Latest

Dutch Coffee In Korea Criticized for High Caffeine Content

| March 6, 2016

It looks like if someone needs a good caffeine buzz, Dutch coffee products are the way to go:

Dutch coffee products on average contain four times the amount of caffeine in a cup of americano sold in cafes, according to the Korea Consumer Agency on Thursday.

The agency examined 30 Dutch coffee products in the market and found that while a cup of americano contains 0.4 milligrams of caffeine per milliliter, Dutch coffee contains 1.7 milligrams.

Currently, a beverage that contains more than 15 milligrams of caffeine per 100 milliliters is classified as “highly caffeinated” by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and these drinks must provide a warning label to customers to prevent them from consuming more caffeine than the maximum daily intake. However, there were no warnings on the tested products.

The warning standard set by the ministry states that highly caffeinated drinks must have a phrase for those susceptible to caffeine, such as “Caution: can be dangerous to children, pregnant woman and those sensitive to caffeine,” along with a “highly caffeinated” sign. The product must also say how many milligrams of caffeine is in the drink.  [Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read more at the link.

A Profile of US Military Bases In South Korea Series Archive

| March 5, 2016

“A Profile” is a continuing series of articles here on the ROK Drop that describes each of the different US military installations in Korea and the corresponding “villes” outside of the gate.  You can learn more about these locations at the below links:

profile_archive

Note: If anyone wants to contribute an article to this series feel free to send it to me using the “Contact” link above.  If it is of high enough quality I will publish it here on the ROK Drop.  I would particularly like to publish articles about camps that are now closed.  If you have served on a now closed camp and would like to share your thoughts and pictures of your time on the camp please write an article and send it to me or post it in the Forums.

China Calls for Restraint After North Korea Threatens to Nuke Seoul

| March 4, 2016

I wonder what China would be saying if another country threatened to nuke Beijing?

BEIJING, March 4 (Yonhap) — China called for calm and restraint on Friday after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered his military to be ready to use its atomic weapons at any time.
The order by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un marked a further escalation of tensions, a day after the North fired short-range projectiles into the East Sea in an apparent show of defiance following the U.N. Security Council’s adoption of new sanctions against Pyongyang over its fourth nuclear test and rocket launch.

“We hope that relevant countries can exercise restraint, speak and act prudently,” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said. [Yonhap]

Picture of the Day: Steel Curtain

| March 4, 2016

Sailors Conduct a Pre-Action Aim Calibration Fire Before a Certification Exercise in the Pacific Ocean

Fire Control men fire a MK15 Close-in Weapons System, or CIWS, during a Pre-action Aim Calibration Fire. Bonhomme Richard is the lead ship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and is slated to participate in amphibious integration training and a certification exercise with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.  [PACOM Flickr page]

USFK Court Martial Results for January 2016

| March 4, 2016

Below are the January 2016 USFK Court Martial and ROK criminal prosecution results results from the USFK website.  Really nothing of interest this month other than a Lieutenant Colonel being convicted of larceny and fined $20,000.  The results did not specify what he did, but I would not be surprised if it was BAH fraud.  You can read the rest below:

crime image

Results of US Court-Martials for January 2016

On 5 January 2016, at a Summary Court-Martial, Private (E-2) Emanuel C. Morrison, 94th Military Battalion, Material Support Center-Korea, was found guilty of one specification of committing abusive sexual contact (Article 120, UCMJ). His adjudged sentence was to be reduced to the grade of E-1; to forfeit $1,049.00 pay for one month; and to be confined for 30 days.

On 12 January 2016, at a Special Court-Martial, Staff Sergeant Kenneth S. Clark, 121 Combat Support Hospital, 65th Medical Brigade, was found guilty of one specification of larceny (Article 121, UCMJ). He was sentenced to be reduced to the grade of E-4, to forfeit $1,200 per month for three months, and to be confined for 90 days.

On 14 January 2016, at a General Court-Martial, Lieutenant Colonel Halbert Brown, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Eighth Army, was found guilty of two specifications of larceny (Article 120, UCMJ), and four specifications of false official statement (Article 107). He was sentenced to be reprimanded and to be fined $20,000.

On 20 January 2016, at a Summary Court-Martial, Private (E-1) Kiwon C. Butts, 304th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade, was found guilty of one specification failure to go to formation (Article 86, UCMJ), and two specifications of disobeying a lawful general order or regulation (Article 92). He was sentenced to forfeit $1,044.00 and to be confined for 30 days.

Results of ROK Criminal Prosecutions for January 2016

In Uijeongbu District Court, on 7 January 2016, SPC Myeshia M. Hendrix, 618th Dental Co, USAG Casey, was convicted of traffic law violations. Her adjudged sentence was a 700,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court, on 8 January 2016, PFC Vaughn W. Herrald, E Co, 2-2 AHB-16, was convicted of Intrusion upon Habitation. His adjudged sentence was a 500,000 Won fine.

