately things have changed, but the anti-American sentiment comes and goes. The protests over the beef were actually pretty ridiculous. You still can't find US beef here much even though it can be sold. No one wants to carry it for fear of reprisal, which of course keeps the price of Korean and Australian beef high.

[Sunlei]

71. many musicians have political lyrics, that's a historical account of the time.

sometimes in song, music lyrics are the only way the raw truth can be expressed.

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[Comrade_McKenzie]

73. Ted Nugent and Hank Williams, Jr. hate America more than PSY. nt

[4dsc]

74. Thank goodness someone in the music biz spoke up

while the rest of the music industry was silent.

[dawn frenzy adams]

77. Doesn't bother me at bit!

This is a protest song. But no one, absolutely no one, has exhibited a visceral hatred of America like the Republican Party. Our greatest enemies could not have asked for a better ally. Furthermore, I don't want to think about the behavior our troops may have displayed toward the Koreans.

[Tom Ripley]

80. If so, what's wrong with that?

[tabasco]

85. Maybe, but he loves $$$$$$$$$$$$ more

"I'm soooo sorrry!!! Give me more money America!!!!"

[Ken Burch]

93. Througout Psy's life, The presence of U.S. troops in S. Korea has been opposed by many S. Koreans.

It's only been since the collapse of the military dictatorship(which occurred in 1987, the year Psy turned 10) that the country has been given any real sovereignty at all, and not much sovereignty at that(just imagine how long a newly-elected S. Korean president who pledged to evict U.S. forces would be allowed to stay in office if you don't believe me). Most countries that have the armies of other countries on their soil aren't really happy about it(even the British, during World War II, referred to the U.S. forces as "overfed, oversexed, over here"-and they were on OUR side in that war). It's not as if South Koreans are the first people in history that expressed hostility to the presence of troops from a foreign empire(face folks, the U.S. IS an empire, and we should all just admit that right now, btw) and much of that hostility in other places has been expressed in the kind of terms Psy used here.

Most of us would feel the same way as Psy does if somebody else's army was occupying American territory.

[tabasco]

96. Apparently he doesn't feel that way anymore.

Maybe you missed his profuse apology.

[Ken Burch]

97. If he apologized, then we're apparently done with the whole thing.

Whatever.

[Downtown Hound]

102. He made some heated comments in a moment of justifiable rage which he later apologized for

Big deal. Case closed.

[Heywood J]

106. Nothing like that ever makes it into music over here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Outta_Compton

[burnsei sensei]

107. I really don't care.

If this person or any other hates America, there's nothing I can do about that.
If he curses Americans, that's his problem.
If he hurts or kills them, then it becomes our problem.
Really, people are entitled to their opinions.

[randome]

109. We don't hold anything against the flag burners from the 60s and 70s. At least I don't.

Why would we say this guy is not entitled to voice his opinions in the manner of his choosing?

[crim son]

112. I find myself not giving a crap in the slightest.

I like the song and understand if not approve of the sentiment.