South Korea's counter card is...

[앵커]

[Anchor]

이렇게 한·미 간의 시각차가 큰 만큼 앞으로 협상이 매우 치열할 걸로 예상이 됩니다. 미 국방부 보고서를 저희가 분석을 해보니까 일단 미국 측은 '주한미군 운영유지비'란 항목을 크게 늘려 잡아서 우리 정부를 압박할 것으로 보입니다.
With this wide gap in views between South Korea and the U.S., we expect the negotiations to be very intense. Our analysis of the U.S. Defense Department report shows that the U.S. will significantly increase the "U.S. military operation and maintenance costs" to pressure our government.

양측이 협상 테이블에서 꺼내놓을 '핵심 논리'가 무엇인지, 김소현 기자가 정리해드리겠습니다.

Reporter Kim So-hyun will summarize what the "core logic" the two sides will bring to the negotiating table.

[기자]
[Reporter]

미 국방부가 지난 3월에 낸 보고서입니다. 지난해 주한미군 주둔에 43억 달러를 썼다고 돼 있습니다.
This is a report from the U.S. Department of Defense. It says that it spent $4.3 billion on U.S. military stationed in South Korea Korea last year.

그런데 1년 전 보고서를 보니 원래 예산은 31억 달러였습니다. 계획보다 41%나 더 쓴 겁니다. 왜 이렇게 늘었나를 봤더니, '운영 및 유지 비용'이 크게 는 걸로 나옵니다. 10억 달러를 잡아놓고는 무려 22억 달러를 쓴 겁니다.
But a year ago, a report showed that the original budget was $3.1 billion. That's a 41 percent increase to the planned budget. What was the reason for this increase? “Operation and maintenance costs” were very high; first taking $1.0 billion and then spending $2.2 billion dollars.

하지만 일단 운영유지비란 개념 자체가 너무 포괄적이란 지적이 나옵니다. 2만 8천 명 주한미군이 5만 명인 주일미군보다 더 많은 운영유지비를 쓴 데 대해서도 설명이 필요합니다. 그럼에도 미국은 일단 지난해 쓴 돈을 근거로, 올해도 주한미군 주둔에 44억 달러, 우리 돈 5조 2천억 원을 쓰겠단 계획입니다.

However, it is pointed out that the concept of “operation and maintenance costs” is too comprehensive (broad). We also need to explain how 28,000 U.S. troops in Korea spent more maintenance than 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan. Still, the U.S. plans to spend 4.4 billion dollars (5.2 trillion won) on the U.S. troop presence in South Korea this year, based on the money it spent last year.

이렇게 되면 방위비 규모가 커지고, 우리 측 분담금도 늘어날 수밖에 없습니다. 물론 이런 미국 측 논리에 맞서서 우리 정부가 준비한 방어 논리도 있습니다.
If things go ahead as planned this would dramatically increase the defense budget and increase our share. Of course, there is a defense logic prepared by our government against this kind of U.S. logic.

대표적으로, 우리가 미국산 무기를 얼마나 많이 사는지를 상기시키는 것도 하나의 전략이 될 거란 게 정부 관계자의 설명입니다.
당장 지난달 정상회담에서 문재인 대통령은 앞으로 3년간 미국산 무기 12조 원어치를 더 살 거라고 밝힌 바 있습니다.

A government official explained that a strategy would be to remind the U.S. of how many U.S. weapons South Korea buys. At the summit last month, President Moon said the South Korean government would purchase 12 trillion won of US military weapons over the next three years.

이와 함께, 방위비 말고 우리 정부 예산으로도 미군을 많이 지원하고 있다는 점도 강조될 걸로 보입니다. 올해 나온 국방백서에 따르면 우리 정부는 2015년에 이미 주한미군 주둔의 직간접 지원에 5조 4000억 원을 썼습니다.
In addition, it will be emphasized that the South Korean government is providing a lot of support for the U.S. military, not just for the defense cost. According to this year's South Korean Defense white paper, in 2015 the Korean government spent 5.4 trillion won on direct and indirect support for the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

카투사를 지원하고, 미군의 부동산이나 통신선 사용료 등을 내느라 쓴 국방예산이 적지 않은 건데, 협상장에서 우리 대표단이 내놓기에 적절한 근거입니다.

The defense budget spent to support KATUSAs, U.S. military real estate costs, and communication costs is a lot, but it is an appropriate base for our delegation to bring up at the negotiation table.

https://n.news.naver.com/article/437/0000222669
(영상디자인 : 조승우·백성현)
김소현 기자 (highlight@jtbc.co.kr) [영상편집: 최다희]

ROK-Japan Relations: Prisoner of the Past

The current geo-political tension in East Asia is at its normal 11 on a scale of 1-10: US-NK negotiations, Japan-Korea trade/boycott standoff, and US-China relations.

The following conversation is a very normal occurrence in almost every interaction with Korean speaking people here in the United States; particularly those of the older generation.

Me: “Hello.”

Korean Speaker: “I heard you speak Korean, lived in Korea?”

Me: “Yes…that’s right. I loved it.”

Korean Speaker: “What do you do now?”

Me: “I do research on East Asia. I research, report, and publish about East Asia: China, South Korea, North Korea, and Japan.”

Korean Speaker: “Japan is bad.”

Me: “Excuse me?”

Korean Speaker: “Japan is bad. Worse than Nazis….Why do you Americans like the Japanese?”

