Egging in Korea …Ⅱ 〜〜 Political protest in Asian direct democracy

 R. Dahl included postwar Japan in the category of "polyarchy" countries, but from the perspective of a Japanese person who has lived in Japan for a long time, appearances aside, the reality is a world that differs from a "polyarchy."

 Dahl views the concept of "polyarchy" not as "democracy" itself, but as a tool for analyzing the process of approaching a real democratic system. Dahl argues that the establishment and maintenance of a "polyarchy" is influenced by many factors, including historical conditions, socioeconomic order, cultural factors, and the "convictions" of political activists. "Polyarchy" is a unique analytical concept and is distinct from the functional concept of "democracy." However, it is now also used as a measure of the stage of development of political democracy.

 From the perspective of "democracy," Japan has fundamentally changed little since Karel van Wolferen published "Japan: The Enigma of Power Structures" (a time when revisionism was popular). 

 When Prime Minister Suga resigned (and handed over power) a few years ago, and the recent process leading to the birth of the Takaichi administration after "removing Ishiba" completely differed from Western-style "democracy."  The same could be said of "the Nakasone Saitei (or adjudication, judgement, arbitration, ruling, decision...etc. It is a political phenomenon unique to LDP politics and cannot be translated into Western languages. According to Shintaro Ishihara's writings (comments published in a magazine about former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita) written after Takeshita's death, it was discovered much later that money had been donated from Takeshita Noboru's side (successor Prime Minister) to Prime Minister Nakasone's side.) and the Shiina Saitei (Shiina Etsusaburo was the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time of the conclusion of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea (the autobiography of the South Korean foreign minister, who was the South Korean counterpart, details the negotiation process for the treaty).). The same was true of Kanemaru Shin's sudden dismissal of Kaifu Toshiki (The then Prime Minister). The formation of the coalition government between the LDP, the Japan Socialist Party, and Sakigake Party (Murayama Administration) was a political collusion (Dangō) between the LDP and the left wing of the Socialist Party (The worst case of collusive politics leading to the worst prime minister).

 In Japanese politics, such cases have been repeated endlessly to this day (I will not go into detail about these events here.).

 Japan's ruling parties are still dominated by hereditary politicians based on individual constituency-based businesses (Kōenkai, or support groups), and are far from what Maurice Duverger and others would call "modern political parties." 

 The only parties in Japan that could be called "modern political party" are the Japan Communist Party and the Komeito Party, but both are unique ideological parties (or religious parties) that are incompatible with democracy and are constantly plagued by internal conflict.

 Today, Japan's political party system has become what Giovanni Sartori calls a "polarized multi-party system," and is becoming increasingly unsound.

 Post-independence India was considered a "polyarchy," but under the current Modi administration it has become something akin to an authoritarian regime. While economic development has been remarkable, political freedom for non-Hindus, freedom of the press and freedom of expression and others appears to be declining.

 The Arab countries of the Middle East remain a mixture of medieval political life and a pseudo-advanced welfare state.

 Central Asian countries remain in chaos.

 Israel is difficult to assess.

 The situation in Southeast Asian countries is also well known.

 China and Russia are out of the question.

 Of the vast Asian nations, only two states—Taiwan and South Korea—have developed "democracy," though this is still qualified as "Asian."

 When Dahl published "Polyarchy," these two countries were not included in the list of "polyarchy" nations. South Korea had an authoritarian regime close to a military dictatorship, and its government changed following the assassination of its president. Taiwan continued to be under the dictatorial regime of Chiang Kai-shek and his son, Chiang Ching-kuo.

 However, these two countries have now become a beacon of hope for democracy in Asia, setting an example of democracy for other Asian countries.

 What does this mean? How should we understand this situation?

 It seems pathetic to me, but at present, compared to Japan, South Korea is more advanced in developing practical democracy at the citizen level. I am not a supporter of either of South Korea's two major political parties, and have no vested interest in them, but it is certain that South Korea's active direct democratic citizen-level activities are generating political dynamism at the national level.

