Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Sexist Foreign Policy

This article from the Hankyoreh about Foreign Minister Kang's presentation on sexism in foreign policy was illuminating:

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha said she has been constantly aware of discrimination and prejudice toward women while working in a “male-centered culture of vested interests.” Her remarks were seen as reflecting awareness of persistent speculation about her being “bypassed” as South Korea’s first female foreign minister.

While participating in a conversation at the “Future Dialogue for Global Innovation” co-organized by the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the network tvN on Nov. 16, Jared Diamond, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and author of the book “Guns, Germs, and Steel” commented on the lack of an environment where women are able to show their capabilities. In response, Kang said, “I’m very working very hard in this important position of being the first female foreign minister, but there are times when I feel myself asking, ‘Is this kind of [response] because I’m a woman?’”

Kang Kyung-wha opens up about sexism in “male-centered culture of vested interests” Posted on : Nov.17,2020 17:02 KST Modified on : Nov.17,2020 17:02 KST Hankyoreh South Korea By Gil Yun-hyung, http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/970335.html

Wow. Here are my observations:

1) S.Korea is the weakest of among the three pertinent states including the US and Japan who typically seek obsequious foreign policy from South Korean leaders.

2) Kang Kyung-wha is a brilliant and able diplomat who represents the new democratic policy of asserting South Korea’s sovereignty against overbearing allies previously accustomed to demanding and getting their way. Her determination and independence are mistaken for some kind of feminine “weakness” that succumbs to naive idealism and unrealistic expectations in a harsh world rather than the actual foreign policy of the Moon Jae-in administration.

3) The male dominated ultra conservative governments of the US and Japan are sexist in nature.

4) South Korea is a male dominated patriarchal society with a deeply seated sexist bias. Therefore, attempts to sway its erstwhile overbearing allies are going to tend to move her out of the way to appease their sexist inclinations.

5) I noticed the inappropriate demeanor and “touchiness” of Pompeo’s early interaction with Foreign Minister Kang. When he didn’t get his way in policy terms, the Korea passing and other protocol slights not only to Kang, but to the entire Moon cabinet began.

Very interesting article.

상사화 Magic Lily

안예은 – Ahn Ye-eun: Lyrics, melody, original performance


사랑이 왜 이리 고된가요
Love, why is it this painful
이게 맞는가요
Is this right
나만 이런가요
Am I the only one this way
고운 얼굴 한 번 못 보고서
Not able to see your kind face once
이리 보낼 수 없는데
I can't send you this way

사랑이 왜 이리 아픈가요
Why does love hurt this way
이게 맞는가요
Is this right
나만 이런가요
Am I the only one
하얀 손 한 번을 못 잡고서
Not holding your pale hand one time
이리 보낼 순 없는데
I can't endure this.

다시 돌아올 수 없는
Unable to return again
그 험한 길 위에
Upon that rugged path
어찌하다 오르셨소
How is it you came
내가 가야만 했었던
I was supposed to go alone
그 험한 길 위에
Upon that difficult path
그대가 왜 오르셨소
Why did you come

기다리던 봄이
As the awaited spring
오고 있는데 이리
is coming, you leave me
나를 떠나오
in this way
긴긴 겨울이
As the long, long winter
모두 지났는데
is completely past
왜 나를 떠나가오
Why do you leave me

다시 돌아올 수 없는
Unable to return again
그 험한 길 위에
Upon that rugged path
어찌하다 오르셨소
How is it you came
내가 가야만 했었던
I was supposed to go alone
그…

Chilgapsan 칠갑산

칠갑산 Jo Un-pa 조운파

콩밭매는 아낙네야 Bean patch tending woman
배적삼이 흠뻑 젖는다 Summer jacket dripping wet
무슨설움 그리 많아 What sorrow is so great
포기마다 눈물심누나 At each plant dropping tears?

홀어머니 두고 시집 가던 날 The day she left her widowed mother to marry
칠갑산 산마루에 On the Chilgap mountain ridge
울어주든 산새소리만 Only the sound of a weeping mountain bird
어린가슴속을 태웠소 Burned within a child's heart.