Me: “Um….er….worse than the Nazis?”

Korean Speaker: “Yes, they are terrible. Why do you Americans like the Japanese?”

Me: “America fought against the Japanese in World War II. It was terrible. Many people died. War is awful. It only ended because America dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan. It was terrible. It should never happen again. Thankfully World War II is in the past and we have all moved on.”

Actually, I never get around to saying the last comment about “World War II and nuclear bombs and moving on,” but I always think it. I usually just listen to their viewpoint, nod my head in agreement, and wish them a lovely day. I have found that it wouldn’t matter much what I’d said, trust me I have tried. They weren’t there for discussion, they were there to recruit me for their team. It was tribal politics at its best; join our team (South Korea, North Korea, and China) against the “evil Japanese” and let’s get revenge for World War II and the colonial period. Get revenge? Get reparations? You must be kidding.

South Koreans participate in a rally to denounce Japan’s new trade restrictions. Chung Sung Jun - Getty Images

https://www.telegraph.co.uk

Members of the Our Future Party stage a performance to urge the Korean government to boycott the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. [NEWS1]

(AP photo by Ahn Young-joon).

But this is the current state of affairs in East Asia. As the political, economic, and cultural power of South Korea and China has grown by leaps and bounds, so has anti-Japanese rhetoric and sentiment. I FEAR IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.

How much more should the Japanese people suffer? How many more nuclear bombs should we drop to satiate this blood lust? Certainly being a political, cultural, and economic leader of the world is enough for the South Korean ethnic-nationalists? Everyone loves the Korean Wave. Everyone loves K-pop. Everyone loves Gangnam style, Korean BBQ, and karaoke. Everyone loves Korean traditional dress, spicy rice cakes, and fried chicken. We don’t need to hate Japan in order to love Korea, do we? If that is the case, then Korean culture and politics, unfortunately, seems not yet ready to lead on a global stage.

No Apology from Moon Administration

PHOTO: EPA-EFE

더불어민주당 김병관 의원은 24일 주한 미국 대사관저 집단 난입 사건과 관련해 "해리 해리스 주한 미국 대사가 우리 정부에 섭섭함을 전달했다"고 밝혔다.
On Monday, Rep. Kim Byung-kwan of the Democratic Party (더불어민주당) of South Korea said that U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris conveyed “regret ” to the South Korean government over the mass raid of the U.S. Embassy residence in Seoul.

김 의원은 이날 오전 국회 행정안전위원회 종합감사에서 "미 대사관저 침입 사건 이후 해리스 대사를 만났다. 해리스 대사가 약간 섭섭함을 전달하더라"며 "침입 과정에서 미 대사관 직원 두 명이 약간 다쳤다고 한다. 그것에 대해 우리 정부 당국 그 누구도 미안함을 표명한 적이 없다고 한다"고 했다. 김 의원은 민갑룡 경찰청장에게 "민 청장이 외교부와 상황을 정확히 파악해서 사과가 필요하다"고 말했고, 민 청장은 "알겠다"고 답했다.
In a general audit of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee earlier in the day, Kim met with Harris after the U.S. Embassy invasion. "I'm a little bit disappointed," Harris said, "I'm told that two U.S. embassy staff members were slightly injured during the security breach. No one from the South Korean government has yet to express any sort of an apology.” Kim told the National Police Agency Commissioner Min Gap-ryong, “that in understanding the situation an apology is needed” from Min. Commissioner Min flaty responded, “Okay.”

해리스 대사는 지난 19일 자신의 트위터에 관저 침입 사건에 대한 개인적 입장을 트위터에 적어 올렸다. 경찰에 대한 감사 표현이 들어갔지만, 서울 중심부에서 '13개월 만에 두 번째 일어난 사건'이라는 표현이 담겨 불편함을 내비친 것이라는 해석이 나왔다. 이에 대해 미국의소리(VOA) 방송은 "(해리스 대사가) 우회적으로 불편함을 내비쳤다"고 보도했다.

On October 19th Ambassador Harris tweeted his personal position on the security breach of his residence. He expressed gratitude for the National Police and also commented that this security breach was “the second in 13 months.” Voice of America (VOA) reported that this was “Ambassador Harris’ indirect way of expressing displeasure.”

김병관 의원이 이날 국감에서 전한 해리스 대사의 섭섭함도 관저 난입 사건 자체 뿐 아니라 한국 정부의 사후 태도에 대한 불편한 마음이 담겨 있다는 해석이 나온다.

Some analysts say that Harris' regret, which Kim Byung-kwan conveyed at the parliamentary inspection, was not only regarding the security breach of his residence but also the Korean government's post-mortem attitude.

한편 행안위 여당 간사인 민주당 홍익표 의원도 민 청장에게 "미국 대사관 뿐만 아니라 주요 공관에 등급을 매겨 경비 수준을 강화하는 방안을 외교부와 협의해서 만들어달라"고 말했다. 민 청장은 "외교부와 협의해 추진해 나가고 있다"고 답변했다.

Meanwhile, Hong Ik-pyo, a party official of the ruling Democratic Party (민주당), also told Min “to appraise the cost of not only the US Embassy but the official residence and strengthen the security level.” Min responded by saying, "We will push ahead after first consulting with the South Korean Foreign Ministry."