 Like candlelight vigils, political egging is conducted as a form of political protest, not as a form of public participation in the public policy decision-making process, and therefore differs in character from Western-style participative democracy.

 On the other hand, the protests are well-controlled. Participants throw nothing but eggs. They do not use Molotov cocktails or smoke bombs, nor do they pick up stones from their feet and throw them. They do not throw objects at people; rather, they throw raw eggs (purchased and prepared) all at once, toward the banner.

 Although this method is a bit crude, participants influence the course of real national politics by sharing an opportunity for citizens to unite and express their opposition to the political situation, separate from the opportunity to vote in elections. 

 In this way, participants self-generate, enhance, and share political empowerment, a sense of political accomplishment, and political self-affirmation. This creates political dynamism.

 Like the recent student demonstrations in Hong Kong, this direct action, in which active citizens express their solidarity and opposition to political injustice in public spaces, could be seen as similar to the Occupy movement in Europe and the United States.

 Such direct action can be a driving force for the development of democracy.

 It can currently be said that Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea are playing leading roles in democracy in Asia.

【South Korea】 Candlelight rallies have spread to the ruling Saenuri Party. Demonstrators are throwing eggs en masse. [12/05]

1: ★＠＼(^o^)／: 2016/12/05 (Mon) 20:16:00. ID:CAP_USER.net

http://www.chosunonline.com/site/data/img_dir/2016/12/05/2016120500635_0.jpg

http://www.chosunonline.com/site/data/img_dir/2016/12/05/2016120500635_1.jpg

 On the afternoon of the 3rd, during the sixth candlelight rally calling for President Park Geun-hye's resignation, a banner hanging at the ruling Saenuri Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, reading, "Dear citizens, we are deeply sorry. We will resolve the national affairs as soon as possible," was hit with eggs thrown by demonstrators.

 At a rally held in front of the Saenuri Party headquarters prior to the evening candlelight vigil, the moderator called out, "We cannot forgive the Saenuri Party for trying to vote against the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye," and demonstrators hurled eggs at them en masse.

 Some of the demonstrators also performed a spectacle by ripping down an 8m x 15m banner that read, "Saenuri Party: Accomplice in Park Geun-hye's interference in state affairs." The candlelight vigils, which had previously been held around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, have now turned their attention to the Saenuri Party as well, and have expanded to Yeouido.

Excerpt

http://www.chosunonline.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/12/05/2016120500677.html

http://www.chosunonline.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/12/05/2016120500677_2.html

Korea from its capital: with a chapter on missions. By Gilmore, George W. (1892)

 Title: Korea from its capital: with a chapter on missions.

Main Author

 Gilmore, George W. (George William), 1858-1933.

Related Names

 Moffett Korea Collection (Princeton Theological Seminary)

Language(s)

 English

Published

 [©1892]

Philadelphia : Presbyterian board of publication and Sabbath-school work, [1892]

Subjects

 Description and travel.

Note

 Moffett Kore Collection copy: Gift of Samuel Hugh Moffett, 2005.

Physical Description

 328 pages : frontispiece, plates ; 19 cm

Note: Philadelphia : Presbyterian board of publication and Sabbath-school work, [1892], 1892

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433082440979&seq=9

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005896006

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044024587123&seq=315

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044024587123&seq=327

p92

 The people have been much maligned in the matter

of cleanliness. In the East one learns to beware of

aphorisms. Foreigners like to be witty at the expense

of natives. So an Englishman was once heard to say

that the dirtiest man he ever saw was a clean Korean.

The impression the speaker meant to convey was that

Koreans are the dirtiest people on earth. 

