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© 2013 AFPS Korean man stabs himself at airport to protest arrival of Japan envoy
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© 2013 AFP
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Harry_Gatto
I guess that the Koreans were told to protest by their Chinese masters. As for the self-inflicted stabbing, that is just stupid beyond belief, I mean, just how crazy do you have to be to think that that will make any difference?
Sherman
I agree Harry! Reminds me of the guy who set light to his trousers once upon a time.
noriyosan73
This story is now a day old. Who, what, where? A wasted life, and only the relatives MAY remember the name.
akkk1
You sure guessed wrong. South Koreans have pride and no longer take orders from China. Or Japan.
TigersTokyoDome
A 57 year old stabs himself for things that happened at least 68 years ago. The Koreans are much more aggressive than even the Chinese over history with the Japanese.
Jason Stiles
Theres always that one crazy person in a group, were it be a peaceful protest or not.
smithinjapan
“Prime Minister Abe believes that Japan-South Korea relations need to be solid for the stability of East Asia,” he said. “I want to convey that message.”
Oh, but we're going to rescind an apology and take a hard line on the island issues. All Nukugawa and Abe want is that neighbours agree unconditionally to what Japan wants.
That said, I agree with everyone else that the man stabbing himself is a moron. It ultimately accomplishes nothing and only proves what an idiot he is.
Betraythetrust!
Too many people quick to stereotype a whole nation due to the actions of one nutcase.
This man is obviously mentally ill and after being treated for his injuries should be placed into a secure facility for psychistric assesment.
nath
Noooooo, he is not a nutter at all. Nope, not a bit! (sarcasm)
nandakandamanda
He looks rich. What's the difference between a K & J right-winger/nationalist/gangster? Deliberately trying to shock and stir up trouble.
How did he get into the airport reception area carrying a concealed weapon anyway?
alliswellinjapan
Wouldn't be so fast to conclude this to be a rare case. We've had people cutting off their fingers in SK as a show of protest over this issue in the past. Like it or not many are taking this very emotionally on the other side of the sea either through personal war experiences or systematic education. Whether Japan takes a hard line or not the emotional implictions should not be taken lightly either way.
smithinjapan
Anyway, I really don't predict any progress in terms of the island issue, and hopefully it's not brought up at all because that will ruin the talks. They need to stick to the economy and cooperational defense first and rebuild those bridges. Once rebuilt, the conversation between the nations can change to something else.
osakajoe
Agree on both posts by smithinjapan.
nandakandamanda
Why can't I find this news on the Korea Herald or Chosun Ilbo sites?
Christian Lardy
Good to see someone does have honor and, the ability to stab himself.
iceshoecream
Ha! What a loser.
genjuro
You can certainly make a case for that, but the fact is this type of extreme protesting is common and has been done by Koreans for years. It's part of their culture and it's certainly not the first nor the last time we'll hear something like this. Instead of stabbing himself, he could have easily instead eaten a Japanese flag, staged a mock execution or slaughtered a piglet:
http://www.who-sucks.com/people/the-exciting-world-of-south-korean-protests
Serrano
"Kim Chang-geun, 57, was led away by police"
To where?
yosun
It's ok that everyone can protest for anything he dislike. however, this man is not a teenager or twenty something like those tibet monks! I can't believe he is still such stupid at the age of 57! I choose to blame it on those extremism politician for their selfish behavior caused all these terrible matters.
Cortes Elijah
Get over it south korea! My country Australia was attacked by jp too but we gor over it...
warnerbro
A guy can stroll into an airport with a knife that size in a country still at war with its evil twin, crawling with spies for the other side. Note to self: avoid South Korean airports.
slumdog
Better that than doing it to the envoy.
Betraythetrust!
@Cortes Korea did not stab itself one of the citizens did. Do you speak for all Australians?
Pontepilate
@TigersTokyoDome You are definitely right when you say this is something that happened 68 years ago. However, the question of memory of history is not what we can claim amnesia as it suits us...it is said by some African people's that when you point a finger at a person, there are four that point at you. I think this can be illustrated by this: during one of his lectures at Tokyo University, the renowned Harvard University professor Michael Sandel, on the question of responsibility, asked to know how many thought President Obama should apologize for America droppings the A-bomb on Japan. A good spectrum of the audience raised hands. Following up, he asked to know how many thought Japan should first apologize for. Attacking America in the first place. I think your guess is as good as mine. Are 68 years long enough for people to forget the past, no. As @letsberealistic says, if it had been your family member who had been tortured, raped or killed... But can these be forgiven and put behind, yes! However, I don't see that using double standards and making a mockery of how the other expresses feelings about the matter leads down the path of reconciliation.
Fadamor
I'd call the guy stupid, but his action already labeled him as such.
@noriyosan73, the guy isn't dead (or at least he wasn't when he was "led away by police". It's real hard to lead a corpse.
I think the issue of a "War Crimes Apology" is a waste of time. Trials were held after the war regarding the war criminals and even though not all of those arrested for war crimes were convicted (one even ended up as Prime Minister afterwards), many WERE hanged. Ask yourself this... The Phillippines (the Manila Massacre), the U.S., and Britain (the Bataan Death March and the Wake Island massacre) are all nations who were the reciepients of war crime atrocities by Japan, yet none of THEM are demanding a "war crimes apology". Why are THEY satisfied and South Korea is not?
blackrock
What a loser, 57-year-old at that.
