By 
The mad cow goon squad has invaded the National Assembly:
The parliamentary battle over a contentious free trade deal in South Korea led to a confrontation on Thursday in which opposition lawmakers used a sledgehammer to knock down the doors of a blockaded room where a committee was discussing the agreement.
Television reports showed fire extinguishers being sprayed at the opposition lawmakers who were trying to get into the room. At least one person was shown bleeding from the face.
The members of the opposition Democratic Party were trying to stop the trade agreement with the United States from advancing to the floor of South Korea’s legislature, the National Assembly, for a final vote. The governing party has been seeking to ratify the trade pact by the year’s end, saying it would improve South Korea’s competitiveness and ties with the United States. Opponents say it will hurt South Korean farmers. [New York Times]
4:12 pm on December 20th, 2008 1
Ban Ki Moon, the South Korean Secretary General of the United Nations asks those confused by Korea's political methods to understand.
"It is time to promote the idea that diversity is a virtue, not a threat. It is time to explain that different religions, belief systems and cultural backgrounds are essential to the richness of the human experience. And it is time to stress that our common humanity is greater – far greater – than our outward differences."
The Korean law makers are reaching consensus in a way unique to their own culture and values. The process should be respected, not looked down upon.
12:40 pm on December 21st, 2008 2
@1
Rick, if I’m reading you correctly, the conduct of these politicians who are behaving in a violent and uncivilized manner is an expression of the way things are done over here; therefore, one should accept this conduct as a “way unique to [Korea’s] own culture and values. The process should be respected, not looked down upon.”
What a bunch of hogwash. Tell if to the guy “bleeding from the face.” If one follows this logic, he or she can rationalize the use of violence to settle differences based on cultural norms.
12:49 pm on December 21st, 2008 3
I think Rick's just saying that they are special and unique, because Koreans always claim to have a "special situation" which no non-Korean could possibly understand.
9:36 pm on December 21st, 2008 4
Mark and IN Seoul,
Are you attempting to contradict the Secretary General?
10:59 pm on December 21st, 2008 5
Auctioning Senate seats must be an American cultural norm.
1:59 am on December 22nd, 2008 6
Sir Richard,
Yes. To me, the United Nations has always been nothing more than a charity. The Salvation Army has been around much longer, and not once do I recall ever having asked their permission to attack.
2:17 pm on December 28th, 2008 7
[...] week ROK Drop readers probably remember the huge conflict with sledgehammers that broke out between the rival political parties as well. I have to wonder if the early [...]