I know you all are well aware of threats North Korea, more specifically 김정은 (Kim Jeong Un), has made. After speaking with others who live in South Korea many foreigners have been receiving numerous emails/messages from home. I unfortunately have not been receiving much worrisome emails and am still deciding if it's because my family and friends at home trust my judgement or if I'm unloved and forgotten. For the sake of my self-esteem, I'm going with the first option. From what I've also seen in western news vs what I'm hearing and experiencing right here in South Korea it seems like every other country, but South Korea is...for lack of a better phrase, freaking out. Do people have a reason to be a little concerned? Absolutely! Anything could happen; I want to strongly emphasis could. It is very possible that something could happen, but how likely is it? Should I pack my bags and book a flight home right this instant? No. Should I maybe have some type of a plan in case something happens? Yeah, it doesn't hurt to be prepared for the worst if it comes to that. But more importantly, if South Korean people are not panicking than why should I? While waiting for a movie this weekend a friend and I were discussing the what ifs of the situation. I basically said, I follow South Koreans. They generally don't drink water straight from the tap, neither will I. They always wear socks in restaurants where you're required to take off your shoes. Ok, I will too! They are not panicking about North Korea and their threats and neither will I. Not only do I trust the judgement of individuals who have been through this time and time again, but I also trust that the American Embassy will notify me and the thousands of other foreigners in South Korea if we need to take action and evacuate. Until then I (and others) for the sake of my sanity should remain calm and continue to carry out our everyday lives.
With permission I am reposting this comment made by a Korean friend. She not only works closely with foreigners, but is also a straightforward individual and therefore I trust her judgement.
"Why is it safe to stay in Korea?You guys are so worried about the current situation related to North Korea's threats.Not only that, your parents, friends in your home country must be more worried these days. Actually, such anxiety stemmed from CNN's broadcasts focusing only on a plausible war due to North Korea's threats. Nothing to worry about! As Koreans, we have faced such situations they have fabricated to take advantage of us. It has been a kind of disguised threat to hide their inability to sustain their people economically and to draw attention to North Korea's power, which doesn't exist. Recently, they came to have a new leader,김정은. North Korea wanted to show off a new leader's potential by threatening South Korea and America but in reality, they lack the power to perform what they are thinking about. And they know their structure related to arms is far behind South Korea's. They don't want to start war at all because they already know that they can't win. They just want to continue their regime as a communist country forever. To do that, they need to let all the countries notice its existence as a communist country. That is why North Korea is shouting to the world like this, " We will launch... We will do experiments...." It has not been easy for North Korea to continue its communism system without creating such threats to South Korea and America. So don't worry and enjoy your life here in Korea! It has not been easy for North Korea to continue its communism system without creating such threats to South Korea and America. So don't worry and enjoy your life here in Korea!"
- Seonghe Seo
And now to make things light, I give you Jon Stewart.
