Last night I got the chance to talk to a Korean that was born in the United States, but has reestablished himself as a citizen of South Korea. He gave me some information on the relationship between South Korea and Japan. He discussed what the Japanese did to their women during WWII, experiments they conducted on their citizens, the 33 years of so that Japan occupied their land, and how they have never apologized for their actions nor how they treated South Korea. I would further describe some of the details he gave me, but history can be an ugly thing sometimes.

Prior to Japan occupying Korea, as the story goes, was that the last king and queen of Korea were on the brink of making ties with France. However, Japan teamed up with them sooner and in addition the cousin of the king betrayed his people and homeland and engaged in an agreement with the royal family of Japan signing a document that ceded South Korea over to Japan. As Japan crossed the east river into Korea they crossed over the land to the capital in Seoul and surrounded the royal palace, which was heavily guarded. Then ninjas managed to penetrate into the fortress and kill all who were found. Before they killed the queen who had disguised herself as a maid she begged for her life. Thereafter, they raped and tortured her and, after her final words, took her life by way of sword. Her final words I have yet to gather, but I will eventually get the bottom of this. After the Japanese had complete control they turned the royal palace into a zoo so that they might mock the Korean people.

So here's a bit of the South Korean history that I have had the chance to get to know. What surprizes me is that I would assume that after a rough historical background, that happened with a century, that the Korean people would be somewhat hostile. Thankfully, that is not the case. As my Korean friend told me, they want an apology, but what has happened in the past can't be changed by the animosity that we allow to build up inside of us today. Interesting thoughts. More to come...