By Has anyone seen this movie yet?:
Authorities and American diplomats are concerned over the possibility that a recently-released movie depicting the 1997 Itaewon homicide by a Korean-American and the son of a U.S. soldier may fan the flames of anti-Americanism.
The concerns may be backed by the fact that the film has so far attracted more than 300,000 moviegoers.
Twelve years ago, a Korean American and the child of a U.S. soldier were tried for randomly killing a Korean college student in a restaurant in Itaewon, Seoul. They were eventually released from Korean prison.
The September release of a domestic film based on the incident is rekindling the anger that many Koreans felt toward the investigative authorities during and after the trial of the two suspects, who each blamed the other for the stabbing of the young Korean.
American diplomats, who have seen the movie, are worried that it may rekindle anti-American sentiment among Korean youth.
Authorities are also concerned because the murder case has been used by some progressive civic groups to stir anti-Americanism by raising issues such as the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between Korea and the U.S. Prosecutors have claimed that the SOFA makes it difficult for them to collect evidence or seek witnesses.
The case has also played a role in fueling a stereotype harbored by some Koreans that Americans related to the USFK are not duly punished for crimes they commit on Korean territory. [Korea Times]
The Itaewon Burger King murder case has absolutely nothing to do with anti-Americanism or the SOFA agreement though the article is correct that the usual suspects will try to use this movie to do so. Just the fact this movie was made is likely because the producers are hoping to draw on latent anti-Americanism in South Korea to draw viewers.
For those that don’t know the two teens that murdered the Korean boy Cho Chong-pil in the restroom of the old Itaewon Burger King did so because they thought it would be fun. The teen that committed murder Eddie Lee was a Korean-American with no ties to USFK. His accomplice Arthur Patterson was a son of a US servicemember and he watched the murder be committed. Both were arrested and tried in Korean courts and sent to Korean jails. So what does this have to do with the SOFA? Nothing of course, but that won’t stop the usual suspects from trying to create the impression that it does.
If people watching this movie want to complain about anything, they should be complaining about their incompetent law enforcement and government. Lee was convicted of the brutal murder and sentenced for 20 years, but was released after18 months after a higher court over turned the conviction. Like I said before this has nothing to do with the SOFA. Patterson the accomplice was also convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison and was released early due to a special pardon from Korean President Kim Dae-jung. Th victim’s family was awarded in 2006 a settlement from the government due to their incompetence.
So basically due to Korean incompetence two murderers are now running free in America. Aren’t we the ones that should be complaining?
Oh by the way, when is the Cho Seung-hui movie going to be coming out?
5:41 am on October 8th, 2009 1
If we have learned anything it’s that the how people perceive things to be trumps actual facts any day of the week.
At least we can look on the bright with this being the only thing the anti-US groups have to go on for now- a 12 year old case.
That means they have nothing to really stoke the fire of anti-Americanism right now and that’s a good thing!
Rational people will know that the incompetence of the investigators/prosecutors is to blame for why these two wastes of flesh are out free now.
However, we are not talking about rational people when it comes to the hate groups. They will just go with the story they always go with- the US went behind the scenes and strong armed the Korean government into releasing these two, just like they did with the soldiers who intentionally ran over those two middle school girls in 2002.
Of course, we know these are ridiculous lies, but the sheep will believe it.
There is that prevailing thought here that Americans (soldiers) commit crimes, including murder, against innocent Koreans and get a free ticket to the States where they will never be punished for their crime.
I have heard this numerous times over the years. Many people believe it because it’s what they were told by the anti-US groups.
I’m sure this movie will help to continue that false belief.
What gets me is that, over the years, I’ve seen all sorts of Korean movies from different decades that portray American soldiers. Every one of them shows a caricature of the drunk, violent, assaulting, rapist in waiting, and insulting/abusing Koreans. The non-soldier waygook characters are not much better.
Every one of these movies that show “US soldiers” makes them bad people- not one positive portrayal have I ever seen!
Haven’t seen this movie, but I bet it is more of the same.
6:34 am on October 8th, 2009 2
Oh, you haven’t even seen the movie, but you’ve already knows what the anti American plot is.