출처 : http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/10/24/2019102401257.html

President Moon begs for peace

President Moon speaks at the National Assembly on the 2020 budget. - Yonhap News

문 대통령 “한반도 비핵화, 항구적 평화 마지막 고비…북 호응 촉구”

President Moon, “Korean Peninsula (Han Peninsula) Denuclearization, Last Hurdle for Permanent Peace…Urges Positive Response from North Korea.”

앵커: 문재인 한국 대통령이 한반도 비핵화 문제야말로 항구적 평화로 가기 위한 마지막 고비라며 북한의 호응을 거듭 촉구했습니다.

서울의 서재덕 기자가 보도합니다.

Anchor: South Korean President Moon says the problem of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is the last hurdle to a permanent peace; urging a positive response from North Korea.

Reporter Jae-deok Seo of Seoul reports.

22일 내년 예산안 시정연설을 위해 한국 국회를 찾은 문재인 한국 대통령. 문재인 대통령은 이 자리에서 답보상태에 놓인 현 비핵화 국면을 언급하며 지금이 항구적 평화로 가기 위한 마지막 고비라고 평가했습니다.

22, Moon Jae-in Korean president found the Korean National Assembly for an administrative policy speech next year's budget proposal. Moon Jae-in, the president here at a standstill, citing the denuclearization of the situation now was evaluated last moment of truth, to go to permanent peace.

그러면서 북한의 비핵화 문제야말로 한국을 비롯한 국제사회가 넘어야 할 벽이라고 강조했습니다. 문 대통령은 핵과 미사일 위협이 증폭되던 2년 전과 비교하면 국제사회가 가야할 길은 명백하다며 대화를 통한 북핵 문제 해결을 제시했습니다.

He also stressed that the issue of North Korea's denuclearization, beginning with South Korea along with the international community must get over this wall. President Moon said the international community's path is clear compared to two years ago with the escalation of nuclear and missile threats; suggesting a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue.

미국과 북한은 지난 5일 하노이 정상회담 결렬 이후 7개월여 만에 비핵화 실무협상에 나섰지만 협의는 별다른 소득없이 끝났습니다.

문 대통령은 이어 강한 안보가 필수적이라며 국방비를 증액할 것이라는 뜻도 밝혔습니다.

The U.S. and North Korea, after the collapse of the Hanoi summit, seven months later began working-level negotiations on denuclearization, but the talks ended without any different results. President Moon went on to say that strong security is essential and that he will increase defense spending.

문재인 한국 대통령: 지금 한국의 안보 중점은 대북 억지력이지만 언젠가 통일이 된다 해도 열강 속에서 당당한 주권국가가 되기 위해선 강한 안보 능력을 갖춰야 합니다. 문 대통령은 내년도 국방비를 426억여 달러 이상으로 책정했다며 차세대 한국산 잠수함과 정찰위성 등 핵심 방어체계를 보강할 것이라고 밝혔습니다.

President Jae-In Moon: “Right now South Korea’s national security focus towards North Korea is deterrence, but even if unification happens, in order to become a powerful sovereign state in the midst of great powers, we must have a strong security capability. President Moon said, “He has set aside more than $42.6 billion for next year's defense budget and will reinforce key defense systems, including next-generation South Korean submarines and reconnaissance satellites.”

문 대통령은 국제사회와의 긴밀한 협의 속에 평화경제 기반 구축에도 힘쓰겠다며 북한의 호응을 거듭 촉구했습니다. 한반도에 평화가 정착된다면 남북 간 철도와 도로 연결은 물론 경제, 문화, 인적 교류가 더욱 확대되는 등 한국은 물론 북한 역시 새로운 경제 기회를 맞게 될 것이란 설명입니다.
President Moon, while saying he will work in close consultation with the international community to build a peaceful economy, has repeatedly called on North Korea to respond favorably (to these efforts). If peace is established on the Korean Peninsula (Han Peninsula), not only South Korea but also North Korea will have new economic opportunities, including the reconnection of railways and roads between the two Koreas, but also further economic, cultural, and human exchanges.

앞서 문 대통령은 지난달 24일 유엔 총회 기조연설에서도 평화경제의 기반을 마련하기 위해 DMZ, 즉 비무장지대를 국제평화지대로 만들자고 제안한 바 있습니다. 문 대통령의 국회 시정연설은 취임 후 네 번째로, 지난해 11월 1일 이후 약 1년 만입니다.

In his keynote speech at the U.N. General Assembly on April 24, President Moon also proposed that the DMZ, or the Demilitarized Zone, be turned into an international peace zone to lay the foundation for a peaceful economy. President Moon's speech at the National Assembly is the fourth of its kind since he took office, and it has been nearly a year since November 1, 2018.

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/moonunaddress-10222019091517.html

North Koreans forced to live in the mountains

From the border of North Korea and China (Dandong-Laolingsung) North Korean citizens push a wooden cart pulled by an ox - Yonhap News Photo

집도 돈도 없는 일부 북한주민들 산속에서 움막생활

Some North Koreans with no homes or money live in the mountains.

앵커: 일부 북한주민들이 식량을 확보하기 위해 산속에 들어가 뙈기밭을 일구느라 추위가 닥치는데도 집에 돌아가지 못하고 있는 것으로 알려졌습니다. 대부분 60-70대의 노년층인 이들은 가족의 식량을 책임지기 위해 산속 움막생활을 계속하고 있다고 소식통들은 밝혔습니다.

