Thanks, that was interesting. P.J. O’Rourke called Koreans the Irish of Asia for their joy in a good fight. :-)
“P.J. O’Rourke called Koreans the Irish of Asia for their joy in a good fight.”
That analogy has been around for awhile. There is whole list of such comparisons (the Japanese are the Germans of Asia, the Thai are the French of Asia, etc.).
But there are some other particular affinities between the Korean and the Irish, with drinking habits and the themes of traditional songs (being separated from the loved ones, like in Arirang and Danny Boy).