How Will Korea React?

I admit that I still often don’t get why some events (the accident case) create riots on the Korean Street when others (the shameful way China treats North Koreans) don’t even create a murmur. Peoples’ emotions tend to conform to their political preconceptions, but there must be more to it. The sheer brutality and senselessness of the murder of a Korean by a foreigner—on videotape—will certainly set off plenty of famously hot Korean tempers. My wife’s reaction was the most interesting to me, particularly because she said it so calmly and frankly: “The people who did this don’t understand Koreans. Indeed. Today’s Chosun said, “The act of barbarity by the terrorists must be penalized.” Uh-oh.

Kim Seon-Il’s murder is big news in America, too, and has been just as emotional for my co-workers as Paul Johnson’s murder last week. Inevitably, the topic turns to the Koreans who fought in Vietnam and their reputation for iron discipline and for taking terrible and effective revenge when attacked. During my visit there just five years ago, many Vietnamese were still scared of Koreans.

I suspect that younger Koreans who opposed the Iraq deployment will blame America for what happened and oppose the deployment even more. I also suspect that a majority of Koreans will feel a fierce, culturally ingrained desire for collective vengeance. On the whole, this would not be the best time to be an Iraqi prisoner in a Korean army camp . . . or a muslim in Korea with an expiring visa.