Anchor: It has been reported that some North Koreans are unable to return home despite the cold weather as they enter the mountains to secure food and work on the rice paddies. Sources say the elderly, mostly in their 60s and 70s, continue to live in the mountains to take care of their families' food.

북한 내부소식 김지은 기자가 보도합니다.

Inside North Korea Reporter Kim Ji-eun reports.

함경북도의 한 주민소식통은 1일 “요즘처럼 밤낮의 기온차가 심해 날씨가 추워지는데도 산막을 벗어나지 못하고 생활하는 주민들이 있다”면서 “이들은 대부분 60대에서 70대의 노인들로 가족들의 식량을 마련하려고 산속 생활을 시작한 주민들”이라고 자유아시아방송에 전했습니다.

"Even though the weather is getting colder, due to the temperature gap of day and night, there are some residents who live in the mountains." a source in North Hamgyong Province told Radio Free Asia on Sunday. "These are mostly elderly people in their 60s and 70s who started living in the mountains to acquire food for their families."

소식통은 “청진시 부령, 무산, 회령, 온성, 경원 등지는 첩첩산중으로 둘러싸여 있는데 산속 가는 곳마다 토굴이나 산막을 볼 수 있다”면서 “가족들의 먹을 것을 마련하려고 산에 들어가 옥수수, 콩, 기장, 조 농사를 짓고 이를 지키기 위해 머물고 있는 주민들”이라고 지적했습니다.

"The Cheongjin city of Buryeong, Musan, Hoeryong, Onseong, and Gyeongwon are surrounded by mountains of mountains, where you can see earth caves or mountain tents wherever you go," the source said. "These people go into the mountains to acquire food for their families. They end up staying to protect the crops they plant: corn, beans, captains, and rice.”

소식통은 또 “현재 산에 있는 오두막이나 토굴은 대개 사람이 허리를 제대로 펼 수 없을 정도의 협소하고 초라한 거주 공간”이라면서 “일부 주민들은 움을 판 위에 흙덩이를 쌓아 올린 토굴에서 최소한의 식사도구만 갖춰놓은 채 힘겹게 살아가고 있다”고 덧붙였습니다.

"These mountain-cabins or tunnels are usually a small and shabby place, where people cannot fully straighten their backs," the source said. "Some people dirt on top of plates, struggling to live in the raised caves with just the basic tools for food.”

소식통은 이어서 “이제 10월 말이면 산에서 모든 곡식을 걷어 내리고 추위를 피해 집으로 돌아가야 한다”면서 “하지만 벌써 산에는 서리가 내리고 영하의 추위가 닥쳐도 대부분의 노인들이 자녀들이 있는 집으로 돌아갈 수 없는 처지에 놓여 있다”고 증언했습니다.

"Now, at the end of October, we have to gather all the crops from the mountain and go home to escape the cold," the source said. "But we are already in a position where most elderly people cannot go back to their children's homes despite frost and freezing temperatures in the mountains."

소식통은 그러면서 “현재 산막을 짓고 사는 사람들은 돈이 없어 식량을 구할 수도 없고 주거환경도 자녀들과 함께 살만한 형편이 안 되는 가난한 주민들”이라며 “이들은 농사를 지어 식량을 자녀들에게 보내고도 자녀들과 함께 살 형편이 안 되어 그대로 산에 머물면서 움막생활을 하는 것”이라고 말했습니다.

"The people who build the (mountain) tents are poor people who cannot find food and cannot live with their children," the source said. "They plant crops and the send the food to their children, but they cannot live with their children. So they live this secluded lifestyle in the mountains."

이와 관련 함경북도의 또 다른 주민소식통은 같은 날 “요즘 깊은 산속에는 서리가 내리고 추위가 닥쳐왔는데도 산에서 내려가지 못하는 주민들이 있다”면서 “이들은 농사를 짓거나 약초, 버섯을 채취하려고 산에 올라갔다가 귀가해서 살 만한 집안 형편이 안 되어 그대로 눌러 앉아 산막생활을 계속하는 것”이라고 자유아시아방송에 전했습니다.

Another source in North Hamgyong Province told Radio Free Asia on the same day, "Lately, there are some people, unable to come down from the mountains, living in the freezing temperatures. These people, in order to plant their crops or harvest their herbs and mushrooms, go up into the mountains only to end up staying because they have no place else to go.”

소식통은 “함경도의 깊은 산속에 들어가면 당국의 통제를 벗어난 사람들이 삼삼오오 모여 살고 있다”면서 “이들에게도 분명 공민증도 있고 거주지 주소도 있지만 가족과 함께 살 처지가 못 되어 몇 년째 집으로 돌아가지 못하고 있는 것”이라고 언급했습니다.

"If you go deep into the mountains of Hamkyong Province, people (in groups of three or five), live outside the control of the authorities," the source said. "They absolutely have citizenship and a physical home address, but they haven't been able to return home for years because they can't live with their families."

소식통은 또 “한때는 깊은 산에서 사는 사람들도 서로를 경계하며 신고당하지 않으려고 숨어 살았다”면서 “하지만 요즘에는 산속에서 사는 사람들이 점차 늘어나면서 서로 위로하고 협력하며 살아가는 공동체를 형성하고 있다”고 지적했습니다.

"Those who lived in the deep mountains, also lived in hiding to avoid being reported on (to the authorities)," sources said. "But these days, more and more people live in the mountains, creating a community that comforts and cooperates with each other."

