S. Korean youth felt betrayed by Roh (political cartoon)

JoongAng Ilbo ^ | 05/15/03 | Kim Sagn-Taek

[TigerLikesRooster]

The top scene: Before the (presidential) election
Roh is exhorting at the podium, "What is wrong with being anti-American?" A son talks to his mom, "Mom! He is a stand-up guy! Let's vote for him!"

The bottom scene: This morning
On TV screen, Roh is begging to Bush, "Please let 2nd ID(infantry division) stay!" Bush talks back, "Not for free!" The son is at the kitchen sink, ready to chop off his finger, in Yakuza style, presumably to punish himself for falling for Roh's big talk. A terrified mother runs to him, saying "Your finger is NOT AT FAULT!"

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[weegee]

Note the prominence of that finger in the top panel.

Good find.

[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #3

You have sharp eyes!

[knighthawk]

They can always leave and live in the North.

[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #5

No, he got used to material affluence. Can't part with it even if he admires Kim Jong-Il for taking on America.:)

[Chi-townChief]

ROTFLMAO !!!

[AmericanInTokyo]

I wish this thread could get a lot more mileage that it is going to get. I think the same very few Asia watchers on FR are going to show up, though. Sigh. The cartoon sez a lot....

If it were on the Middle east, or Russia, I think it would have much more interest here. Yet, Asia is where the next big war will be; we all need to be watching.

By the way, in the cartoon could you read the 'hanja' characters on the podium and on the banner behind Roh in the first 'frame'?

I had to laugh. While the podium was labeled "Minjudang" (Democratic Party), the banner behind him said "Juche Wuigyo" or "Juche [communist] Diplomacy".

LOL. This cartoon must have come from Choson Ilbo.

[Teacher317]

All the extra lines in the background make it rather dark and dreary... is that common for Korean editorial cartoons?

Is this the common sentiment in South Korea, that they still want us out? Fine by me! Get our troops out of Germany and SK... keep them in Iraq and Saudi.

[katana]

In general, the American public terribly un-informed about what is going on in both parts of Korea. Now, ignorance anything beyond the county line is, of course, the natural state for most people and is far from unique to us (try discussing Japanese politics with a German or a Frenchman -most of them still think of East Asia as a place of rickshaws and opium dens) but the news media here have exacerbated things through the paucity and shoddiness of their coverage. We are genuinely lucky to have someone like you to keep us directly informed.

[katana]

ignorance of anything

[Mamzelle]

Today's NRO--Frum suggests that the true reason that we need to move the troops is that they are not only hostage to NK, but to SK, as well. As long as we are in that very vulnerable position, SK has few worries that the US will take action against NK...Once we're out of easy range, NK will be hard-pressed to take any action against us. But Seoul will still be in the danger zone.

Roh will lose big when the troops move. I hope their numbers are much reduced, too. SK will have to start providing for the direct defense of Seoul, which means their youth won't be able to spend quite so much leisure time in video-cafe war-gaming.

[weegee]

I'm an amateur cartoonist (I use my drawing skills more for concert posters) but I was able to gather some of the artist's intent in amongst the lines. He has a different visual style.

[weegee]

I think what I was seeing as a finger may actually be a thumb (as the other audience members appear to be giving a thumbs up).

[TEXOKIE]

I confess that I do not understand the nuances of the cartoon. Would you be willing to give me a thumbnail sketch of what is, by many of your comments, apparently an excellent political cartoon?

I am aware that the US is talking of leaving SK, and that the SK people want us to go. Not aware of why the youngsters are feeling betrayed by Roh. I read a thread in past few days about the visit of the new President Roh to the White House being downgraded from State visit to Official visit, with some kind of loss of face for Roh and SK because of that.

[gcruse]

Sigh. The cartoon sez a lot....

What it sez to me is that cartoonist
must go through a lot of pencils.

[CyberCowboy777]

Bump

[section9]

Couple what happened in Washington yesterday with the news that the Japanese have just passed a military funding bill and one can reasonably conclude that it was not a good day for the Chia Pet....

Switched at birth? You decide....

And it hasn't been a good month for his Chinese "big brother", either. China has to prop up his regime, so they can continue to say to the Chinese people that the Chinese Government and the regime of the Chia Pet remain as close as "lips and teeth".

The Second Infantry is about to pull back beyond the Han River line to a much more defensible position. If one looks at a map....

one might make out that the Han River, which flows east through the southern environs of Seoul, then doglegs south-southeast, is the perfect place to set up a new defensive line.

The ROK's don't want it because Roh wants to continue his appeasement policy. The North Koreans don't want it because it places us out of the immediate reach of their artillery tubes lined up along the paralell and gives us maneuvering room to avoid an early encirclement by their advancing infantry and armored exploitation formations.

Anything that improves our defense, improves Japan's defense, and gives the Chia Pet some pause is a good thing for me!

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[McGavin999]

Kid shouldn't cut off his fingers, he's going to need them when he gets drafted into the military to defend his country.

[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #18

I think that it says "JaJu Wuigyo", meaning "independent (or self-reliant) diplomacy".

Jaju can be used as a convenient cover for Juche by leftists. Some lefties use the term that way.