I’ve studied the issue of comfort women in detail. I’ve studied Japanese culture and language extensively. I think what imperialist Japan did in its occupation of not only Korea but many other Asian countries is shameful and horrific and cause for censure to this day. So much of the actions its government committed in the name of imperialism were beyond the pale. The fact that the nation has never publicly admitted wrongdoing, not to mention issue reparations to the victims, is an issue that cannot be swept under the table.

However. Dokdo is an issue entirely separate from the crimes against humanity perpetrated against comfort women and others in WWII and before. The fact that many Koreans cannot talk about one issue without jumping to drag in others just gives naysayers more ammo to level against Koreans as incapable of thinking logically and dispassionately, and without being overwhelmed with emotional arguments.

So yes, I have thought twice — more than twice — about this issue and I’m not just throwing around words like “overreact” frivolously. (And just because I say Koreans tend to be oversensitive — WE ARE — doesn’t mean I think that our/their claims are groundless. I just mean that the Korean argument would be helped by less jumping to point fingers and more calm rationale.)

ha ha
what did he say in the magazine??