Check Out Asadal

A very friendly and well-informed K-Blogger, who runs the blog 'Asadal Thought,' added some comments to my post about the decrease in honorific word usage. He allowed me to pick out some of his comments to post on here as a follow-up. Instead of picking random things out, however, I'll be posting most of it.

So here's what he had to say:

As for the judge example, I think they were wrong to translate “beoreuteopda (버릇없다)” as "rude," because it's actually stronger than that. A "beoreut" is actually a habit, or a manner, which makes it more similar to saying "you've got no manners," which I think is more a comment on a person's character than simply a comment on someone's actions at a certain point in time.

That said, I agree with you that a certain level of manners and politeness should be required in court. It's interesting the article never actually mentions who the guy was. When I read it first I got the impression he was the defendant, but looking back over it it never actually says this. Surely the actual defendant would have better sense than to be rude to a judge. But still, rude is rude, and I also agree that the judge seemed to be well within his rights to reprimand him. Perhaps there would have been a better way of doing it though, as it's not very becoming of someone in such an official position as a judge to be telling people they have no manners. Maybe a good old "such behaviour is not acceptable in court. I will have to ask you to refrain," would have been better.

It's true that recently officials have got a bit of a reputation for unnecessary rudeness, and as an outsider I might be inclined to put that down to an abuse of the authority and respect bestowed upon them by their position in a Confucian context. I've written about the altered nature of Confucianism in the Korean education system before in this post, and I think a lot of it's relevant in a wider Korean context as well.

As for judges, I think they should really use the most formal, neutral words. After all, the principle requirement for their job is to be impartial, and it's hard to do so if you're speaking to people in a way in which you know can be considered rude.

He followed that up, as well, with a better explanation of "imnida" (입니다) an "yo" (요):

Neither is more polite than the other. Therefore, a student using the "yo" form to a teacher is not being rude. They are being informal but polite, and this is considered appropriate. The other form you mentioned, that drops the "yo," is known as the impolite informal, but it's important to note that if it's used in the appropriate situation - such as to a friend or someone close but younger - it is also not rude or improper. Then you have the honourific forms, which involve using the honourific infix, shi (시), which is irregular in the "yo" form. This means that the verb to do (하다), becomes in the honourific forms of each form: 하십니다 (honourific polite formal), 하세요 (honourific polite informal), 하셔 (honourific impolite informal).

Use of the first set of forms depends on the situation - who you are talking to, where you are, etc. Use of the second set, the ones with the honourific infix, is determined by who is doing the action as well as the situation. So, if I was talking to a close friend, asking them when their parents are coming, I could say "언제 오셔?" I've dropped the "yo" because I'm talking to my friend - the situation doesn't require it, but because it's their parents who are doing the action I'm inquiring about, I also include the honourific infix.
So as you can see, he knows what he's talking about. His blog has a lot of really great cultural posts that are definitely worth checking out. I've added him to my blogroll, on the left, so you can get in on his thoughts, as well.

South Korea Warm Up Against Ivory Coast

South Korea will face the Ivory Coast next month in London as a warm up to the World Cup. This is certainly a good test for the Taegeuk Warriors.

Ivory Coast is one of the strongest teams in Africa. Even though they famously flamed out at this year's Africa Cup of Nations, they're still considered by many to be a darkhorse as the first possible African World Cup champions. At the veyr least, I've read at least one soccer writer who pegged them to get to the finals.

Ivory Coast matches up well against any team in the world (except maybe Spain) with the fire power they have up front in Didier Drogba. But the rest of the squad leaves a lot to be desired. If the Koreans can control the midfield -- which they should be able to do -- they could easily sneak a 1-0 win on this one.

However, if they let balls get up front to Drogba, they won't have much of a chance.

Nut Job Released

North Korean officials are, for some strange reason, releasing Robert Park back to the United States. Park, 28, was caught Dec. 25 when, like an idiot, he crossed into North Korea from China on a missio to bring God's love to the North.

Park originally said he wouldn't leave until all the political prisoners were released. He seems to have changed his tune a bit, if the CNN.com article is accurate.

From the story:

'In reporting the release, the Korea Central News Agency said, "The relevant organ of the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] decided to leniently forgive and release him, taking his admission and sincere repentance of his wrongdoings into consideration."'

Well, that's a pretty weak missionary, isn't it? He went in with this big goal of his, and ended up giving that up pretty quickly. I'm not so sure Jesus would've ever let this guy crack the Big 12, or even the top 100.

Another interesting piece of the story:

'KCNA earlier carried a lengthy account of what were said to be Park's misunderstandings about the North and how they had been proved wrong since he had crossed the border.

During an interview with North Korean authorities, he reportedly told investigators that "he was taken in by the false rumor spread by the West and committed a criminal act in the end."'