I haven’t seen the movie myself, but reading all the reviews, most of the concentration is on the heinous crime and the incompetent police investigation – not anti Americanism.
You guys need to get out of your perpetual victim complex.
6:38 am on October 8th, 2009 3
Oh, and if Americans have any sense of justice, they should return Patterson (who fled Korea) so that he can stand trial for murder. All evidences point to him as the one who knifed the victim. Patterson fled Korea because we know he was the one who killed the victim. Patterson’s string of criminal record in the US also proves it.
6:38 am on October 8th, 2009 4
That is, instead of whining about anti Americanism all the time.
7:49 am on October 8th, 2009 5
Your comments show how little you know about extradition treaties between the US and korea. Do a search and try to learn something other than what your senior told you.
Your other comments show that you don’t know what it’s like for “American looking” foreigners in korea when koreans go crazy with anti-Americanism like they did in 2002 and 2003 and at other times.
I guess it’s a load of crap that a large majority of graduating korean high school students consider the US to be the main enemy. I know THAT was a story that was NEVER publish in any newspaper in korea.
You and other koreans can’t win. Most of you people are anti-American and I’ll come out my “perpetual victim complex” if you and the majority of koreans around the world will.
All-in-all, your comments prove you really know nothing and you would be great for the korean legal system.
7:51 am on October 8th, 2009 6
Why not whine about anti-Americanism all the time?
When in Rome do as the Romans do, and koreans whine about their sad, sad history and how they are just poor defenceless people who are victims.
Just learning from koreans.
8:14 am on October 8th, 2009 7
This event didn’t generate much conversation in my adult classes at the time, and crimes related to USFK usually did. At that time, the Markle Murder Case was still brought fairly regularly – since students paid by the month and fresh faces came in all the time.
The murder of a prostitute around this time made more news. I think that was the case where the guy temporarily escaped USFK custody, and that made more news than the murder.
The Burger King murder barely made a dent, from what I could see, and I don’t think I’ve even covered it before on the Anti-US/USFK Culture website.
8:57 am on October 8th, 2009 8
On second thought, you guys can keep Patterson so that he can continue to go on a crime spree. Why waste Korean tax payer’s money jailing and feeding this douche bag so that he can live a comfortable western lifestyle for couple of years, in what is supposed to be a Korean prison.
As for anti Americanism in Korea, those days are numbered as American troops continue to draw down, and it will totally disappear when all US troops leave Korea – not due to anything else, other than the fact that America is broke and the US dollar is collapsing as foreign lenders pull the rug out under the US economy. That means the US can’t afford to station troops overseas and can’t wage any war overseas. Voila, no more anti Americanism anywhere.
10:13 am on October 8th, 2009 9
The cho seung hee’s incident was sort of blessing for americans in korea… i wonder how real americans will feel when they find out that expat and military men in korea is using this tragic incident to excuse lawlessness of foreigners in korea…
3:28 pm on October 8th, 2009 10
ROKDROP you are anti-Korean. I’m just waiting for the day you stop putting an “oh the Koreans are gonna use this against us” twist on everything you post….but that day will never come will it?
4:59 pm on October 8th, 2009 11
Not much truth in your nickname, ironic.
6:13 pm on October 8th, 2009 12
TOm the U.S. will not fade quietly into the night. If it collapses, it will be the last to collapse before bringing the whole world down with it.
8:29 pm on October 8th, 2009 13
Why don’t they make a movie about the tank running over the little girls?
Actually, if they made a factual movie it probably would make the US soldiers look human and the Koreans look like racist animals.
8:51 pm on October 8th, 2009 14
I wrote above that this particular murder didn’t make much of a dent in my classes, but the people wailing about the wrongful use of anti-US activity in Korea to harm Korea are blind and practicing what they preach against: That incident has always been used by the anti-USinKorea groups and has become a part of the larger society over time.
Those groups do use everything they can to promote hatred of the US military in Korea and the US-SK alliance, and the society is more or less receptive to it depending on their mood, but the overall result is a founation of anti-Americanism waiting for the next armored vehicle accident and World Cup hosting to explode.
