Sangcheol's Diary Podcast_상철의 일기

Sangcheol's Diary Podcast_상철의 일기

By Jeon SangcheolSociety & CulturePersonal Journals
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Sangcheol's Diary Podcast_상철의 일기 episodes

  • 28. Wartime Operational Control of Troops

    Today is June 26, 2016. Sunday. Sixty six years ago when Korean war broke out, President Lee of Korean government gave away Korea's wartime operational control of troops to U.S. government. Since then, Korea has become the only country in the world without wartime operational control. If a war break out again in Korea, U.S. government will control Korean army and Korean soldiers have to follow U.S. President's orders. Two days agao, one of the opposition leaders pointed out that current government's security status is still dependet on U.S. government and defence-related corruptions are widespread like corruption heaven. However, ruling party spokewoman criticized him for his lack of security awareness and he is talking like a representative of North Korea. I do not know who is to blame for.

    2 min
  • 27. Wife of An Artist
    Today is June 25, 2016. Saturday.
    I once read an article regarding a divoce ceremony in Japan. Like wedding ceremony, both sides wish other party's luck and new start before going their separate ways.
    I still remember that it was a refreshing shock to me because I became awakened to the pleasant separation. When I think of parting in the past, there are scenes of tears at parting or the sorrow of the parting in my head. But the divoce ceremony reminded me of the 3rd way of handling separation between man and woman.
    When I read an article reporting that the wife of a movie director having an affair with an actress is still waiting for him to return and will never grant him a divorce, I felt stuffy.
    Because the man will not be returning to his wife and will live his new life regardless of divoce.
    From my point of view, she is going through hell now and for many years to come if she stick to her opinion.
    As an wife of an artist, if she decide to let go of her husband pleasantly, it would be the joyful first step for each other. Letting go of him is also to let go of her suffering.
    In doing so, she or he will not be the focus of the news anymore and they can start their new life individually and independently as an adult.
    2 min
  • 26. Meaning of Warning
    Today is June 24, 2016. Friday.
    While riding a bicycle on the bike lane, I sometimes cross the central line in spite of myself.
    Then the bikers coming from the opposite side start to yell at me.
    Most of the cases are good for me because they remind me that I am going in the wrong direction.
    At first I feel offended by their yelling or remarks but afterward I am grateful for their help.
    Through the general election held in April of this year in Korea, people sent a warning to the ruling party.
    It is a pity that they still feel offended by the result of the general election and do not realize the meaning of the warning until today.
    1 min
  • 25. Imagine
    Today is June 23, 2016. Thursday.
    I imagine.
    I imagine that two summits of Germany and Israel meet and come to an agreement like this. Germany gives 10 million dollars to Israel and Israel promises not to mention Holocaust any more. Israel uses those money to set up an organization for vicitims of Holocaust.
    I imagine that two summits of China and Japan meet and come to an agreement like this. China receives 10 million dollars from Japan and China promises not to say anything about Nanjing mass killing by Japanese army. China uses those money to establish a foundation to help victims of Nanjing massacre.
    Everyman with common sense will think that this is crazy and impossible thing even in your dream.
    However, two summits of Japan and Korea agreed at the end of last year that Japan gives 10 million dollars to Korea and Korea promises not mention anything about comfort woman issue and Korea uses those money to set up an organization for comfort woman.
    I think that self-respect is not given freely. It should be gained through struggle and fights for a long time. Anyone who is afraid of them is not eligible for a leader.
    2 min
  • 24. Quibbling

    Today is June 22, 2016. Wednesday. Four years ago, President candidate Park promised to the Busan citizens to build a new airport if she were elected to the President. Four years later, President Park backed out of her promise. At least, she had to explain what went wrong and why she had to do. Instead, she is making nonsensical arguments that expansion of existing Busan airport is same as constructing new airport. It is sophism. In other words, it is quibbling.