Ah, now it's starting to make sense. He was taken in by false rumors from the West. So, let me get this straight, and keep in mind that I'm being totally sarcastic and cynical. This crazy, embarrassing excuse for a human being wondered into the North on this grand mission from God. But, he was apparently treated quite well by the officials and citizens.

So, he decided that maybe all that stuff about political prisons, people dying of starvation and other terrible stories are just myths that the West thought up for no good reason.

Well, that makes perfect sense to me. But, one quick questions ... Do we have to take this guy back???

Honorific Words Decreasing?

A Korea Times column says there is a big decrease in the use of honorific words in the country. One of the trademarks of the Korean language is the fact that different endings on words and phrases signifies the level of respect and honor it shows the person to whom you're speaking.

There are three levels. One is super-polite, where "im ni da" is on the end of everything. This is the one that would be used for grandparents or bosses. The next one is formal but not overly polite. This is the one that puts "yo" on the end of everything. It can be used with friends who or older than you or carry a higher job title.

The last one drops the endings altogether and simply uses the word or phrase itself. Sometimes, "ya" is put on the end of this one because it is more comfortable for Koreans to end statements and words with that sound.

The weird thing is the anecdote the column uses to display its proof of a drop off.

From the column:

'This concern was highlighted recently when a 39-year-old judge reprimanded a 69-year-old man during a trial, saying the latter was behaving “rude.”

Many Koreans found the “young” judge’s remark very “inappropriate.” The oldman indeed may have behaved in an ill-mannered way. But in the Korean language, the term “beo reut eop da” (rude) is exclusively used by an older person in rebuking someone who is younger. For many Koreans, the judge’s remark was unacceptable because the role was reversed and he was 20 years junior to the oldman.'

 I understand the guy was older, but -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- a judge is in a position of authority and should be the one commanding the most respect in that room. It shouldn't matter that the man was older. And for that matter, he was on trial and probably was being quite rude.

I don't know how society used to be, but I can tell you that students ALMOST NEVER use the polite forms of words. Ninety percent of them only use the casual to teachers, other adults and authority figures.

Koreans my age and a little older still know to use the super-polite with their bosses and other superiors, but I don't hear them use it when speaking to their parents or grandparents. I understand that it's family so they're very close, but by conditioning them not to use it like that, it only makes sense that it becomes less frequent.

I use the formal "yo" almost all the time. With my very close Korean friends, with younger Korean friends and even with students most of the time, I use the "yo." I realize I don't have to, but it puts me in the habit of using it. That way, if I am talking to a boss or grandparents or someone like that, I'm conditioned to be polite.

It's true that many foreigners learning the language don't do this. Now, many of those who learn only learn survival words and phrases. They understand that there are different levels of formality, but they aren't concerned with learning it, using the fact they're foreign as a way to excuse themselves from it.

It does make me cringe when I am with someone who uses a Korean phrases without an honorific ending. I don't want to be grouped in as someone who doesn't respect the country enough to be polite and formal. Of course, that's why I try to do most of the talking when it's to Koreans. Haha.

Brian Deutsch Leaving Korea

A fond farewell goes out to Brian Deutsch. Brian is a fellow Pittsburgher and the current premier KBlogger in the land. A link to his blog can be found on the left side of my blog.

Everyone should go check out the profile done on him by The Korea Times. It's certainly worth reading.

Brian served the foreigner community very well with his blog, and certainly there is a huge hole to fill when he goes.

Thanks for everything, Brian!

Chinese and North Korean Officials Meet

China, the one country with any real diplomatic ties to North Korea, sent an envoy over this week to have a discussion. Though an official statement has not yet been released about the topic, South Korean agencies have relayed their ideas.

From the story:

'On Sunday, Wang and North Korean Workers' Party officials held talks in Pyongyang and exchanged views on strengthening ties between the communist neighbors and "matters of mutual concern," the official Korean Central News Agency said in a brief dispatch. ...

 'South Korean media, including the Yonhap news agency, have reported that Wang's trip to North Korea appears aimed at pushing the communist North to rejoin the six-party talks on dismantling its nuclear program in return for aid and other benefits.'

Realistically, China probably has the best chance at persuading the North back into nuclear dismantling talks. The North sees the Chinese as an ally, whereas they see the US as an enemy.

But at the end of the story, North Korean officials reiterated that they would like to build a better relationship with the US. I suppose the best way for North Korea to go would be to get on the good sides of the world's two reigning super-powers. Not a bad move, there.

Floating Island Makes Headlines

A small story about Seoul's man-made island in the middle of the Han River was on Yahoo News. The island will be party of an entertainment complex. There hasn't been much talk of it in the English-language news over here yet, but I'm sure when it nears completion, we'll hear more about it.

From the story:

'"We hope that the floating island will serve as Seoul's new landmark," a Seoul city government spokeswoman said.'