People : "The Korean Invasion Part II"

Last week I posted an article about the migration of Koreans to the Philippines, my admiration of the Korean people and the possibility of the Philippines having a Korean First Lady in the person of Ms. Grace Lee whom our President P-noy is courting. I also mentioned my wish that some Koreans learn more from the Japanese on humility. It was a subtle remark on something which I think some Koreans can improve on, on the almost perfect Korean image as an Asian model country. In the 70's up to the 90's Japan had been our Asian model country, now it is Korea. We look up to both countries not only in terms of economic progress and development but also in terms of  their character and values as a nation.

I guess I was a little bit out of touch on what's going on lately, primarily because I had been avoiding  reading the news due to an overdose on the semi-comedy show called CJ impeachment trial.
Yesterday I accidentally read on-line an article of respected Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo entitled "The Ugly American" which was old news already. This was about a Korean-American diplomat who almost ran over and verbally abused a young Filipina here in her own country. I hope it's not true but if the incident really happened, then this diplomat is despicable and should be treated as "persona non grata" :


persona non grata  (pɜːˈsəʊnə nɒn ˈɡrɑːtə)

— n  , pl personae non gratae
1. an unacceptable or unwelcome person
2. a diplomatic or consular officer who is not acceptable to the government or sovereign to whom he        or she is accredited

The  diplomat may be an American national but his Korean ethnicity and that of other Koreans will definitely be besmirched by his misdeed  and arrogance. Unfortunately, whether this incident is true or not,  it didn't help change the general impression that, to put it bluntly, many Koreans are boorish in their behavior and manners. Maybe some of them forgot to put their good manners and discipline in their luggage when they left Korea to migrate to other countries. But I still believe that the majority of Koreans are gentle and well mannered people.


Related News Link :
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/125295/the-ugly-american

http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2012/01/people-korean-invasion.html


Source Dictionary : Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
News Source : Philippine Inquirer

People : The Korean "Invasion"

Literally, the Koreans have "invaded" the Philippines. Anywhere you go there are Korean communities and stores-retaurants : Quezon City, Manila, Baguio and even as far as the southern parts of the country. If you have been to the vicinity P. Burgos St and Kalayaan Ave. near Rockwell in Makati,  almost the whole block is resided by Koreans. Some people call it "Korea town". They are migrating here in throngs. Ideally, the Philippines is not exactly the most livable country (we're the friendliest though) in Asia for expats according to surveys. Why their preference for the Philippines?

I just read in the newspaper today that our President P-noy is dating GMA 7 Korean TV host Grace  Lee. There's a possibility that the Philippines will have its first foreigner First Lady, rather a Korean First Lady. I think there would not be any problem in accepting her among the Filipinos, since she is already a popular TVjournalist here. Also, we are a very open minded  nation when it comes to mix-marriages and very tolerant of foreigners. I guess it has something to do with our colonial past, and  also due to the fact that a lot of Pinoys have foreign bloods running in their veins in varying dilution.              ( specifically Spanish and Chinese ). Anyway, Ms. Lee is a very gracious lady and very popular to the Filipinos.

Speaking of the Koreans as a nation, I personally admire them a lot. From their rise from poverty and war devastation in the 1950's to their present status as one of the riches and most developed country in the world, they are admirable in their unity and discipline as a nation. Another admirable character of the Korean people is adaptability. I am awed with how Korea changed from a generally Buddhist country to a Christian country. In fact it is considered the biggest Christian nation now in Asia. ( Do I hear Filipino Catholics protesting?)

Korea has invaded a lot of fields and is triumphant globally : car manufacturing, electronics and communications, ship building, entertainment and music, etc, name it. I think the Koreans had learned a lot from its neighbor country Japan. They seem to have the same pattern of success and development. But I wish  the Koreans learn more of the humility of the Japanese people. Somehow success has gone up the head of some Koreans. Despite of this, still I admire them and I wouldn't  mind having Ms. Grace Lee as our First lady if ever.

GMA 7 Host Grace Lee

Related News :

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/43431/more-koreans-coming-for-its-more-fun-in-ph