If that one aspect of South Korean society makes them look bad in that area, it makes them look bad in that area. If people like Tom can’t handle people of non-Korean blood pointing something negative out about Korean society, too bad…
10:09 pm on October 8th, 2009 15
Or better yet…why doesn’t a Korean movie compnay make a movie about the VaTech incident?
10:37 pm on October 8th, 2009 16
What color is the sky of the planet YOU live on, Mr. Spock? No one is excusing anyone for being a brutal violent a88h0le.
12:35 am on October 9th, 2009 17
Did you get a job yet?
2:06 am on October 9th, 2009 18
The Cho Seung Hui movie is going to happen. The Korean version however, has the Americans being the bad guys. Cho is a normal good kid who by moving to America is turned evil. Tom offered to play Cho for free, but when he found out he couldn’t murder white and black people he backed out.
3:22 am on October 9th, 2009 19
There was the US Major who was murdered in broad daylight in Itaewon. Four kids and a widow. Zero sympathy from the usual suspects, don’t thing we will be seeing a movie on that one either.
3:36 am on October 9th, 2009 20
That US Major was talking shit to a homeless Korean man so the man shanked him. Bottom line…don’t talk the talk if you ain’t willing to walk the walk. Major should’ve kept walking and kept his mouth shut. Is rokdrop a site with nothing but US military people that think they are superior to all other people? Think again. You aint shit. Just another pawn in the current presidents game. Disposable….
3:57 am on October 9th, 2009 21
There are always people who believe everything they see in the movies, especially in these “crock-” umentaries. Don’t believe it? Well, you should. Koreans are all too comfortable being zombie morons who never do their own thinking and who let others think for them. That’s why the Korean left has gained power in Korean society. The Korean left has understood for decades that by controlling: the media, educational institutions and the bureaucracy, that they would control both Koreas. Don’t think the Korean left has no control of the Korean movie industry? Now, who’s being naive?
4:36 am on October 9th, 2009 22
“That US Major was talking shit to a homeless Korean man so the man shanked him.”
That’s what he claimed, doesn’t mean it’s true. The murderer also claims he was rummaging through a garbage can and just happened to find two knives when he was insulted… How convenient.
If that isn’t enough to view this with some degree of cynicism…
That murder took place a few months after a Korean-Japanese gangster who killed two loan sharks he owned money to (but claimed he had killed them because they had insulted him for being Korean) was released from jail in Japan and received a hero’s welcome in Korea.
4:49 am on October 9th, 2009 23
What about the other Ittaewon murder, the other one the investigators screwed up? Remember, the young American woman who was killed in her hotel room?
5:54 am on October 9th, 2009 24
Yeah, where her friend stomped on her to death? That was a horrible murder. I stayed in that slummy motel for a few hours one night because I didn’t know any better. God, I got out of there first thing in the morning.
6:05 am on October 9th, 2009 25
It was a lesbian fight. Once again we see the ‘fruits’ of the gay lifestyle.
6:12 am on October 9th, 2009 26
Oh, that’s right! It probably was.
6:25 am on October 9th, 2009 27
I don’t think Korea is doing any better than America. People here save less, work more, commit suicide more and are one of the unhappiest nations in the world…. not that anyone is shocked by the last two. Without America Koreans would be Japeans, so bow down to your savior son.
6:33 am on October 9th, 2009 28
The facts in the case are quite well known, there were three American witnesses including the doctor before he died, and several Korean witnesses. Only the murderer heard the alleged comment, and his English comprehension was quite poor.
—-
In your alternate universe even an alleged bad comment deserves death if you are American. What a poor example of humanity you are. Scum actually, shall I fear for my life?
7:33 am on October 9th, 2009 29
Americans kill a Korean….what could go wrong? Student shoots classmates (VA TECH) see the difference, of course you don’t.
8:37 am on October 9th, 2009 30
Stupid discussion here.
8:41 am on October 9th, 2009 31
uncomfortable?
9:02 am on October 9th, 2009 32
Americans think they are above and beyond other country’s laws. First thing they do is cry racism all the time. Just look at the case of American professor refusing to take the AIDS test for a teaching position and crying racism.