소식통은 그러면서 “산속에서 생활하는 사람들은 아프거나 힘든 일이 생기면 서로 도우며 협력하고 있다”면서 “집도 돈도 없어 돌아갈 데가 없는 불쌍한 사람들은 산속에서 추위를 견디며 생존을 위해 서로 협력할 수밖에 없을 것”이라고 강조했습니다.

"The people who live in the mountains are helping each other when things are painful or difficult," the source said. "The poor people who have no home and no money, have no choice but to work together to survive the cold in the mountains."

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/homeless-10042019102727.html

The Weight of Translation: A Seoul Betrayal

With the possibility of another US-North Korea summit (in Seoul) in sight, the role of translation, accurate and precise translation, is a subject not often touched on in the deluge of media content circulating the web. Everyday we consume media content assuming that everyone is reading and analyzing from the same script. However this is terrifyingly not the reality. The reality is that for both Korean and English audiences the content they consume is often dramatically different; tailored and shaped by historical and cultural narratives. Some quick examples just to get the ball rolling. Below you will find the homepage for the Korean and English versions of JoongAng-Ilbo’s daily newspaper; one of three major daily newspapers in South Korea.

Media Content and Translation

English Homepage of Korea JoongAng Daily, October 11, 2019 (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com)

Korean Homepage of Korea JoongAng Daily, October 11, 2019 (https://joongang.joins.com/)

At first glance any observer can see that the layout, pictures, and languages are different. Even without the ability to read in both English and Korean, the common observer can likely assume that the content being presented is completely different. On the left, the headlines read: “Three-day strike disrupts some rail trips,” “Pyongyang lashes out, State Dept. Issues caution,” and “Denials of report linking prosecutor general to sex scandal.” On the right the Korean version of JoongAng-Ilbo presents an article entitled, “‘에티오피아 기적’ 불린 남자, 100번째 노벨화상” about the Prime Minister of Ethiopian Prime Minister receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. It is quite obvious the editors are focused on two different audiences: an English speaking audience and a Korean speaking audience.

I always naively assumed that when a newspaper published multi-lingual versions of its content, those multi-lingual versions were derived from one source site. But this is clearly not the case. I am not singling out JoongAng-Ilbo. I am quite sure a quick visit to either Chosun-Ilbo, Donga-Ilbo, or North Korea’s Central News Agency would reveal similar results. Perhaps this is just standard practice in the translation world? So I looked for other examples in popular media content. I didn’t have to look too far.

Movies and Translation

From Left to Right Film Posters in Korean and English: 국제시장 (International Market), Ode to My Father

Film Titles from Top to Bottom: The Spy Gone North, 공작 (Engineering Work or Maneuvering)

In the two movie posters above we have clear examples of Korean movies and their titles, in both English and Korean. The movie titles were translated from their Korean source title into English; the editors were quite flexible in their interpretation of the titles from Korean to English. In the first poster “국제시장 (International Market)” is liberally translated to “Ode to My Father.” An accurate, one-to-one translation, would have simply yielded “International Market” as the translation. Moving on to the second title “공작 (Engineering Work or Maneuvering)," the editors chose to go with “The Spy Gone North,” instead of a possible one-to-one, accurate translation of “Engineering Work or Maneuvering.”

From Top to Bottom: The Fortress, 남한산성 (South Mountain Fortress)

From Top to Bottom: The Great Battle, 안시성 (Ansi Fortress)

Continuing on, in the two examples above we find the same phenomenon. In both Korean movie titles, the Korean title is not accurately translated into English; rather it is transformed into a more eye-catching or sensational title. The very unappealing “South Mountain Fortress” turns into “The Fortress” and “Ansi Fortress” into “The Great Battle.” This author is not the first one to recognize this phenomenon. A quick google search will discover a reddit thread on the topic.

However, not all Korean film titles enjoy such liberal translations/interpretations of their titles into English. Interested in the data, we took a short look at all South Korean film titles for the year of 2018 and found about 50% of the titles were accurate translations of the original Korean version, and 50% were liberal ‘loose’ interpretations. Perhaps we can find more insights if we look into movie titles translated from English into Korean.

English title: First Man, Korean Title: “퍼스트맨”

English title: Mission Impossible: Fallout, Korean Title: “미션 임파서블: 폴아웃”

Remarkably, some of the major, recent English film titles were not even translated, but were merely transliterated into Korean. “First Man,” “Mission Impossible Fallout,” “Black Panther,” and “Civil War” were all transliterated directly into Korean, instead of an accurate one-to-one translation into Korean. What in the world is going on?

English title: Black Panther, Korean Title: “븍랙팬서”

English title: Civil War: Captain America, Korean Title: “시빌 워: 캡틴 아메리카”

I am not the only one who has noticed this trend in “loose” interpretation. Jonah Hicap for the Metro reported, “Korean moviegoers complain of mistranslation of Avengers dialogue,” reporting that Korean audiences were so upset about mistranslations that they filed a petition calling for the firing of translator Ji-hoon Park, who wrote the Korean subtitles for “Avengers: Infinity War” and past films like “Suicide Squad,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and “Captain America: Civil War.”

But it doesn’t end there. So I tested another google search, “Korean translation errors.” The results were as follows: In 2011 Reuters among other news outlets reported on translation errors related to the Free Trade Agreement between South Korea and the United States.