 It must be kept in mind that the inhabitants of the peninsula dress in light clothing, cotton such as we use for sheeting being a staple. It follows that their clothing is easily soiled. A man starting away in the morning with freshly laundried clothes may return at night with these clothes in a disreputable condition. In the matter of raiment, bearing in mind the material of which clothing is made, it does not appear that Koreans are unusually uncleanly. Boys' clothes are apt to become very dirty, especially the collars and backs of their tunics or coats. The hair is anointed with a blackened oil to make it glossy, and as it hangs down the back, it naturally causes discoloration of the clothing. 

p263

 The relations between Japan and the peninsula are, officially, most excellent. There is at times some friction of feeling between the populace and the Japanese merchants, owing to the disposition of the latter to drive hard bargains and claim their pound of flesh, but in general there is nothing but good wishes on the part of the Japanese people, and the most ardent hopes on the part of the Japanese government for the prosperity of Korea. 

p273

 Korean servants are very willing to learn, yet there

are vexations in the way of training them that call for

the exercise of much patience. At first the necessity

for frequent ablutions does not appear to the natives,

and constant watchfulness is necessary to have them

retain the cleanliness essential in housekeeping. They

pick up quickly the ways of the household, often do

things in the way they have been taught for a considerable period,

Ein Verschlossenes Land: Reisen nach Korea (A Forbidden Land: Voyage to the Corea) by Ernst Oppert (1880)

 A Forbidden Land: Voyages To The Corea, With An Account Of Its Geography, History, Productions And Commercial Capabilities, Etc. Paperback – June 1, 2007

by Ernst Oppert (Author)

Language: English

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AA_forbidden_land-_voyages_to_the_Corea._With_an_account_of_its_geography%2C_history%2C_productions%2C_and_commercial_capabilities%2C_%26amp%2Cc.%2C_%26amp%2Cc_(IA_cu31924079570796).pdf&page=1

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Index:A_Forbidden_Land_-_Voyages_to_the_Corea_(1880).djvu

https://archive.org/details/aforbiddenlandv00oppegoog

https://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Land-Productions-Commercial-Capabilities/dp/1432635506

 Hardcover JPY 6,045

 Paperback JPY 5,735

(pp.30-31)

 It is at the same time the royal residence and the seat of the central government. It counts at present from 100,000 to 150,000 inhabitants, and is the largest and most important city in the kingdom. Most of the noble families live here at least a portion of the year. 

 The streets are a good deal wider than those in Chinese cities, but the public buildings, the houses of the klghor classes, and even tbu royal palaces, can bear no corn-parson with the houses of the richer classes in any of the larger towns of China. Large temples or joss-houses, rich in gilt and many-coloured ornamental carvings, such as we find in the letter country, we look for in vain; and the general impression of the town, with its low, one storied, mostly mud-built houses, is but a poor one, and certainly not such as could be expected to be made by the first city and capital of a kingdom like Cores. 

 Any one expeering to find here shops like those of Canton, Ningpo, or of Japanese towns, with their rich and beautiful contents of ivory and lacquerware of wood and iron workmanship, would be grievously disappointed. The fortications of Saoul, like these of other large Corean cities, consist of a simple stone wall some nine to ten feet high, in no way fitted to protect it efficiently. Up to the date of the French expedition. this wall was in a sad state of repair, and had been allowed to tumble down in places. These gaps live since been filled up, but no attempt has been made to strengthen them, or to improve the old style of fortification. This is thought the less necessary at the Corean Government is too deeply convinced of its invincibility to fear any assault from foreigners. It is to be hoped that the time may not he far distant when it will be taught the contrary. and be reduced to admit the absurdity of its belial in its own superior bravery and power. 

(p.39)

respective posts, however, only for s term of two years, which term is in prolonged for another year, an straighement that can hardly be eondueive to the prosperity of the eountey end to the good magement of public business. At the expirtinu of this period a purehere-money, varying in amount according to the value and importance of the appointrueut, has to be paid by each, and they are removed to some other place. In consequence of this continual changing from place to place the officers never have sufficient time to become properly acquainted with the character of the communities to which they are nominated; they take no interest in the welfare of the people under their charge, and their only object is to repay themselves during the short term of office allowed to them, and as fast as they can, by all sorts of unlawful and extortionate expedients. That the people are made to super donbly by this baneful system appears to be matter of no moment; while the Government, on the other hand, gains the two objects it has in view to flu its exchequer by the frequent sale of pesces, and to prevent any approach between the population and the local authorities. 

