Some observations on the murder of Kim Seon Il

There seems to be a lot of confusion in Korea about who to blame for the murder of Kim Seon Il. Some Koreans (including one of my students yesterday) are calling for revenge against Iraqis. On the other side of the political spectrum, the Hanky continues to be confused as to who is behind the bulk of the terrorists attacks in Iraq:

The government and proponents to troops for Iraq arrived at their position with the belief that Korea's alliance with the United States is the most golden of rules, but the event makes it clear that the "war" between Korea and Iraq has begun.

Everyone needs to take a step back and reflect before going off the handle either way. The fact is that the group which killed Kim and Nick Berg is not even led by an Iraqi. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a Jordanian who has been leading murder campaigns across the world. If fact, the main victims of al-Zarqawi's gang, and others like them, are Iraqis.

To any readers outside of Korea, I will repeat what I said yesterday, don't judge Korean reaction about this from what you read from "netizens" or by street protests. many Koreans are resolved not to bow down to terrorists:

Although finding a specific way to punish the terrorists is difficult in reality, we must at least clearly show them our will to stand strong against terrorist threats.

The Chosun goes on to say:

A choice a nation makes could collide with individual life and freedom. We could say that this incident has shown us the anguish and pain suffered by a nation and its citizens when each has to make a choice for oneself. As Korea’s national capability and role in the international level heighten, Korea may have to frequently make similar choices.

While this is clearly a time when emotions are (and should be) running strong, the situation itself has not changed. The world is still faced with the scourge of international terrorists who use Islam as a tool to bring young men to their doom while trying to force the civilized world into submission. Americans, Europeans, Iraqis, Filipinos and scores of other people around the world have been feeling this pain for a long time. I hate that it took Kim's murder for some Koreans to realize what the rest of the world has been facing all this time.

Under the wing of US protection, some Koreans (especially younger ones) have developed a naive idea of how the world works. Kim's death has shocked some Koreans into wanting to go back into their cocoon. But, with Korea's relationship with the United States maturing and its place in world affairs becoming more important, the time has come for Koreans to realize that you are not going to win over everyone with good intentions. As Korea takes a more central place on the world stage, it will be faced with more tough situations like this. To his credit, President Roh has realized this and did not let the terrorists dictate Korean government policy.

Unless Korea wants to go back to being a protectorate, the unfortunate reality is that it will face more tragedies like this in the future. The question is 'what will Korea do about it.' Korea can either stand or retreat. That choice will determine Korea's place in the sun.

Comments

[Turd-Man]

After 9/11, U.S. President Bush declared a 'war on terrorism', not a war on another country. This means that a more aggressive approach and full force will be used in handling terrorists. The war in Iraq was over only after a couple of months coalition forces moved in. The war in Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban has been over for some time as well. The war on terrorism is not, and President Bush (and ultimately the U.S. government) hasn't stated that the 'war on terrorism' was over. The United States has learned that if you try to stay out of a conflict for however long, you're only giving the enemy inch-by-inch of territory/power/money, whether what the enemy has taken was America's or not. Then it takes something like Pearl Harbor or September 11 for the United States to put her foot down. George Washington once said that the best way to prepare for peace is to prepare for war. Have you taken notice of the situation in the Korean peninsula? Both sides are constantly in preparation for war. Military exercises, weapons acquirement and production, etc. Although the Korean War is not technically over, peace has been maintained for over half a century. The Republic of Korea, being part of the western alliance and a partner of the United States, in no way can operate separately from the United States. Political, expatriate, and business interests in S.Korea and the U.S. can't simply support S.Korea minding its own business. Therefore S.Korea could never possibly 'mind its own business' when its leading partner, the United States, is fighting a 'war on terrorism'. For one thing, American expatriate or military operations in South Korea are potential targets for Islamic-fundamentalist-mental-fuck terrorists (I'm not saying Islam is messed up, but those that take it too far are fucked in the head). Terrorists don't care about innocent people so they will do anything that will cause damage to American interests even if it means killing several thousand South Koreans as collateral damage. I certainly hope that it doesn't take something like the destruction of the 63 building for Korea to realize that terrorism is a problem that has spread to Korea.

And yes, those series of beheadings are atrocious even by Islamic standards I assume(I am sure that Islam would give offenders a trial, or informing what they have done wrong at the least).

As how I see it, I don't think the terrorist group thought it through in killing the South Korean civilian as the implications that SOuth Korea will take more aggressive measures in fighting terrorism.

[Turd-Man]

S.Korea has lost one innocent life to realize that terrorism is a problem. The United States has lost many more from the Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon to September 11. I certainly hope S.Korea is quick to catch on.

[Fatmarley]

It would seem that some people believe that the person who killed Nick Berg and now Kim Seon Il is an imposters. Some even speculated that the people from the Nick Berg tape where GI's. I haven't seen the Kim Seon Il tape and I can not say wether or not it is true. I just thought now when all new information is coming to light and the simliarities between the two kidnappings is also being disclosed, that it might be good to know all the facts 0r fictions.

[Turd-Man]

(Yangban Edit: As much as I would like to consider keep TM's post as is (considering the target of his rant) I have to trim it again.)

hey fat-f***-a** marley,

that's a quite a bit of an extreme and dangerous speculation.