“It is the third time this year Seoul has been left embarrassed by mistakes in the Korean text… the FTA between South Korea and the European Union has twice been put on hold due to errors.”

Another article focused along similar lines highlighted the same issue with a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and South Korea.

“Apparently South Korea’s Trade Ministry admitted to no less than 207 different translation errors in the Korean version of an FTA bill between the EU and South Korea. Worse still, this was the country’s second attempt at drafting the bill in both English and Korean – and the second time it was forcibly withdrawn.”

Another search result pointed to the notorious ‘lost in translation’ moment between President George W. Bush and President Moo-hyun Roh reported on September 9, 2007 by the Guardian.

President George W. Bush offered North Korea a peace deal yesterday that would end the world's oldest and bloodiest cold war conflict on condition that Pyongyang gives up its nuclear weapons programme.

Mr Bush's move towards engagement rather than confrontation was the subject of an awkward dialogue with Mr. Roh played out in front of the TV cameras.

Mr Roh leaned across and urged the president to be more explicit about the security arrangement.

"I might be wrong. I think I did not hear President Bush mention a declaration to end the Korean war just now," Mr. Roh said through an interpreter. "Did you say that, President Bush?" Mr. Bush replied it was "up to Kim Jong-il".

The South Korean leader remained unconvinced: "If you could be a little clearer," he said.

"I can't make it any more clear, Mr. President," Mr. Bush said. "We're looking forward to the day when we can end the Korean war. That will happen when Kim Jong-il verifiably gets rid of his weapons programmes and his weapons."

A translator from the recent June 12th US-NK Summit returned to South Korea to appear on a daily talk show and she pulled no punches in her assessment of the President of the United States; “Korean Reporter Reveals Why Donald Trump is Hard to Translate, ‘Sounds Like an Elementary Kid’” reported the following.

A former SBS reporter who is now working as an interpreter recently revealed that the hardest person she has ever translated was President Donald Trump.

Ahn Hyun-mo, 34, made a guest appearance on KBS’ “Happy Together 3” on July 5 and was joined by Park Kyung Lim, Jessi, and Kim Ji Hye, according to AllKpop.

She states, “If the interpreter translates that directly then he will sound like an elementary kid. So I try to vary the words, like ‘fabulous’, ‘good’, ‘fantastic’ (for each time he says ‘great’).”

So what is going here? Is it matter of the interpreter/translator merely playing to the audience or decision-maker? Where is the line between entertainment, news, and national security? With the lines being blurred every day it’s a terrifying thought that the very “loose” translation practices found in the entertainment world might bleed over into matters of national security.

A Seoul Betrayal

Any summit between the United States and North Korea has historical ramifications. With another possible US-NK Summit on the horizon I worry that the importance of translation is being overlooked. Numerous articles have already discussed the significant difference in meaning of the term “denuclearization” between the United States and North Korea. In this article we will focus on the lack of a substantive discussion regarding the implications and meaning of “Korean Unification.”

The popular understanding of “Korean Unification (Korean: 통일, 統一),” according to most of the western world refers to the potential reunification of North Korea and South Korea into a single Korean sovereign state. The image below, of the light blue, united Korean peninsula is the popular, common understanding of Korean Unification. Like most things, the devil is in the details and when we dig deeper regarding the meaning and implications of unification in KOREAN, we are in for a disturbing surprise. Even in the example above, “통일 (Unification)” is loosely translated to “Korean Unification.” But what does “Korean Unfication” actually mean if it doesn’t mean the united blue peninsula we see below?

The answer to our question lies in accurate, one-to-one translations of Korean to English. After years of experience working in the Korean-English translation and interpretation community I have witnessed a disturbing industry practice; simplified translations of complex terms. When I ask why we simplify Korean when we translate to English, the usually response is, “Korean is just too complex for English speakers to understand.” The screen-capture below demonstrates, in Google Translate, the practice of loose or simplified translation. This practice of simplification notably translates various kingdoms throughout Korea’s history as just - “Korea”. More importantly, it demonstrates how distinctly different concepts and meanings in Korean, are being translated to one simplistic meaning in English. Perhaps the Korean language is just too difficult and complex for English speakers to understand?

Google Translate

In the image above “한국통일,” “조국통일,” “고려통일,” are all simply translated as “Korean Unification” or “Reunification”. But “한국 - 대한민국 (Republic of Korea),” “조국 (Ancestral Land),” “고려 (Goryeo),” represent completely different territorial implications for “Korean Unification”. This article from JoongAng Ilbo discusses the ‘real’ territory of the “고려” Kingdom, without “distortion from the Japanese colonizers.”

North Korea, since August 14th, 1960, has pushed its plan for “Korean Unification” entitled, “고려연방제 통일방안.” In the plan Kim Il Sung’s North Korea advocated for a federation system: one nation, two systems. In June of 1963 Kim Il Sung expanded his ambitions for “Korean Unification”, introducing a plan entitled, “조국통일 5대방침.” Now we have the use of both “고려 (Goryeo)” and “조국 (Ancestral Land).”

At the 6th Party Congress, in October of 1980, the term “민주 (democracy)” was added to the title of the initial unification proposal, “고려연방공화국 (Goryeo Federation Republic),” making it “고려민주연방공화국 (Goryeo Democratic Federation Repubilc).” Under this new title, the proposal’s aim was a unified nation in the form of a one-ethnic people, one-state, two-system, and two-governments.