    1 min
  • 23. I can do it by myself.
    Today is June 21, 2016. Tuesday.
    I dropped into Yeongpoong bookstore on the way home from the office to buy a book.
    Yeongpoong bookstore is quite a big one located near my company.
    In these days, I have been thinking of keeping a diary in Chinese language. After I came back from China last year, I did not have a chance to speak Chinese, nor did I practice writing Chinese. In order not to lose Chinese proficiency, I needed to find a way and do something.
    So I stopped by bookstore and looked around bookshelves but could not find a book I wanted. What I wanted was a book how to keep a diary in Chinese language. The books I found at the bookstore were very basic level ones for children.
    There were no books for me to refer to. I felt weird that there was no single book for me inside such a big bookstore.
    However, getting out of the bookstore's door, I thought that this might be a good sign for me.
    If there is no such a book to teach me how to do, I will try and learn how to do it by myself and do it.
    Hands empty, but learned a valuable thing.
    2 min
  • 22. Military Parade
    Today is June 20, 2016. Monday.
    One of the most surprising news I heard on the half of this year was that military parade on Geumnam-Ro, the street of Gwangju, Jeollanamdo, Korea was planned by The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of Korea but it was cancelled after strong opposition from the related organizations and opposition party.
    According to the plan by The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, they had planned to have an airborne unit responsible for the massacre of Gwangju citizens during the May 18 pro-democracy movement march down Geumnam-Ro after the ceremony commemorating the Korean War. A military band, war veterans, about 150 soldiers of the 31st Division and over 50 soldiers of the 11th Airborne Brigade in Damyang, Jeollanam-do were also to take part in the parade.
    Geumnam-Ro was the name of streets where numerous citizens were killed due to collective shooting by the airborne troops dispatched by martial law at the time of the pro-democracy movement in May, 1980.
    The 11th Airborne Brigade, which was stationed in Gangwon-do in 1980, was dispatched to Gwangju by martial law at the time of the May 18 pro-democracy movement. The 11th Airborne Brigade, which was dispatched to Gwangju on May 19, 1980 opened fire at the citizens in front of the former Jeollanam-do office and in Geumnam-ro along with the 7th Airborne Brigade and killed at least 550 people.
    Even though 36 years have passed since the May Massacre of 1980, a lot of victioms still vividly remember what had happended on that day on Geumnam-Ro and still suffering the pain.
    Someone said that this is same as Japanese troops are going to march down Nanjing streets of China where the Japanese army had murdered more than 200,000 Chinese civilians.
    We learn many valuable lessons from the history.
    One of the lessons to remember is when the government is not afraid of its own people, people also are not afraid of its own government.
    3 min
  • 21. Disputes over new airport in Korea
    Today is June 19, 2016. Sunday.
    There will be an announcement over new airpot construction location next week in Korea.
    New airport will be built on one of the two cities, Milyang or Kadeokdo, which was located on the southern part of Korea.
    This issue has been dragged over 10 years and there was no end of regional troubles between the two cities.
    However, whatever city is chosen next week, it must bring discontent from one of the two cities and is expected that the aftermath of the decision will hit the nation.
    From the standpoint of me, there are two things over this matter.
    First, it will cost a lot of money to build a new airpot so that it must be based on the economical feasibility. The money which will be used to build a new airport is tax from people, not the private money to be used thoughtlessly.
    Due to the economic considerations, this issue was turned down by preivious govenment but current government pushed forward this project for the last four years.
    Second, there is lack of national consensus on this matter. I have never seen this issue was disputed at the national assembly session or any public hearing. To hold a public meeting to collect opinions from the related local regidents is important procedure before any big governmental project being carried forward.
    In conclusion, I think that this issue has problems with economical efficiency and non-transparent procedure.
    2 min
  • 20. Quick Thoughts on Podcasts in Korea
    Today is June 18, 2016. Saturday.
    According to reports, there is about 7,000 podcasts broadcasting in Korea.
    Disputes whether podcast is broadcasting or not is not important to me.
    Because it is already widespread broadcasting among people and it is one of the common tools to be used by anyone to speak.
    Although it is just an audio or video file, it is freely uploaded and downloaded by anyone if he or she wants to do.
    Some of the podcasts in Korea are being downloaded more than 1 million times weekly and its influence is much more than conventional mass media such as newspapers or cable TV channels.
    One of the important reasons that ruling party in Korea was defeated at the general election held in April 2016 is said that the younger generation in Korea likes to listen to podcast broadcasting and was much influenced by politically-minded podcasts.
    There are some more reasons why podcasts are popular in Korea and I will give some thoughts on that matter next time.
    2 min
  • 19. Dark Circle under my eyes
    Today is June 17, 2016. Friday.
    While having supper , my wife told me that there was a dark circle under your eyes.
    She worried over my health.
    In fact, I was a little bit tired when I came back home. I worked very hard this week. Literally I was exhausted.
    In addition, every evening when I come back home, I walk 40 minutes from train station to my home.
    Furthermore, I am on a diet from last month. I am slightly losing weight.
    As an old Chinese proverb says, too much is as bad as too little.
    I will rest as much as possible this weekend.
    1 min