홀어머니 두고 시집 가던 날 The day she left her widowed mother to marry
칠갑산 산마루에 On the Chilgap mountain ridge
울어주던 산새 소리만 Only the sound of a weeping mountain bird
어린가슴 속을 태웠소 Burned within a child's heart

Original song Ju Byung-son (1989). Lyrics and melody - Jo Un-pa 조운파

Recent Significant Air Operations in the Chinese theater

There have been several developments in East China and South China Seas recently related to US-Chinese military operations. Naturally, the issues pertain to Taiwan. One event of note took place on October 15, when a Taiwan commercial charter aircraft carrying ROC military personnel was denied clearance through the Hong Kong ATC to land at an airfield on Pratas (Dongsha) Island operated by Taiwan. Ostensibly the reason for this was reported by the ATC as hazards to flight below 27,000 feet. The prop driven aircraft in question had a ceiling of 25,000 feet and was compelled to return to Kaohsiung. Apparently there was no notice of any hazards to flight in the region and the Taiwan Defense Minister disputed the PRC explanation.

As it turns out, there was a report of extensive Chinese military air live fire exercises later posted on Weibo by PRC national defense officials on October 22. The dates that the exercises took place in the South China Sea were not specified in the public information report. Shin In-kyun, a well known South Korean defense analyst published the report in his October 23 account of the incident. It isn't clear if these extensive PRC live fire exercises Shin described as involving one hundred aircraft with thirty pilots getting live fire air combat training were the basis for the diverted ROC charter flight.

Another significant military aviation event which resulted in complaints from the PRC was the alleged overflight of Taiwan by a US RC-135w on October 23. There were conflicting indications from US commmands as to whether the flight had overflown Taiwan or not. The PRC complaint regards US military activities over Taiwan's territorial airspace as US interference in Chinese internal affairs. This blog has an account derived from Sin In-kyun's Daily Defense program showing a US Airforce C-40 overflying Taiwan in June of this year.

Last but not least, four US B1-b bombers have deployed to Guam. It was reported that their flight route took them through the Sea of Japan where they conducted joint operations with Japan's Self Defense Air Forces. Aircraft spots on Oct 24 reported a section of B1-b's flying into the South China Sea region south of Taiwan on October 24.

There have been other relevant air operations in the region since October 15, many of which can be viewed on the Aircraft Spots twitter feed, which I have found to be a reliable source in recent years. Among those are the routine air reconnaisance missions flown by the US south of the DMZ and Northern Limit Lines between North and South Korea, I refer to as the Seoul Patrol.

Sources and links:

Taiwan’s defence chief rejects Hong Kong’s explanation for turning back government flight to Pratas Islands; Oct 16, Danny Lee
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3105815/hong-kong-rejects-suggestion-it-deliberately-stopped

China-US rivalry: PLA monitored American warplane as it flew over Taiwan, PLA source says; Oct 24, Kristin Huang
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3106935/china-us-rivalry-pla-monitored-american-warplane-it-flew-over

中, 전투기 100대 동원 실탄 훈련! 대만 침공 D-Day 카운트다운; Oct 23, 신인균의 국방TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXZqz30l9ys

Cat and Mouse Games over Taiwan? Jun 16;
https://civilizationdiscontents.blogspot.com/2020/06/cat-and-mouse-games-over-taiwan.html

https://twitter.com/AircraftSpots/status/1320026229915807745

Seoul Patrol; June 1;
https://civilizationdiscontents.blogspot.com/2019/06/seoul-patrol.html

Sky, Wind and Stars

(Image source- Jack Jung twitter 10.21.20) Prelude poem, Poet Yun Dong-ju.

To my dying day I will look to heaven,
without a hint of shame,
Even tho' the leaves in the wind,
Tormented me.

With a heart singing of stars,
All things destined to die,
I must love,
This is the way I must walk
The path provided.

Tonight too, the wind brushes the stars


Poetry is above all a personal interpretation. I envy Mr. Jung who as young man can devote himself to his work translating. For me it is a pastime in my old age. This is my personal interpretation (corrected for an error)* of the original he was so kind to as to publish on twitter.

* Note: Edited 01/10/22 to reflect proper translation of the verb "look up to heaven," or "before heaven" which is an idiomatic expression meaning in the context of having nothing to be ashamed of before God. Professor Peterson did a program on this poem Prelude, and Yun Dong-ju, the author, on his youtube video 우물 밖의 개구리 The Frog Outside the Well on January 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OCZILe8rfs. The verb I stumbled on was 우러러 in the first line.