[Al-Qorea]

Mr Yangbang, did you read about kimsong ils family suing for 5,000,000 us dollars. I guess even b4 the body got cold the family wanted to cash in. That is pretty smart, after all, its starting to get well known that this guys family didnt like him much. even if you look at all the cameras in the house you will only see the dad mom and sister. his other sisters have not talked to him in years. i guess they hated him.

the funny thing about his mom is that , his real mom died when he was a teen. this woman in all the photo ops is his dads 3rd wife. Kim song il only met her 3 times. but she knows a pile of gold when she sees one. and good golly that family will cash in on good old kim song il. thats great!!!

[Scott-in-Japan]

Who is the family going to sue? His previous company?

[Fabius]

Is any of that true??? show a link please.

[Al-Qorea]

gold gold gold

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200406/kt2004062822082412070.htm

As negotiations with the government broke down over where his body should be buried and how much compensation should be paid, Kim’s family decided on the funeral service on their own.

Representatives for the family said they will submit a compensation suit against the government following the funeral since the government refused to accept their demands

[Al-Qorea]

Ka-CHING :)

I have a prediction to make. now that the kim family are talking about getting some gold from the goverment, kimsongil\'s sisters will bother to start bitching. so far only one sister has even shed a tear. she is the one that is in all the photos. the family also wants the govt to bring kim back to life.

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200406/kt2004062418021112100.htm

``The Korean government must pay compensation to Kim\'s family for all the sorrow and grief. We will file a lawsuit on behalf of the family.\'\'

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200406/28/200406282253337339900090409041.html

the family had asked the government to allow Mr. Kim to be interred in the National Cemetery

Family members of Kim Sun-il, the man murdered in Iraq last week by Islamic militants, said yesterday that they would file a lawsuit seeking to hold the government responsible for the death.

[Scott-in-Japan]

Bwhahahaha! Korea is now 100% American!

The family is charging the Korean gov't because the boy got himself into a bad situation. In a time long ago, only American citizens would be stupid enought to do that.

Congratulations hippies in Korea - you are more 'American' than American citizens are!

[Turd-Man]

(NOTE: Yangban edit for language)

Yeah Al-Qorea. You can go (have a lot of fun with) yourself now. If you find anything amusing about Kim's murder, you must be one sick (guy). Yeah, his family is just as sick for wanting to cash in, but are you sure that's true (I have better things to do than look up dirt on other people)? Also keep in mind that Koreans, and non-Koreans alike, would go after any gold-pile.

[lirelou]

Regarding the unfortunate Mr. Kim, I fail to see how the Korean government could have done anything to prevent his murder. Who notified whom and when is a fine question for burocrats, and may better their internal notification procedures, but I fail to see how it could have possibly deterred the terrorists. Perhaps they could have dispatched a Korean counterterrorist unit? Or deployed the one (possibly) in place? Right, but CT operations demand highly finite intelligence, which was obviously unavailable. Yet, according to the Korean Times, many are angry because the Korean Constitution levies upon its government the requirement to protect its citizens overseas. Thus Kim's death is a "failure" in the contractual sense. Great theory, which modern Korean tort lawyers will love, but the advanced nations gave up the idea of using armed force to protect citizens residing in other people's territory with the death of colonialism. Wasn't "protection of Japanese lives and property" one of the arguments used to keep the Japanese Army in Korea after the Sino-Japanese war? Iraq is a war zone, and Mr. Kim was taking a risk. He was ambitious, he had vision, and he had the courage to take risk. His death is a loss to Korea, but it was in the final analysis an act of war. Acts of war are not necessarily unactionable in law, but the real question for his family is: Who would pay the damages? The Korean government? The United States? Either of these can certainly raise the argument of "assumption of risk". The bin Laden family? Or perhaps whatever terrorist faction his killers came from? Riight. I hope these lawyers are on a contingency basis. Serve them right.

[Al-Qorea]

I only read the newspaper, that must be a crime to people like turn man. Turd-man. But not all people go gold hunting the day their kid dies. I am only supriesed because i think that kimsongil is a saint and pure. on another note. I have warned yangbang over and over of the william hung and kimgsongil relationship. and now the Hanky is talking about it.

its very sad. I only wish sombody like yangbag would have listened to me.

[al-Qorea]

this is from carthitdae, but its been what i have been saying all along. BTW, yes Qorea is exactly like the USA now that kimsongil mom is hunting for gold. this is just proof that Qorea and USA are exactly alike. heads up to kyopoScot for pointing that one out.

\"Kim\'s \"mother,\" the woman you\'ve seen in the pictures crying and passing out, is actually his third step-mother, and has only met Kim twice. In fact, one reporter asker her which college Kim attended and she gave an incorrect answer. So apparently, they weren\'t too close, though you wouldn\'t know that from the histrionics she displays whenever a camera is around.
Kim went Iraq to raise money for his studies because his father said he had no money to contribute to Kim\'s education. However, the sister is on the record as stating that Kim\'s Dad did have the cash, but just didn\'t want to part with it.쟅\'m told she\'s blaming her father for his death.
His family (or at least his parents) are suing the Korean government for a쟟illion won.
Some local Christian leaders are embarrassed by the way Kim pleaded for his life on the video tape. Remember, Kim쟷as a Christian and쟦ad a missionary streak in him.쟄is undignified departure from the world쟧s hardly a쟳hining example for other Christians to follow (and most definately some good propoganda for the terrorists).
With all these questions about Kim\'s family, the Korean public is not very tolerant of their claims for compensation. Public sentiment is not on their side\"

[Jeannie]

Please stop hurting Kim Sun-il and his family anymore! It is inhumane to say Kim's family is grasping for money. If possible, they would rather want Kim Sun-il to come back alive. It was not embarrassing to plead for life. No one can speak for Kim Sun-il unless we were actually in his shoes.