By Burt Herman, Associated Press SEOUL — The reaction to the Virginia Tech massacre in the nation where the shooter was born has been an outpouring of sympathy mixed with feelings of shame. There are also concerns that going too far in apologizing would make it appear South Korea is unjustifiably taking some blame for the killings.
Expressions of regret have ranged from candlelight vigils and religious services to online tributes. South Korea's ambassador to the U.S. proposed the idea of Koreans living in America taking turns in a 32-day fast to honor each of the victims.
President Roh Moo-hyan has expressed condolences four times — the first before it even emerged the culprit was a South Korean immigrant, followed by words of sympathy to the American people and to President Bush.
"This is a sensitive time," the leading Chosun Ilbo daily cautioned in an editorial. "We must ensure that our true intentions, to share the sorrow, can travel across the ocean and reach the hearts of grieving Americans."
Cho Seung-Hui left South Korea as a boy and lived in the United States for more than 14 years, where he apparently grew into a deeply troubled young man whose murderous spree was facilitated by easy access to guns. 조승희는 한국을 떠났고 미국에서 14년보다 더 많은 세월을 보냈다. 그는 총을 쉽게 구할수있는 공간에서 자랐다. (총을쉽게구할수있었던 버지니아를 말하는거겠죠)
Much of the reaction to Cho's nationality in his native land is colored by South Korea's keen awareness of its national image. South Korea is obsessed with how it is perceived by the outside world, and its group-oriented culture means the achievements of the few are marshaled into rallying cries for the many.
"Koreans think very much in terms of national identity rather than individual identity,"
"한국사람들은 국가전체의 본질을 개인적인 본질보다 더 중요시여긴다" (개인적으로 좋은말이라고 생각합니다) said Michael Breen, author of the book "The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies."
South Koreans are quick to take group credit even from afar. The most notable recent example is Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver Hines Ward, the offspring of an African-American father and Korean mother, who was feted as a national hero after he was named Most Valuable Player in the 2006 Super Bowl — even though he and American football were virtually unknown here before.
But that sense of collective pride has also meant Koreans fear facing group reprisal after Cho's shooting spree.
There are worries about everything from personal assaults to possible fallout for a proposed free trade agreement between Seoul and Washington or long-held hopes of relaxed U.S. visa requirements for South Koreans.
The deputy head of the U.S. Embassy in South Korea reassured Koreans in a speech Friday they should not feel any collective guilt and that the shooting would have no bearing on U.S.-South Korean ties 미국대사관장관이 말하길, 모든한국사람들은 이 사건에 대해 죄스럽게 생각하지 않아도 됀다. (그냥 이장관에게 고맙기만 하네요) — forged after American forces came to South Korea's defense in the 1950-53 Korean War.
"This tragic incident will have no influence on our bilateral relationship. It was an act of one individual," said Deputy Chief of Mission William Stanton. 이 비극적인 우발적사건이 한국과 미국사이의 관계에 아무런 영향이 가지안을것입니다. 이 사건은 한사람이 저지른 일입니다. (나라전체에 비난을 하지 않은것에 또 감사하기만 합니다)
Part of the reason South Koreans may express fears of reprisals is because of what could have transpired had the situation been reversed and an American student went on a rampage at a South Korean campus, noted Breen.
For example, when two girls were killed in a traffic accident involving a U.S. military vehicle in 2002, South Korea was gripped with anti-American fervor whipped up by mass protests. The mood was fanned by politicians seeking a boost in that year's presidential vote that brought Roh to power with a promise not to "kowtow" to the U.S.
Since Monday's shootings, however, there have been no signs of any reprisals against Koreans in the United States.
"It will be very instructive to Koreans to watch the reaction of Americans," Breen, a Briton, said of the response to the shooting rampage. "They know it's more gracious than their own reaction would be."
The shooting story has been the top news this week in all South Korean media — as it would be even in the absence of a Korean connection, given the scale of the massacre that has shaken the country's key ally.
Media here have also reported on the rest of the world's coverage of the event, and appeared to display a sense of relief that their reporting focused on U.S. gun culture along with Cho's psychological problems as the main factors behind the rampage.
The shootings have also led South Korea to embark on some soul-searching about its children and the ever-increasing pressures they face amid cutthroat competition at school. Writing in the Hankyoreh newspaper, columnist Sin Ki-sup said there were other young people like Cho who are "lost in despair and rage" and called on parents to help.