10:07 am on October 9th, 2009 33
The topic/post wasn’t. The “discussion” did quickly fall to that level…
10:30 am on October 9th, 2009 34
Alright…I’ll bite on the troll bait.
Firstly – it wasn’t a professor. It was an English teacher.
Secondly – she didn’t claim racism – she claimed it was a violation of her human rights.
10:41 am on October 9th, 2009 35
Yes.
Koreans/americans/chinese all look so stupid here.
10:42 am on October 9th, 2009 36
Agree
10:43 am on October 9th, 2009 37
So where are all the “anti-American” riotings on the streets after this movie came out? It’s been out for a number of weeks now. Doe most Koreans even care?
10:47 am on October 9th, 2009 38
The funny thing is, both of the main actors playing the criminals are played by Koreans. Both are supposed to be Korean Americans. Yet the Americans are getting their panties wet, without even knowing what the movie’s about. In their minds, now they strike another one off the list as to why Korea is so racist against Americans. The sens of victim hood piles up.
10:52 am on October 9th, 2009 39
You are right.
The subject of the movie is not anti-americanism but the incompetence of Korean police.
11:00 am on October 9th, 2009 40
I saw the movie a couple weeks ago. Although I’m not too familiar with the Burger King murder, the murderers in the movie was a Korean-Mexican gang banger and a wealthy and spoiled Korean-American. If anything, the one thing I can say about the movie is that there was too much exaggeration. During the interrogation scenes, there was an overbearing US Army lawyer (a Korean woman) present who would constantly spout off regulations and treaties preventing the police from asking specific questions. Another beef I had with the movie was the poor casting. The rich Korean-American was passed off as a kyopo who had very little Korean-speaking ability. However, his American accent was atrocious. In addition, all the American teenage friends of the murderers were questioned during the court room scenes. I’ve never met American teens who had such wonderful British and European accents before.
11:36 am on October 9th, 2009 41
Bad casting, bad accents, bad acting, bad movie. It sure is an anti American movie.
1:43 pm on October 9th, 2009 42
All sorts of interesting stuff here…
1. “Without America Koreans would be Japeans”
Yeah, you Koreans… you would be Japeans… and maybe Chins or Amercns, too… even Nkrans.
Better watch yourselves.
2. “The facts in the case are quite well known, there were three American witnesses including the doctor before he died, and several Korean witnesses. Only the murderer heard the alleged comment, and his English comprehension was quite poor.”
At the time, CID believed the major had made a bad comment in broken Korean to the homeless guy… regardless of what his buddies and distant Korean witnesses may have said. I was told this first-hand by someone involved in the investigation.
3. “TOm the U.S. will not fade quietly into the night. If it collapses, it will be the last to collapse before bringing the whole world down with it.”
You are more right than you know. There are a number of constructs teetering on the brink of collapse right now… and, historically, when this happens, politicians beat the drums of world war.
4. “Yeah, where her friend stomped on her to death? That was a horrible murder. I stayed in that slummy motel for a few hours one night because I didn’t know any better. God, I got out of there first thing in the morning.”
I throw a party in that room every Halloween night with a drunken circlejerk at midnight over the dark stain on the floor. Come by!
5. Q: What’s the difference between an Itaewon Burger King Bathroom and Jeopardy?
A: You don’t get a knife in the back when you take a P.
3:55 pm on October 9th, 2009 43
Chickenhead, you forgot to tell us the room number at the motel.
6:35 pm on October 9th, 2009 44
OK, let’s cut the crap.
The Korean who murdered the American officer was caught, tried, and imprisoned. And Cho Seung-Hui after killing dozens of people, shot his face out. So those are bad examples.
Now what about Mr.Patterson who stabbed the victim 50 times? He’s still loose in the US, committing crimes (and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has killed somebody already without anyone knowing about it).
7:20 pm on October 9th, 2009 45
2. Complete BS. The major had only been in Korea for a few weeks. It is amazing that the first Korean words he learned were how to insult a beggar. Again, it seems that many consider this a right reasonable reaction to an alleged insult. What rubbish.
