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Subject: Scary Suicidal South Korean Soldiers
SYSOP    8/27/2014 6:05:21 AM
 
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Gerry       8/27/2014 11:26:08 PM
"Koreans, in general, are pretty macho" No, Koreans in general have always been brutal. While their reputation during WWII as brutal guards, to the brutality of their police, to the brutality of their troops today, are the out crop of a historically brutal history towards its populace. When the Japanese took over in 1912 it was estimated over 80% of the people where considered in slavery. Slaves learn from their masters on how to treat others with no rank or influence. With no others in their society to temper their cruel ways the tradition continues.
 
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WK936       9/22/2014 1:22:56 PM
The general impression of the Japanese of the Koreans during WWII was one of derision, contempt and undervaluation, not of cruelty.  The Japanese did not see the Koreans as fit for military service due to their perceived inferior moral and non-martial history.  The General Govenor of Korea specifically used the words of "scholar history" and "effeminate culture" to describe the Koreans.  Of the millions of eligible young Korean males, only a little over 17k were put under arms where as the vast majority (2.3 million-ish) were given over to conscripted labor duties.
 
Of the Koreans given weapons, many of them were put to work as prison guards so the Japanese can keep a close watch on them.  It is important to know that in almost every occasion, the officers responsible for overseeing Korean prison guards were Japanese.  If any abuses took place by Korean guards, it is most certainly the Japanese officers' responsibility to curb and/or otherwise curtail their abuses.  It is clear that the Japanese were derelict in their responsibilities. 
 
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WK936       9/22/2014 1:52:57 PM
Regarding supposed "slavery" of the Korean population, by the late 19th century only 1/3 of the Korean population were of the "&*5432;&*8708;" (nobi) class, not 80%.  The better translation of this term should be "serf" rather than slave, particularly given how Americans understand the term "slave" to be.  Nobi were allowed to own property, marry yangban class as 2nd wives, marry and have children out of their own volition.  The hanja for &*5432;&*8708; is &>2900;&>3138; or more like "servant" or "indentured servant."  The true hanja for slave (as a Westerner would understand it) is "&>2900;&&8584;" or "&*5432;&o0696;" (Norye).
 
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