South Korean seaman killed attempting to defect

(Source - 열린공감TV, 9.28 ) Victim officially reported missing at 1251 pm Sep 21. Missed his 1200 to 1700 pm wheelhouse watch.

(Source - 열린공감TV, 9.28 ) Position of Mugungwha maritime patrol ship south of Yeonpyeong Island, at point where shoes were found on stern. Red star 2.2 km south of the smaller Yeonpyeong Island, (below the pointer), 13 km south of NLL.

(Source - 열린공감TV, 9.28 ) An unidentified fire light estimated at 10 pm, Sep 22 north of Northern Limit Line. Believed killed by North Korean gun fire while adrift in water.

Lee was a crewman on the Mugunghwa number 10, West Sea Division of Fisheries Regulation cutters, Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs. He intended to defect to North Korea. There are several circumstances pointing to this. One deck CCTV camera was inoperative on the vessel on Sept 18. Later, it was determined that the other deck camera was also inoperative. Lee left the steering house watch for unexplained reasons during early morning hours of the midwatch on September 21. At 1135 am, when shipmates noticed he didn't show for mess, they searched the ship and surrounding waters. Man overboard was reported to maritime authorities at 1251 pm. His shoes were found on the deck, stern starboard side. He was wearing a life jacket. He took another floatation device with him large enough to support his upper body above the water. Military authorities confirmed later from unspecified classified communications that Lee had indicated he intended to defect to North Korea. It was widely known by relatives and acquaintences that he was deep in gambling debts he was unable to pay, and that his wife was separated from him pending divorce.

(Source- Channel ANews Top 10 7.27)
Route of South Korean defector to North on July 19, 2020.


In Sept 2013 South Korean sentries observed a South Korean male approaching the Imjin River in an attempt to defect to North Korea. He failed to obey their commands to stop and return to the south and ran into the river. They shot him dead as he tried to cross to North Korea. On July 19, 2020, a former North Korean defector did successfully cross the Han River from Gangwha Island back into North Korea and was accused of bringing the corona virus with him by the North Koreans.

가야지 I Must Go

박범훈 곡 (Pak Beom-hun music) /김영임 노래 (Kim Yong-im lyrics)


가야지~ 가야지~~ 꽃 피고 새 울면 나는 가야지
I must go, I must go, as the flowers bloom and birds cry
산 넘고 물을 건너서 혼자 가야지
Crossing over the mountains, and crossing the waters, alone I must go
꽃이피면 꽃에서 자고 바람불면 바람에 자고
If flowers bloom, I sleep among them, when the wind blows I sleep in the wind,
머나먼 길 울며 불며 혼자 가야지
The distant path cries and calls, I must go
우리 절 부처님은 마음씨도 좋아
Our season in Buddha's spirit is good
오냐 오냐 잘가라고 나무~ 아미~ 타~불 아~~~
Come, Come and go well, Buddha bring peace to my soul

가야지~ 가야지~~ 꽃 피고 새 울면 나는 가야지~
I must go, I must go, as the flowers bloom and birds cry
산 넘고 물을 건너서 혼자 가야지~
Crossing over the mountains, and crossing the waters, alone I must go
속절없는 세상살이 소리없이 지고마는
Inevitably, life of this world, without sound, sets and finishes
꽂잎처럼 훠이~ 훠이~ 홀로 가야지~
Like the leaves of a flower, go! go! I must go
우리 절 부처님은 마음씨도 좋아
Our season in Buddha's spirit is good
오냐 오냐 잘가라고 나무~ 아미~ 타~불 아~~~
Come, Come and go well, Buddha bring peace to my soul



Saw a beautiful performance by Bohyun Seunim (monk) of I Must Go on a S.Korean interview program. Hoped to capture the essence of the song in the translation.* How does a song about death and the impermanence of life provide comfort? This is something Bohyun Seunim tried to explain in her interview. It is not dwelling on fate or as sadness, but to provide comfort. As a top musical performer with an aspiring career 27 years ago, how is that she gave up the interests of the material world for the asceticism of the temple? It was her path (My Way), After many years she returned to performing to provide comfort for charitable benefits.
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJWu5EQs3_A