The meaning of “조국통일 (Ancestral Land Unification/Fatherland Unification)” is actually quite ambiguous but you don’t have to search long online to gather an understanding of its implications. The map below is an excellent start.

Korean historians now argue that the current understanding of “Korean” territory is limited to the “peninsula” merely as a result of treaties imposed by Imperial Japan during the colonial period. The maps above represent historically occupied territory by “Korean speaking peoples,” prior to 1910. The connection between language and territory is now the main driver of a modern-day policy push for reclamation of all territories were Korean speaking peoples reside: think modern-day China and Russia.

South Korean proposal’s for “Korean Unification” leverage this very concept. In 1989, President Roh, of South Korea, introduced the government’s new plan for unification, entitled, “한민족공동체통일방안 (Han Nation Community Unification Plan).“ Most recently, Mr. Hee-sang Moon, Chairman of the National Assembly spoke about the current government’s plan for unification (한민족공동체통일방안).

Mr. Hee-sang Moon, Chairman of the National Assembly spoke about the current government’s plan for unification “한민족공동체통일방안” (Han Peoples Community Unification Plan).

Before President Trump signs off on any deal in Seoul, he and his administration should be careful they are not signing an agreement legitimizing Korean territorial claims to large swaths of land in Russia, China, and anywhere Korean speaking peoples reside. I am sure the U.S. government’s Korean language professionals (translators and interpreters) would certainly point out the territorial meaning and implications of any proposal.

U.S. policymakers should keep in the mind the lessons of history, and not appease totalitarian ethnic-nationalist movements - rooted in racial supremacy - using terrorism in their pursuit of territorial expansion and “unification of the ancestral homeland.“

Nationalism left unchecked and appeased most certainly leads to war. Korean ethnic-nationalists will stop at nothing in their drive to resurrect the kingdoms of the past, glories of the past, and wars of the past.

Americans, in our grand impatience, in our love to get things done, fail to realize the colossal error in appeasement to the ethnic-nationalist terrorist state, North Korea. Like Chamberlain’s betrayal at Munich, President Trump’s possible Seoul Betrayal would only lead to more instability in the region, not less. Ethnic-nationalist terrorist states should never be appeased: never, never, never.

South Korean Security Fails Again: US ambassador Under Threat

South Korean security fails again to protect a U.S. ambassador to South Korea; a disturbing trend.

The most recent security lapse at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea highlights a disturbing trend on the Korean peninsula and US-ROK relations. According to Yahoo News,

“Nearly 20 pro-Pyongyang South Korean students broke into the US ambassador's residence in Seoul Friday, displaying banners demanding Harry Harris leave the country in an embarrassing security breach.”

Click to Watch (Uncut)

According to the police, 17 students from the Republic of Korea Progressive Student Union were arrested for illegal trespassing on sovereign US territory, in violation of international law.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTiVBpg0J6w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTiVBpg0J6w

The screen captures above are from the comments section in the posted YouTube video. Starting from left to right, the first comment says, “트럼프가 주한미군 철수시키려는 큰그림(?) 해리스 와이프가 일본이라지, (Is this the big picture of Trump’s removal of U.S. Troops(?) Harris’s wife is Japanese).” The second line continues its condemnation of Ambassador Harris stating, “해리스의 일본피, (Harris’s Japanese Blood).” This '“progressive” organization reflects the race-based ideology of North Korea, which has reached fever pitch with the current “progressive” party in South Korea. Ethnic nationalism is reaching dangerous new height on the Korean peninsula. Whatever your political persuasion, we can all agree that this sort of racism should not be tolerated. But it sadly seems to be the driving motivation of South Korean “progressive” politics.

https://www.facebook.com/seoul.univjinbo/

In the image on the right (with candles), the Republic of Korea Progressive Student Union (한국대학생진보연합) also calls for the “Reform of the Prosecution Ministry,” “Dismantling of their rival party,” “resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol (윤석열),”investigation into Hwang Kyo-ahn 황교안”, and "the destruction of the top three news outlets in South Korea: Chosun-Ilbo, JoongAng-Ilbo, and Donga-Ilbo.”

newsis.com

newsis.com

newsis.com

newsis.com

newsis.com

Oh My News, a news outlet with heavy ties to the progressive movement and North Korea also posted numerous hysterical and theatrical photos of the violation of international law. Click here. The organizations behind the staged illegal violation are using the following hashtags on social media: #미대사관저 #방위비분담금 #주한미군 #한국대학생진보연합 #월담시위 #기습시위 #정동길

A pro-Pyongyang South Korean student group said they were protesting against Washington's demands that Seoul increase its contribution to the cost of defending the South (AFP Photo/Handout)

Surprisingly this is not the first time South Korean security has failed a U.S. ambassador in Seoul, Korea. Just four years ago, another South Korean security lapse, allowed an assassination attempt on the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert.

Terrorism can never be accepted: never, never, never.

