Category: Uncategorized

Microsoft has announced that it intends to appeal the $32 million dollar anti-trust ruling brought against the company by the Korean FTC:

We intend to appeal this decision because it is inconsistent with Korean law, it said in a statement. Nevertheless, we will continue developing products for Korean consumers in a way that complies with all laws and is pro-competitive We remain committed to Korea.

Microsoft announced a $761m settlement with RealNetworks in October when the media player specialist agreed to withdraw complaints in the US, Europe, and South Korea, while a $30m settlement with Daum was reached in November.

I tend to agree with Microsoft on this one because their Windows allows competing players to play on it. I don’t see how you tell a company that they can’t package a product with an existing product. It makes me wonder if nationalism is more involved in this ruling then actual business.

Nomad points out the ROK Army’s latest transformation idea to become a more modern and ready force; by making Ranger training fun by crossing the “magic bridge”:

For most men who have been to the military service, ranger training is remembered as a tough memory of crawling like crazy. The grueling physical training under the mean glance of drill instructors wearing red hats, rope crossing and mud puddle jumping can only be described as strenuous.

In order to do so, it decided to adopt an artificial rock climbing wall, and to implement climbing a “magic bridge” and crossing a one-rope bridge, into its obstacle course.

Microsoft has lost the anti-trust suit brought against the company in Korea:

Microsoft (MS), the world’s largest software company, has been fined 33 billion won by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) for violating rules of fair trade.

MS will have to follow the ruling of the FTC within 180 days.

However, Microsoft has vowed to fight on:

Tom Burt, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel at MS replied, “FTC’s ruling is inflicting damage to many consumers to help just a couple competing companies. We will take legal actions.”

Even the US Justice Department has spoken out on this:

The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday took the unusual step of sharply criticizing a decision by Korea’s Fair Trade Commission to fine Microsoft W33 billion (US$33 million) in an antitrust case, which it said went “beyond what is necessary or appropriate.”

Here is an important message from the US Embassy that was put on through their e-mail notification system:

The Embassy has just been informed that the date of the
demonstration in Pyeongtaek City will be Sunday, December 11, 2005, not
December 10, 2005, as originally reported. Please note that the ending
time has changed to 8:00 p.m. from 6:00 p.m.

Additionally, on Saturday, December 11, 2005, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m., approximately 10,000 demonstrators are expected to gather in
downtown Pyongtaek City to protest U.S. military base expansion.

Reading this, I wonder what event will draw more press coverage? Will it be 80,000 people protesting about North Korean human rights in front of city hall or 10,000 people protesting outside Camp Humphrey’s?

I doubt 10,000 will show up at the Camp Humphreys protest, but I’m sure they will draw the majority of the media attention because they will assault and seriously injure the policemen with those long bamboo poles and rocks. After the assault the protesters will then claim that the cops abused them instead.

The slow dismantlement of the USFK continues:

The Defense Ministry said yesterday that Seoul and Washington will begin talks next year on Korea’s wartime control of its military. Under existing arrangements, Korea’s military would fight a war under the U.S. general who heads the Combined Forces Command here.

The agreement came at defense consultations here this week; the talks will begin in February.
President Roh Moo-hyun, who has advocated more military independence from the United States, has complained publicly about those wartime command arrangements. The two nations have already agreed that the Korean military will take over several defense missions that are now U.S. responsibilities. Seoul is also planning a major shakeup of its forces, which would result in a much smaller Army but one equipped with more advanced firepower.

It is important to note that once the war time command is shifted to South Korea it is more than likely IMHO that you will see a large draw down of US forces involved in the Korean theater. The US government will never allow a Korean general to command the combined arms powers that the US possesses such as submarines, naval forces, stealth bombers, cruise missiles, etc. The ROK Army excels at infantry land warfare in their theater and that is why the ROK Army has always had the head land component commander, but never the overall command of the Combined Forces Command.

So this may actually be an opportunity for the US government to use this issue as a way of executing a good face saving withdrawal of forces from the Korean peninsula. Like they say, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.

The city of Pusan has it’s sights set on making a huge complex for the Pusan International Film Festival:

The Pusan International Film Festival has selected Austria-based Coop Himmelb(l)au’s design as the winning entry for its 430,000 square-foot PIFF Cinema Complex and urban plaza in Pusan, South Korea. The firm, led by architects Helmut Swiczinsky and Wolf D. Prix, envisions a structure with a swooping, curvaceous roof that will act as a film screen on both surfaces. Images can be projected from below for visitors inside the complex to view, but also from above so that they appear on the roof for viewers to enjoy from the surrounding structures.

Prix explains, “the roof is not only a roof but also a flying building, so to say.” The building will include six cinemas, an exhibition hall, and an entry plaza that allows guests to arrive by boat. The project will also include a valley, a small canal park, and a red carpet zone and walk of fame.

Maybe it is just me but this monstrosity just looks weird and ugly. Plus what are they going to do with this thing for the rest of the year when the film festival isn’t going on?

I had just read Marmot’s post about the number of Hondas driving on Seoul streets when I came upon this article on Yahoo:

Imported car sales in South Korea hit a record high in November, an industry group said Tuesday, in contrast to poor performances by domestic car manufacturers.

It was the first time for monthly sales of imported cars to exceed the 3,000-unit mark. The November figure was also up from the previous high of 2,953 units in September.

Really when you look at the numbers the amount of imported cars is still miniscule. Also IMHO people buy the imported cars more as a status symbol of their affluency then for any other practical reason. Plus the nationalism of buying a Hyundai has worn off which has further eroded car sales.

US Ambassador to Korea calls North Korea, “A Criminal Regime“:

U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow on Wednesday made international headlines by calling the North Korean government a “criminal regime.” Vershbow made the remark at the Kwanhun Club, a gathering of senior South Korean journalists, when the subject of North Korea’s alleged currency counterfeiting came up.
Vershbow said North Korea’s was the first regime involved in government-sponsored currency counterfeiting “since Adolf Hitler.” Candid criticism of North Korea from a U.S. diplomat here is rare in a public forum.

Let’s see, the North Koreans export heroin, counterfeit US dollars, and illicit weapons and the US shouldn’t consider them a criminal regime? Of course the South Koreans don’t think so:

Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon urged caution, saying countries involved in six-party talks on the North’s nuclear program “need to exercise restraint in the words they choose to describe each other.”

At the meeting, Vershbow’s position diverged widely from Seoul’s on such issues as international recognition of the North Korean regime, human rights and counterfeiting.

Finally the US is executing some foreign policy against the North Koreans that has teeth instead of empty words. The US is definitely doing something right judging by how much the North and South Koreans are squeeling right now.

This is a special edition of Korea Finder. To go with my current Japan theme I have decided to have a Japan Finder this week. The Tori gate in this picture should be quite obvious to those familiar with Tokyo. So where is this Tori located?

As much as I don’t like pro-North Korean sympathisers, I do have to say that this is taking things to far:

About 10 former South Korean commandos used sledgehammers on Monday to smash up the tombstones of political prisoners buried in the South, who they said were North Korean sympathisers.

The former soldiers, who were trained to infiltrate the communist North, were eventually removed by police from the cemetery, but some took away a few earthenware jars containing the cremated remains of political prisoners.

No matter what you political leanings maybe, it is just not acceptable to desecrate someone’s grave. Especially running off with the dead guy’s cremated remains. This is just weird and hopefully the South Korean legal system delivers harsh punishment on these people, but I have my doubts they will.