"The beginning of a solution will be the recognition that the dreams of young people are in a state of collapse," Sin wrote. "Dreams that have collapsed might not be revivable, but if we share their pain, we might help them begin to dream new dreams."
bryten wrote: 1h 27m ago Personally I know no one who blames Korea or Koreans as a group. Cho, as an individual, made this choice. It just happens that he was Korean. I would hope if an American did such an act Korea would not judge all Americans as a group by the actions of one person.
Part of the racial problem is people assume the actions of one person reflects on the entire culture. Face it...individuals who are violent act alone. They are connected to no race...just themselves. Korea..stand proud for who you are.You are not to blame 이사람은 개인적으로 한국전체와 한국사람을 비난하는 사람을 아는사람이 없다고 하네요.조승희, 이 한사람이 자기자신이 정한일이라고 자신의 생각을 말하네요. 인종의 문제중에 하나가 한사람이 저지를 나쁜 일때문에 그 나라의 전체의 문화를 나쁘게 생각하는것이 문제라고 생각한다고 합니다. 대면하라고 하네요. 폭력적인 일을 한사람들은 인종과 상관없다고 말하네요. 이건 그냥 그사람들에게 연관되어있다고 하네요. 대한민국...긍지를 가지고 기립하라. 자기가 누구인지를 자랑스럽게 여겨라. 당신은 비난받을 상대가 아니다. 인기가 있다면 또 올리겠습니다.수시로 뉴스도 보고 기사도 읽고있으니깐 괜찮습니다. 대한민국!! 이사람의 말처럼 우리 우리가 누구인지에 대해서 자랑스럽게 생각합시다! 부족한글 일어주셔서 감사합니다.
미국이본대한민국과조승희
뉴욕에서 공부하고있는 한 학생입니다.
요즘 故조승희의 총격사건때문에 미국과 한국 그리고 전세계가
흔들렸는데요.. 학교에서 가끔 기분나쁜말도 들을때있긴하지만,
좋지않은 눈길 받을때 있지만.. 그래도 참아냈습니다.
여기서 울면 넌 지는거다. 내가 잘못한게 아니다. 한국이 잘못한게 아니다.
이건 조승희 이사람의 개인적인 문제였을뿐이다. 내가 기죽을일이 아니다.
이렇게 되네이면서 학교 다녀왔습니다.
오늘 한 미국싸이트에서 보게됀건데요..
해석은 중요하다고 생각하는 부분만 하겠습니다.
Sympathy and shame in South Korea
By Burt Herman, Associated Press SEOUL — The reaction to the Virginia Tech massacre in the nation where the shooter was born has been an outpouring of sympathy mixed with feelings of shame. There are also concerns that going too far in apologizing would make it appear South Korea is unjustifiably taking some blame for the killings.Expressions of regret have ranged from candlelight vigils and religious services to online tributes. South Korea's ambassador to the U.S. proposed the idea of Koreans living in America taking turns in a 32-day fast to honor each of the victims.
President Roh Moo-hyan has expressed condolences four times — the first before it even emerged the culprit was a South Korean immigrant, followed by words of sympathy to the American people and to President Bush.
"This is a sensitive time," the leading Chosun Ilbo daily cautioned in an editorial. "We must ensure that our true intentions, to share the sorrow, can travel across the ocean and reach the hearts of grieving Americans."
Cho Seung-Hui left South Korea as a boy and lived in the United States for more than 14 years, where he apparently grew into a deeply troubled young man whose murderous spree was facilitated by easy access to guns. 조승희는 한국을 떠났고 미국에서 14년보다 더 많은 세월을 보냈다. 그는 총을 쉽게 구할수있는 공간에서 자랐다. (총을쉽게구할수있었던 버지니아를 말하는거겠죠)
Much of the reaction to Cho's nationality in his native land is colored by South Korea's keen awareness of its national image. South Korea is obsessed with how it is perceived by the outside world, and its group-oriented culture means the achievements of the few are marshaled into rallying cries for the many.
"Koreans think very much in terms of national identity rather than individual identity,"
"한국사람들은 국가전체의 본질을 개인적인 본질보다 더 중요시여긴다" (개인적으로 좋은말이라고 생각합니다) said Michael Breen, author of the book "The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies."
South Koreans are quick to take group credit even from afar. The most notable recent example is Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver Hines Ward, the offspring of an African-American father and Korean mother, who was feted as a national hero after he was named Most Valuable Player in the 2006 Super Bowl — even though he and American football were virtually unknown here before.