Book Interview: Return of the Middle Kingdom

Reserve a Copy

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Thank you for joining me today Dr. Lammbrau.”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Thank you for having me.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “So you have a new book coming out?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “That’s right.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Any reasons for writing this novel, Return of the Middle Kingdom?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Publish or perish? Well right now, as you know, South Korea is in the midst of great turmoil and uncertainty. Some experts might point out that this is their traditional place in East Asia power politics; the shrimp (middle power country) caught between the whales (China and United States). But I think it is exceptionally more so right now. Right now, South Korea is stuck: their number one trade partner is China and their long-term security/economic partner, the United States. The novel addresses this changing dynamic.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “That is why you went with the title, Return of the Middle Kingdom?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Correct. The impeachment of President Park lays out, in plain sight, the growing economic and political influence of Communist China in South Korea.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “How so? Are you arguing the Chinese government maneuvered to have President Park removed?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Yes and no. The novel details out how economic levers applied by Communist China in the form of Chinese tourists, Chinese exchanges students, economic punishment of South Korean firms (Lotte and Samsung), coupled with a stagnating South Korean economy created the conditions to remove her through democratic means.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Why would China want Park removed? She even went to President Xi’s parade, did she not?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “She tried. She did really try to placate Communist China, but the issue of “THAAD” was a bridge too far.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “THAAD?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Right. The installation of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) on the Korean peninsula greatly upset Communist China. So they amped up the economic and political pressure: they cut off these very important streams of income to the South Korean economy. They want a symbolic victory, a wedge in the US-ROK alliance - and hopefully an end to it.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “This is similar to the pressure Communist China is currently putting on the NBA, South Park, and any media outlets that dare not toe the party line?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Correct. I am not surprised at all by the audaciousness of Communist China’s demands. It is in their nature to demand obedience and supplication. I was more shocked by the response from US institutions: “kowtowing” to Communist China for the entire world to see, is just unacceptable.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Follow the money?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Right. This is all about dollars. During this current slow in the global economy, South Korean businesses are ill-positioned to disobey Communist China. So in the novel, I hint that the South Korean business/political establishment conspires to impeach President Park.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Interesting. Just so I have this straight: “The impeachment of President Park was orchestrated by South Korean political and economic establishment under pressure from China?””

Dr. Lammbrau: “Well it’s not too far fetched if you look at the evidence. Let’s not spoil everything for the readers. But yes, that is just one of the narratives driving the story.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “You mentioned a demand for obedience and Kowtowing?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Yes and this is really the heart of the novel; the stark difference in cultural values between the United States and China. Authority over reason, order over innovation (disruption), and the collective over the individual.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Could you explain a bit more what you mean? I know in the novel, Return of the Middle Kingdom, you reference cultural reasons for Korean Airlines’ atrocious flight record.”

Dr. Lammbrau: “That’s right. That is just one, well-known, documented example.”

Dr. Lammbrau: “This is exactly what I ran into living and working in Korea and what I really wanted to address with the book. When Americans see Communist China demand obedience of our US institutions, economic and political, it is because authority is more important than reason in Confucian culture. They (Communist China) see themselves as an authority (Ruling Middle Kingdom), above the US, and authority is never wrong. The plane crash example just highlights how serious this principle is adhered to. The crew, knowing full well they are about to die, would rather not be ‘“disruptive individuals” to the group by pointing out the elder (authority) pilot’s error, and instead would rather die. It is both admirable and terrifying.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Authority trumps reason, even if reason will save you and the crew, and perhaps society?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Terrifying, isn’t it? Even in the tragic sinking of the Sewol Ferry we see this principle at work. During the sinking, the crew told the children to “stay on the ship and they would be rescued” - and the children stayed. Even as the water flooded into the ship, they stayed. The only children that survived are the ones that ignored the order of the crew.” Look, and I can’t emphasize this enough, China doesn’t want dialogue or compromise, culturally they don’t believe in it. They believe in hierarchy and order. Order - is knowing your place in the hierarchy and being obedient. China sees itself as the “Returned Middle Kingdom”, at the top of the hierarchy, and they will continue to demand obedience from all tributary states (which is the rest of the world).”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Well none of this is very optimistic. Is there any way for the United States and China to get off of this collision course?“

Dr. Lammbrau: “I am not sure. I do know that the internet makes things much more difficult.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “How so?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Well the internet allows for the sharing of information and ideas. In the past, social, political, and economic ideas were usually well contained to the border of their respective countries. But now international boundaries are non-existent on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. Of course, China and other totalitarian states heavily surveil and suppress freedom of expression within their borders, and on their net. But the NBA blow up is something new. Now they are demanding that we adhere to their political and cultural traditions on our net and platforms; their political and cultural traditions did not produce the information age. It’s madness. Communist China crossed a very serious line and the NBA’s response was equally as awful. They (Communist China) are currently executing a full-on ‘soft power’ attack on our industries and institutions: academia, media, big business, politics, the entertainment industry…”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Then collision between the United States and China is inevitable?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “A physical war is not inevitable. I believe there is still time and space to prevent any hot war between the United States and China. But one could argue that Communist China was at war (economic war) this entire time; we are only now just waking up.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Well thank you for your time. I should remind our audience that the novel, “Return of the Middle Kingdom,” will be published in January of 2020. Correct?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “That’s correct.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Will there be a third novel?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Actually, I had originally planned for a three-part novel series. But now it looks like there will at least be a fourth book. This book focuses on Communist China’s influence in South Korea. In the third and fourth books, I will likely explore Communist China’s influence on global institutions, including the United States. So yes, a third book is almost done and a fourth will likely follow.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Very exciting. Thank you Dr. Lammbrau. We look forward to speaking with you in the future.”
.