9:31 pm on October 9th, 2009 46
Yes, of course.
9:35 pm on October 9th, 2009 47
That’s just rich…
Consider this:
Most murders occur at home…The murderer is usually a relative of the victim… Should I say those are the risks of heterosexuality and the nuclear family?
In any case…
That’s what the Korean cops thought…It didn’t seem to matter to them that a man was captured on the hotel’s security cameras entering and exiting the hotel at around the time of the murder.
9:36 pm on October 9th, 2009 48
…in reference to the facts being well known.
9:44 pm on October 9th, 2009 49
Probably not, but it’s certainly reason for me to pass on this one. Besides, I’ve already seen one Korean movie about police incompetence, and it was excellent.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353969/
11:03 am on October 10th, 2009 50
I love how people say America is on it’s way down blah, blah, blah…This is especially funny coming from koreans.
Fact: The US (and other former colonies) have do more in the last 100, 200 and 300 years than korea(or any Asian country) has done in it’s 3000 yrs of history.
In it’s first 100yrs, American became stronger than korea is today! I know that’s hurts the little old korean pride, but facts are facts-get over it.
Korea will never achieve what the US or shit, even Canada, has done in their short lives of statehood.
The fact is, koreans have PROVEN themselves to be anti-US and it ain’t just a bunch of 20 somethings either. This isn’t to say every korean is like this, but I’ve taught only adults and enough adults since 2000 to know it’s a majority thing.
Ok koreans, let’s go demonstrate against tainted pork from Chile and FTA’s with Canada and The EU!
In general, koreans and koreans like Tom are nothing more than hypocrites.
11:04 am on October 10th, 2009 51
That is, have done…
11:12 am on October 10th, 2009 52
And Tom, after a long hiatus, comes raging out of the corner to defend Korea and Koreans everywhere with his typical lines….Yes. This thread holds no surprises…
12:47 pm on October 10th, 2009 53
cute how the fake doctor and that so called “american” seem always to agree.
1:57 pm on October 10th, 2009 54
Hamelton,
“The major had only been in Korea for a few weeks. It is amazing that the first Korean words he learned were how to insult a beggar.”
No it isn’t. Insults and swear words are the FIRST thing GI Joe learns… many times before he even arrives in Korea.
Categorical denial of that possibility shows inexperience, naivety and wishful thinking.
Regardless of what anyone wants to believe, those who investigated the situation at the time felt he said something.
That was told to me directly by one of the investigators… and I rightfully place more value on that than all of the speculation and rationalization that comes about every time this topic arises.
Take that for what it’s worth and form your own opinion… but don’t counter it with, “He just couldn’t have known any bad words.”
8:58 pm on October 10th, 2009 55
Logic just isn’t your strong point.
The CID agent wasn’t there, and the only evidence he has is the testimony of the murderer. A man who just happened to find two knives in the trash and decided in a moment to kill another human being. I wouldn’t weigh that evidence as very credible. As I said before, I seriously doubt that two weeks into Korea the Major took the time to learn Korean curse words or that he would have the presence of mind to use them. But then again he’s dead so he can’t defend himself…oh but wait he can.
More credible than the testimony of the killer is the victim who said he didn’t do anything before he died. Two other Officers who were with him also testified that the man just walked up and stabbed him. There were a lot of people on the street at that time and many provided witness statements. No one heard any bad comments, the Americans were talking amongst themselves.
Despite all of the evidence to the contrary you believe that I am inexperienced, naive and guilty of wishful thinking? All of this based on the testimony of a murderer and the CID agent who believes him? Why would a murderer lie? That’s never happened before, and CID agents never screw up cases…oh wait, they do.
12:38 am on October 11th, 2009 56
Good point teadrinker. Did you learn that at the gay lifestyle seminars?
11:23 am on October 11th, 2009 57
Come on, Hamelton…
“Logic just isn’t your strong point.”
I know you are… but what am I? Naw, I’m kidding.
…but let’s look.
Every time this topic comes up, the same tired and meaningless cliches get dusted off and recycled in my direction.