In Suwon District Court, on 13 January 2016, Capt John M. Pulli, 303d IS, Osan Air Base, was convicted of DUI. His adjudged sentence was a 3,000,000 Won fine.

In Suwon District Court, on 18 January 2016, SSG Jerill JC Cotton, 630th CCT, 411th CSB, Osan Air Base, withdrew his request for a formal trial and thus the DUI conviction and 5,000,000 Won fine through the summary order became final.

In Seoul Central District Court, on 22 January 2016, 1Lt Daniel J. Brom, 8th FW, Kunsan Air Base, was convicted of Destruction and Damage of Property. His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court, on 27 January 2016, MSG Channon W. Green, HHC, MSC-K, USAG Daegu (Carroll), was convicted of traffic law violations. His adjudged sentence was a 4,000,000 Won fine.

In Suwon District Court, on 28 January 2016, PV2 Audrea N. Johnson, C Co, 304th ESB, USAG Humphreys, was convicted of Infliction of Bodily Injury. His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

Hungnam Evacuant from the Korean War Wants to Build A Memorial

| March 4, 2016

This would be a great memorial to see built one day to commemorate this mostly forgotten but important event from Korean War:

The American freighter SS Meredith Victory brings about 14,000 refugees into Jangseungpo Port in South Gyeongsang during the Hungnam evacuation in December 1950.

Lee Gyeong-pil was born aboard the last escape vessel out of Hungnam Port in North Korea during the mass evacuation known as the “Miracle on Christmas” in 1950, in the midst of the Korean War. He is a living embodiment of Deok-soo, the protagonist in the popular movie “Ode to My Father” (2014), which depicts the evacuation.

Lee was born on the SS Meredith Victory, the last ship out of Hungnam, as it reached Jangseungpo Port in Geoje, South Gyeongsang. During the evacuation, the ship carried about 14,000 refugees in a space originally built for 60 people.

Born last among five babies on the ship, Lee is nicknamed “the last Deok-soo.”

But at the time of his birth, Lee had another nickname; he was called “Kimchi-5” by the crew members, who named newborn babies aboard the ship “Kimchi-1,” “Kimchi-2” and so on, by order of birth.

The 66-year-old director of the Peace Livestock Hospital in Geoje is also director of the “1090 Unification Movement,” which raises awareness on and supports peaceful unification process.

He is currently raising support for the establishment of a monument for the Hungnam evacuation at Jangseungpo Port.
[Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read the rest at the link.

Korea Finder 16-09

| March 3, 2016

Welcome to Korea Finder.  The way this contest works is that each week a new image is posted and the first reader to accurately describe or locate the image gets a point.  At the end of the year the reader with the highest amount of points will win a Korea related book of their choice.

Who knows what is the name of the building at the below location?:

Korea Finder Leadersboard

  1. Comfortable Chairs – 2, Smokes – 2
  2. Dd – 1, MTB Rider – 1, JoeC – 1, Setnaffa – 1

South Koreans Wait to See Who Will Be Their Next “GI Jane”

| March 3, 2016

How long will it be before we see a reality show like this coming to a US television network?:

TV military reality show “Real Men: Women’s Army Special” began its fourth season Sunday, with viewers waiting to see which of the eight female celebrities has what it takes to become a competent combat soldier.

The cast of the MBC show includes singers ― Chinese Cao Lu from girl band Fiestar, Jun Hyo-seong from girl band Secret, Dahyun from multinational girl band Twice ― and actresses, including Lee Chae-young and Kim Sung-eun.

They will undergo physically demanding training to qualify to become a petty officer in the Armed Forces Medical Command.

Since August 2014, each season has uncovered outstanding trainees.

While many trainees broke down in tears and showed signs of mental collapse, the “alpha dog” stars were braver, more charismatic and more willing to tough it out. [Korea Times]

You can read the rest at the link.

Tweet of the Day: Dandong Banks Stop Transfer of Yuan to NK

| March 3, 2016

Picture of the Day: ROK Naval Base on Cheju Opens

| March 3, 2016

Joint civilian-military naval base opens in Jeju

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (C, 1st row), Defense Minister Han Min-koo (3rd from L, 1st row) and other participants pose for a photo during a tour of the 7,600-ton Aegis destroyer, the Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, at the new civilian-military naval base on Jeju Island on Feb. 26, 2016, in this photo released by the Navy. The tour came after a ceremony marking the base’s launch. The base opened 23 years after it was first initiated to serve as docks for warships and cruise ships and to host forces to quickly respond to any hostile activities in nearby waters. The base construction has been opposed for years by local residents and activist groups who cite environmental damage and the buildup of regional military tensions. (Yonhap)