@Fadamor: it's called inferiority complex
serendipitous
This never-ending quest for apologies is just BS. How many times has Japan apologized? There is a long list. But it doesn't seem to make any difference because every year or two, a new government in another country thinks Japan should keep apologizing. I'm not a fan of Abe's but I'd also be a bit sick of the repetitive requests for apologies that have been made and are well-documented. Get over it Korea. Get over it China. It's time to move on and it's time to end this ridiculous game in order to win votes at home by acting tough. All it does is stir up tensions and that's the last thing this region needs. I guess the only long-term solution is people to people exchanges and cultural studies by the younger generations so that they learn it is people that make a country, not the military and not the government. The latter two are supposed to serve the people not turn them into aggressive, militant idiots. It's interesting that in English we call those who work for the government 'public servants' but they are much more highly regarded in Japan, China and Korea (and they seem to prefer the English expression 'public officials'.....A bit off topic but there you have it.
HonestDictator
"Being consumed with hatred is like taking poison and expecting your enemy to die." That's what I remembered when I read this headline.
Kazuaki Shimazaki
Well, they are. Because otherwise, what does Korean history have? Forget the small details and look at it the broad picture:
1) Chinese tributary state 2) Eaten by Japan 3) US-protectorate (remember, operational control of Korean troops is still under US, and will be for a few more years)
The Korean national image is thus much more dependent on the Japanese being evil than the Chinese one, which at least had a previous time when it was top dog and even in the war they at least got in some kicks.
bajhista65
I just wonder what this man accomplished by stabbing himself. Activists or not, it's the stupid thing to do in a protest. Who knows it could have been just a small knife inflicted wound and he added some blood for a more dramatic sensational look... hehehehe I wonder what happened to him. The reporter have no follow ups.
badsey3
In order to forgive someone else, you must first be willing to forgive yourself. Some people -like 10Yen man- have a very difficult time forgiving themselves first. I feel there are alot of 10Yen men here and 2013 will be a difficult time for them. =not a great way to start 2013.
gelendestrasse
That's just a pretty stupid way to highlight a protest. And, at this point in history, why protest against Japan? Get a life!
southsakai
This dude is just plain crazy on another level. Stabbing one's self won't help thy cause in any way. I'd say to do something like this with no thinking, it's actually a very childish mentality. There are many better ways to protest.
Piotr Gierszewski
Some people will do anything for least attention.
nandakandamanda
His aim must have been to put pressure on SK 's new President Park, to stir up national sentiment, stopping any new attempts at rapprochement and giving her less room for new initiatives.
LFRAgain
Idiot.
martyman
A day late to post, but the picture of the man that stabbed himself is priceless. You have to wonder about airport security and the ability for folks to enter with weapons without being searched at the international terminal.
WebsterHuron
And yet there is that proud feudal Japanese tradition of disemboweling oneself in protest to preserve one's "honor." It's only honorable if a Japanese does it? Savages.
Konsta
Moronic deed. The only message he had sent is about himself.
House Atreides
Where's airport security? In the U.S. a guy waving a large knife at an airport would have been either tasered or shot.
Zenpun
Actually it was a way of J Samurai for displaying their pride and honor. Back in 1970s, one Korean man chopped his fingers and sent them to J embassy. It was also Yakuza way of displaying their pride and commitment. During the War, many J military officers performed Harakiri instead of surrendering to enemy.
That gentleman has followed the way of self immolation. Koreans are more Japanese than current generation. No wonder their economy is roaring.
D.j. KaRma
He did what...? HAHAHAHAHAhahahahaha The guy behind him in the red hat was like, "Oh s*&%! He really did it!"
noriyosan73
Don't re-read the story. What was this guy's name? The government needs to run an educational ad on TV that says, "Guess what, nobody will remember your name tomorrow. Let's talk about it today from your local clinic."
Resurfaced
LOSER what was the whole purpose to this? Did it make a dent in history? No. Did it make a difference? NO... LOSER
LFRAgain
Truth be told? Modern Japanese don't actually look upon self-disembowelment as "honorable." Outside of right-wing loons like the fool in the article above, most Japanese view it as a fairly idiotic thing to do.
all4faj
WebsterHuronJan. 06, 2013 - 02:35AM JST
And yet there is that proud feudal Japanese tradition of disemboweling oneself in protest to preserve one's "honor." It's only honorable if a Japanese does it? Savages.
Do you really need the difference between what the Samurai used to do and what this protestor did explained in detail?
Hundreds of years of tradition , committed in the name of honour knowing death was not only inescapable it was the intended destination Vs an attempt at attention getting.
rogoteye
That explains why the SK's mentality is still stuck in the past.
akkk1
How do the average Japanese look at Yukio Mishima's dramatic suicide versus the view of ultra-nationlists?
Aristoman
Good luck with the stomach.
LFRAgain
I think you'd be hard pressed to find many Japanese who remember, much less care about ultra-nationalist Yukio Mishima's -- dare I say it? -- idiotic attempt at a coup d'e tat or his botched and rather grisly suicide. His death, at least for those old enough to remember it, is generally met by shaking heads coupled with comments along the line of, "What the heck was he thinking?" I'd be willing to lay down money that the pejorative, "idiot" was used more than a few times then as well.
Bottom line: Ritual suicide has no place in modern Japan. It's not looked at with reverence or admiration. Normal folks don't long for the courage to do it. And those who do undertake it aren't gazed upon with respectful awe. Anything remotely alluding to such is little more than the wishful thinking of emotionally insecure and intellectually fragile nationalists, ultra or otherwise. Like any irrational waste of life, it's looked at with disappointment and often disdain, as it should be.