 (pp.48-49)

Among the nations of the universe who claim to have attained a certain degree of culture, and profess to live in a state of civilization, there is none whose literature shows a greater incompleteness and deficiency respecting its own origin and history than that of the Coreans. It appears almost as if not one of all pretended native scholars had been willing or able to writs a record of the history of the country, or that the accounts left by Japanese and Chinese historians were considered sufficiently complete to supply the want; for we should actually know nothing whatever of its historical past is it had not been for the latter, whom alone we have to thank {'or any accounts which have reached posterity. The fullest and best details we find in Japanese writings, especially of the middle ages and the subsequent centuries, which may be accounted for by the close, but {'or the most part hostile, connexsion between the two countries. 

Up to the beginning of the last century, Corea has almost incessantly been the scene of interior feuds and disorders, and of the thirst of conquest of her nearest neighbours, who settled there either their own disputes between each other, or tried to possess themselves of the supremacy over the country itself. Since the conclusion of the last war with Japan only. and after China had finally desisted from freitleesly attempting to reduce Corea to suhminsinn, this herd-tried country has enjoyed a longer repose, of which the lmpulation, nearly ruined and decimated by continual wars and disorder, was only too much in need. 

 Of those Japanese works, which partly in recording their own history, have taken notice of the events occurring in the neighbout country, and partly directed their attention to the history of Corea alone, there are three which deserve special mention on account of the highly interesting and

(p.135)

; nor is any difference made herein with high and low. ornaments of whatever kind are buried with the dead or put into the graves, and it is as absurd as falseto believe that these ever contain treasure or valuables of any description. The slopes of mountains and hills are chosen in preference a the last resting-place of the dead. At times the bones are collected and burled afre. The burning of the same is hut very rarely practised, and then only by the higher classes. As a general rule no mourning is put on for lead relations; but whenever this is done, and only for parents, it is carried through in a very rigorous manner. The mourner puts on a dress specially adapted to the occasion, covers his bend and the whole face with a pointed hat, and psoses during the mourning season himself, as it were, for dead, avoiding all contact with the outer world, nor is it permitted to address or to molest him in any way during the whole time of mourning. 

The knowledge and treatment of diseases remains still, as may well he presumed, in its infancy in Cores, and is chiefly confined to the use of some known herbs; and whenever those do not take any effect, the disease is generally left to have its own way, perhaps the most reasonable and fortunate course pursued for the patient, The Corean doctors are, if possible, even more ignorant than their colleagues in Chins, and they do not enjoy much respect and consideration.

(p.138) 

 These are also fitted with doors and with windows, in the Japanese style, a fashion no doubt dating from the times of the Japanese conquest and occupation. Sometimes the houses are surrounded by verandas, and built with projecting roofs. On the whole, the Corean dwelling-houses make a very poor impression compared with those of the neighbouring countries, and the Coreans have a great deal to learn before they reach the style of architecture common in China and Japan.  

(pp.144-145)

 On festive ocean'runs, mandarin processions and the lille, they use a kind of metal trumpet or horn, which sounds a long way off, resembling much in tone the Swine cow-horn. 

 Great pleasure is taken in dancing, which is performed in a style altogether different to cure Men and women of course never dance together, as it would be contrary to custom; generally one person dances at a time, while the others look on. The dance is confined to a slow moverecur of the feet, with slight backward and forward motion of the body, the dancer always accompanying himself with a song; the more or less great proficiency of the performer is judged by the way in which he is able to give expression to his various motious. 

 Public entertainments, such as theatrical and other performances, which are so much appreciated in China and Japan, appear to be completely known in Corea. This may be partly ascribed to the lack of a literature of their own; pertly also to the low grade of culture of the people, which does not feel the want of entertainments of this kind. 

 Nor have I met with, or even heard of the existence of' jugglers, &o.; and if there are any in the country to ha found, which I doubt, they will hardly come up to their comrades in the neighbouring countries in proficiency and dexterity.