He couldn’t learn any bad words in just two weeks (because that just isn’t enough time), it would never occur to him to say anything rude (because everybody is a gentlemen in Itaewon), he and his buddies all agreed that he never said anything offensive (because they would have been proud of their actions if they had), Korean witnesses (who weren’t paying any attention to other people’s conversations on a busy street) didn’t hear anything so it never happened… and the best one… he is dead and can’t defend himself (whatever that is supposed to mean).
Some years back, when I first relayed what I was told, I got a sh!tstorm of personal attacks for daring to challenge the GI Can Do No Wrong So It Must Be The Crazy Korean’s Fault mentality.
Fine. I can take that… especially when all the yappers really have no idea… as they have never spoken to anyone involved in the investigation… and I have.
Remember, there is no gain for me one way or the other in this… however, nobody likes to relay truthful first-hand information and then get told they are full of sh!t based on wishful rationalizations and the thinnest of speculations.
Sometimes you shoot the messenger and sometimes the messenger shoots back.
No matter what you armchair-analyze based off of a few generalized third-hand facts, a CID investigator directly involved in the investigation claimed CID believed the major said something offensive. The end.
Was this belief based off direct statements or a pattern of evasiveness and inconsistency among the witnesses? Was this belief included in the final report… or suppressed due to an easier case resolution or political concerns? I have no idea… and I don’t claim to.
All I am saying is that a CID investigator directly told me CID believed the major said something offensive. It happened… and no amount of speculative denial on your part changes that reality.
…and it is speculative denial.
“I seriously doubt that two weeks into Korea the Major took the time to learn Korean curse words”
How can this be responded to without sarcasm and ridicule? You have no idea what the major did.
Having spent a number of years in military bar districts, I can assure you that GI Joe learns all sorts of rude things in Korea and, especially after drinking, uses them in front of his friends with a smirk and laugh on the most downtrodden and pathetic Koreans on the street. Ask Songtan Sally what GI knows how to say.
“More credible than the testimony of the killer is the victim who said he didn’t do anything before he died. ”
You are kidding, right? Are you suggesting the major would rat himself out? You don’t study people too much, do you?
“Two other Officers who were with him also testified that the man just walked up and stabbed him.”
And of course officers never cover for their buddies.
“There were a lot of people on the street at that time and many provided witness statements. No one heard any bad comments, the Americans were talking amongst themselves.”
Walk down a busy street tomorrow and, apart from a random word or two, see if you have any idea what those around you are saying… especially if you are involved in your own life.
“Despite all of the evidence to the contrary you believe that I am inexperienced, naive and guilty of wishful thinking? ”
Absolutely.
You believe it is impossible to learn a Korean insult in two weeks. You believe a guy walking down the street would never have the “presence of mind” to show off to his buddies. You believe a guy that got stabbed for running his mouth would admit his mistake as he lay dying. You believe guys who are fellow officers AND fellow doctors would rat him out in a heartbeat. You believe that people walking on the street actually pay attention to the conversations of those around them.
So. Yeah.
But, you are right… CID can certainly screw up a case.
In summery, all I’m saying is that at some point, CID thought he had run his mouth… and, when confronted with painfully weak arguments about why he couldn’t have, I can easily demonstrate that he had the means, method and opportunity to do so.
That doesn’t mean he did… I don’t know… I just know that trained investigators with access to all the facts believed it to be true.
5:49 pm on October 11th, 2009 58
CH,
I think your version although remotely plausible is highly unlikely. Trained CID agents are sometimes quite good or very bad with their own perceived missconceptions. I will also stop trying to use logic on you, Occam’s Razor has no meaning for you.
9:10 pm on October 11th, 2009 59
“I will also stop trying to use logic on you, Occam’s Razor has no meaning for you.”
….but it does.
GI walks down the street minding his own business and gets stabbed. It certainly could happen.
GI says something crappy to a guy digging in trash. It happens every day… and I have seen it.
Now which is a more simple explanation?
