Articles by mgedwards

Who’s in control?

If you’re a Korea news buff, you’ve probably been reading about plans to transfer wartime control of Korean armed forces on the Korean Peninsula from the United States to South Korea.  The U.S. plans to transfer wartime control to the Korean military in 2009, enabling South Korea to assert its authority in the event of renewed hostilities with North Korea.  Interestingly, it seems to be one of the few times when the ruling Uri Party and the United States seem to be in agreement, while the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) remains opposed in principle.  Both Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Korean President Roh Moo-hyun have expressed support for the plan, while a number of Korean dignitaries, including GNP leaders, former Korean defense ministers, and retired Korean generals have come out in opposition of the plan.  Reasons for opposing the transfer range from a lack of national consensus, the "hastiness" of the transition, and the assumed cost of the transfer to Korea.  I have no opinion on the transfer itself, but I wanted to point out that it is very ironic that the U.S. and the Roh Administration are in agreement–on a contentious military issue, no less–while the GNP, which is traditionally a strong supporter of the U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance, opposes the agreement.  One wonders whether Roh and the Uri Party have thoroughly assessed the implications of this transfer beyond the fact that empowers Korea in the event of an outbreak of hostilities with the North.

Chinese in the Hermit Kingdom

Last night my wife and I ate at a Korean restaurant.  The waitress who served us spoke Korean, but her accent seemed a bit strange.  I could not decipher anything she tried to say.  Although I am by no means fluent in Korean, I can hold my own in a restaurant setting.  It turns out that she’s an ethnic Chinese woman married to a Korean man.  I don’t recall what triggered the realization that she was not native Korean, but as soon as we realized it, our conversation immediately switched from Korean to Mandarin Chinese.  (My Chinese is much better than my Korean.)  I asked her a question or two I would normally ask a Korean, questions Koreans would readily answer, but she was rather coy in her responses.  Finally, I gave up and resorted to speculation about her background based on facts I know about her, such as her approximate age and occupation. 
 
Although the waitress looked Korean, she will never truly be Korean because she is ethnic Chinese.  Although Chinese find it easier to assimilate into Korean culture than other ethnic groups, they can never be truly Korean.  The experience reminds me of an acquaintance I know from South Asia.  He is a Korean citizen and has assimilated well in Korean society.  His wife is Korean, and his children are mixed.  He speaks fluent Korean and is well connected in the Korean business community.  He has even taken a Korean name, a requirement for Korean citizenship.  However, he will never truly be Korean.  The waitress we met last night met and married a Korean man in China, and I venture that he is either a businessman or a teacher, perhaps a covert missionary.  Korean men, particularly rural-dwelling bachelors such as farmers, sometimes marry Chinese women when they cannot find a suitable Korean mate.  In fact, some Korean men prefer Chinese wives because they consider them extremely dedicated and hard working.  Sometimes Chinese mates–male or female–are ethnic Koreans who were born and raised in China or emigrated from North Korea.  Most often, though, they are ethnic Han who married interracially into a Korean household.
 
The Chinese Korean women we met last night was somewhat evasive about responding to our questions.  We did not ask her questions we thought were too personal.  We finally understood that she did not want to us to know much about her personal life and how she made her way to Korea.  Most likely, she, like many foreigners who are Korean citizens, finds it necessary to conceal her background in order to minimize the disparaties between her and her adopted country.  It’s a defensive mechanism that helps her blend better into Korean culture.  It seems a bit distrustful, but it’s understandable.  Those who have adopted Korea as their homeland do not want to do anything that will make them more conspicuous than they already are–particularly discussing their non-Korean past.

Featured Blog: Prince Roy

Prince Roy (http://www.princeroy.org/) writes one of the most interesting blogs you’ll come across on the Web.  He began blogging years ago before blogging was cool, first as a law student and then as a diplomat serving in Chennai, India and now Taipei, Taiwan.  I met Prince Roy once when he and I crossed paths in Washington, D.C.  We shared a couple beers and a few laughs before I began this blog.  In fact, I would have to say that Prince Roy inspired me to start blogging more than anyone else–he had created a cool persona and built a virtual world online in the mold of the real Prince Roy of Sealand.  Actually, Prince Roy is not his real name–he takes it from Prince Paddy Roy Bates, who founded the Principality of Sealand on a structure located 11 kilometers off the coast of England in the English Channel.
 
Prince Roy has led a fascinating life far less isolated than his namesake.  His blog features wonderful photos from his various adventures around the world, and he offers in-depth cultural analyses.  A devout Buddhist, he also frequently writes about his faith and how it is manifested in the world around him.  I especially enjoy reading about his personal life and how he and his wife adjust to frequent transition and challenges inherent with expat life.  In addition, he is a China expert highly fluent in Mandarin Chinese.  After a successful tour in India, I can tell that he is really enjoying living in Taiwan.  Prince Roy and I haven’t been in touch with each other for awhile, but I’m sure we will cross paths again.  At the very least, we have cross-referenced each other on our blogs.
 
Check out Prince Roy’s world!