Korean-Americans Criticize US Beef Protests

I WAS WONDERING WHEN THE KOREANS, WHO LIVE IN THE USA, WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE STUPIDITY THAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY DAY WITH THE BEEF ISSUE. I AM GLAD THAT THEY SAID SOMETHING.

I figured it was only a matter of time before the Korean-American community weighed in on the current US beef nonsense going on in Korea:

The Korean American Association of Greater New York has blasted some media outlets in Seoul for, as the organization put it, irresponsibly reporting groundless claims on the safety of U.S. beef.

They said the beef that ethnic Koreans consume in the U.S. and that is exported to Korea are the same, stressing it as proof of the beef’s safety.

The association claimed the image of Korea and Koreans is deteriorating in the U.S. because of such people in Seoul who use the mad cow scare to block the import of U.S. beef. Members said the move will adversely affect their own effort to have the Congress ratify the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

They urged responsible reporting by the Korean media saying groundless claims can snowball out of control in Internet-savvy Korea, distorting public opinion and fanning anxiety. [KBS Global]

The supposed Korean gene that makes them more susceptible to mad cow disease is some how remedied once a Korean moves to America it seems. Must be something in the air I guess.

COMMENTS.........................................................................................................................................

That is what makes the beef issue a good one to use for my site whose target audience - when I’m writing the posts - is Americans who have no familiarity with Korean society:

The fact no mad cow disease scare has risen in American society some years after the initial case (rightfully) caused Korea to (temporarily) ban US beef is a no-brainier.

The extraordinary claims that have recently been flung out also help anybody see the problem with the anti-US habits.

The fact the groups were targeting high school students to promoting protesting is also a part of the anti-US habit over the last 5 to 10 years.

The media’s reaction to Lee’s visit to the US and the beef deal has also partly (just partly) validating my claim that Korean society feels more free to promote Korean nationalism through anti-Americanism (for domestic consumption) when a pro-US alliance conservative is in the Blue House.

And seeing some notes like the Joongang Daily’s editorial — which ripped into the beef-mongering like an expat in the K-blogsphere — is a hopeful sign that there has been some movement toward the positive the last 5 years and we will not see a full return to pre-2002/2003 anit-US habits.

If a few of the strong voices in the society, particularly in the media (and education), would stand up with a differing opinion from the anti-US types, it would be a lot better for Korea (and for us).

usinkorea on May 6th, 2008

how about the 100,000 Korean exchange students studying in America or the many Korean tourists as well? they’re all eating American beef!

i guess if it was against american beef, koreans in korea would find something to have a “beef” about (hah, that was a lame joke).

i am tired of people letting bitterness and anger poison them. it’s sad to see koreans have fallen into that trap.

btw i am korean-american, and only write the above because it worries me that south koreans seem not to realize who their allies are! if america isn’t south korea’s ally, then south korea has no allies =T

Boston_Rob on May 6th, 2008