10:28 pm on October 11th, 2009 60
Your so full of it chickenhead. I was the on duty MPI agent when this incident occurred and assisted CID in it’s investigation. I assisted KNI, supplying them with a list of questions to ask victims and read every Korean witness statement. Every Korean witness said the Korean man just started stabbing the Major for no reason. I worked with the CID agents that worked on this case and the consensus was that the Korean man was crazy and had other incidents with U.S. Military personnel in the past. No CID agent believed the Major provoked the Korean man. I personally witnessed the Korean Man grab a Woman’s baby stroller, with the baby still in it, outside gate 7 one day. He was a well known nut job that should have never been on the streets to begin with.
Chickenhead, you always seem to try to pick fights in these posts and think that by writing a long entry it somehow makes you look smart but your posts are becoming tiresome and the majority of what you say is lies. You seem to say anything just to get people to believe you like saying you knew the CID agent who investigated this case, that is a lie.
2:28 am on October 15th, 2009 61
Another Anti-American movie.
http://populargusts.blogspot.com/2009/10/pondering-little-pond.html
5:02 pm on October 30th, 2009 62
i dont know about it being anti-americanism
but what i felt from watching this movie was that
the justice system was so weak that a possible murderer walked free whether he was an american or not, the murderer should have been jailed for what he has done, im sure theres many murderers, rapist etc walking free in the world whether theyre america, korean, chinese etc..
i just hope they get what they deserve at the end
8:42 pm on November 10th, 2009 63
This case is very tragic. Americans can kill anybody on the streets and Korean laws just watching! But this is because of Korean US lovers. In Kore most of the koreans are worshipping american english teachers and soldiers. Why ? All the koreans have Inferiority complex aganist americans…what a pitty!
2:34 am on November 24th, 2009 64
hey JohnT… your talking like if all the koreans are anti-American… I have no problem with America or Americans but I don’t like Americans who act like hypocrites going around different countries or to different people and pointing out racism when in fact racism is everywhere in the world…. I love America and I’m Korean and I lived in US which gave me opportunity to make myself a creative individual. So please don’t talk like if all koreans hate America… maybe your an American who is anti-korean. Now if your living in Korea and you don’t like it then simple words for you… Get DA FUCK OUT buddy.
9:00 am on December 23rd, 2009 65
Now that the Koreans are re-opening the case, hopefully there’ll be some closure for the family and maybe they’ll sort out who actually did the stabbing.
1:25 pm on December 23rd, 2009 66
My apologies if this point was already made, but I don’t have time to go through 65 comments.
I think if this movie becomes anti-anything, it will be anti-kyopo. The K-blogs don’t cover this much, but there is a lot of resentment, jealousy, and disgust aimed at ethnic Koreans from the US or Canada who have returned to Korea for whatever reason.
7:48 am on May 11th, 2010 67
First and foremost, i’m sure NONE of you knew these kids, was a part of the investigation(s), or a part of any of the trials, therefore the majority of what ALL of you say is opinionated, and circumstantial. I, on the other hand WAS there. I know both of the people involved VERY well, and was involved in the entire process. SOFA had NOTHING to do with this. I’m half korean, and it hurts me to say this, but the korean judicial system SCREWED up. Big time. Those two individuals are free because of the KOREAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM. Not Americans, the American system, or any tready the American’s might have w/ Korea. Both of the kids admitted to being present during the time of the murder, and blamed each other. So to say the LEAST, both of them should’ve been charged w/ murder. PERIOD. No one came blame America or anyone else for the prosecutor NOT doing that. The Korean courts felt they had enough evidence to charge AND convict Eddie Lee for the murder, and was SUCCESSFUL. Arthur wasn’t charged with murder for a reason, so are the Koreans saying that since they f’d up and let Eddie go (and they CAN’T try him again for the same crime) that they will assume that Arthur is the guilty party? Korea will need a LOT more solid evidence in order to get an extraiditon from the United States. Supposedly, the prosecution in Korea has “new” evidence against Patterson, so we will see. But in my honest opinion, the only “new” evidence they could have is witness testimony. I know for a FACT that NO ONE was in the bathroom besides Eddie & Arthur, so what could this witness REALLY know? And if it IS witness testimony, then a 12 year recollection seems to be easily discredible. The Koreans should’ve never overturned Eddie’s conviction for “lack of evidence.” They obviously had more than enough to convict originally.