But that sense of collective pride has also meant Koreans fear facing group reprisal after Cho's shooting spree.
There are worries about everything from personal assaults to possible fallout for a proposed free trade agreement between Seoul and Washington or long-held hopes of relaxed U.S. visa requirements for South Koreans.
The deputy head of the U.S. Embassy in South Korea reassured Koreans in a speech Friday they should not feel any collective guilt and that the shooting would have no bearing on U.S.-South Korean ties 미국대사관장관이 말하길, 모든한국사람들은 이 사건에 대해 죄스럽게 생각하지 않아도 됀다. (그냥 이장관에게 고맙기만 하네요) — forged after American forces came to South Korea's defense in the 1950-53 Korean War.
"This tragic incident will have no influence on our bilateral relationship. It was an act of one individual," said Deputy Chief of Mission William Stanton. 이 비극적인 우발적사건이 한국과 미국사이의 관계에 아무런 영향이 가지안을것입니다. 이 사건은 한사람이 저지른 일입니다. (나라전체에 비난을 하지 않은것에 또 감사하기만 합니다)
Part of the reason South Koreans may express fears of reprisals is because of what could have transpired had the situation been reversed and an American student went on a rampage at a South Korean campus, noted Breen.
For example, when two girls were killed in a traffic accident involving a U.S. military vehicle in 2002, South Korea was gripped with anti-American fervor whipped up by mass protests. The mood was fanned by politicians seeking a boost in that year's presidential vote that brought Roh to power with a promise not to "kowtow" to the U.S.
Since Monday's shootings, however, there have been no signs of any reprisals against Koreans in the United States.
"It will be very instructive to Koreans to watch the reaction of Americans," Breen, a Briton, said of the response to the shooting rampage. "They know it's more gracious than their own reaction would be."
The shooting story has been the top news this week in all South Korean media — as it would be even in the absence of a Korean connection, given the scale of the massacre that has shaken the country's key ally.
Media here have also reported on the rest of the world's coverage of the event, and appeared to display a sense of relief that their reporting focused on U.S. gun culture along with Cho's psychological problems as the main factors behind the rampage.
The shootings have also led South Korea to embark on some soul-searching about its children and the ever-increasing pressures they face amid cutthroat competition at school. Writing in the Hankyoreh newspaper, columnist Sin Ki-sup said there were other young people like Cho who are "lost in despair and rage" and called on parents to help.
"The beginning of a solution will be the recognition that the dreams of young people are in a state of collapse," Sin wrote. "Dreams that have collapsed might not be revivable, but if we share their pain, we might help them begin to dream new dreams."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-20-virginia-tech-skorea_N.htm?csp=34
이주소는 제가 글을 가져온 주소입니다.
그리고 하나 더.. 이 글밑에 코맨트가 달려있더군요.
그래서 한번 올려봅니다.
Comments: (1)
bryten wrote: 1h 27m ago Personally I know no one who blames Korea or Koreans as a group. Cho, as an individual, made this choice. It just happens that he was Korean. I would hope if an American did such an act Korea would not judge all Americans as a group by the actions of one person.Part of the racial problem is people assume the actions of one person reflects on the entire culture. Face it...individuals who are violent act alone. They are connected to no race...just themselves. Korea..stand proud for who you are.You are not to blame 이사람은 개인적으로 한국전체와 한국사람을 비난하는 사람을 아는사람이 없다고 하네요.조승희, 이 한사람이 자기자신이 정한일이라고 자신의 생각을 말하네요. 인종의 문제중에 하나가 한사람이 저지를 나쁜 일때문에 그 나라의 전체의 문화를 나쁘게 생각하는것이 문제라고 생각한다고 합니다. 대면하라고 하네요. 폭력적인 일을 한사람들은 인종과 상관없다고 말하네요. 이건 그냥 그사람들에게 연관되어있다고 하네요. 대한민국...긍지를 가지고 기립하라. 자기가 누구인지를 자랑스럽게 여겨라. 당신은 비난받을 상대가 아니다. 인기가 있다면 또 올리겠습니다.수시로 뉴스도 보고 기사도 읽고있으니깐 괜찮습니다. 대한민국!! 이사람의 말처럼 우리 우리가 누구인지에 대해서 자랑스럽게 생각합시다! 부족한글 일어주셔서 감사합니다.