Civil Defense

Nothing like being late to work because of a civil defense drill.

Jack and I were on our way to pick up lunch at T.G.I.Fridays this afternoon. We were starving and were not in the mood for any more of the copious amounts of McDonalds we have had lately. We thought it would be nice to get something of worth for lunch. We left Landpia (our apt building) and caught the first cab we saw. As we headed to U-square we were stopped at a red light in Sangmu that is necessary to go through before getting on the highway. We sat for a few minutes and then I heard the sirens. I figured there had been a wreck. Ten more minutes passed and I motioned to the cab driver a car wreck and he nodded his head. (apparently he had no idea what I was trying to communicate) Time continued to drag on.

Jack and I decided that we should just get out of the cab and walk home since we still weren't too far away and we didn't want to be late for work. We paid the cab his rate and walked to the corner to catch a glimpse of the massive car wreck that apparently required several ambulances and about thirteen cop cars. As we approached the intersection we were shocked. There wasn't a single car in sight. Yes I am that person who wants to see the car wreck. I blame it on my former EMT dad. We looked around and saw a bunch of city officials dressed in beige.

Somehow over the course of our stay we have yet to observe this very common practice. On the fifteenth of each month there is a 민방위훈련 (min-bang-ui-hun-nyeon) or civil defense drill. In earlier years this would be more likened to the duck and cover drills of days gone by in America. A co-worker of ours told us he would hear the siren in school and would have to get under his desk until the all clear horn sounded. Sounds like fifties era America. This was within the last few decades here. The drills had let up under the former president. They still took place, but ducking and covering were not really the focus. They would conduct drills at busy intersections to prepare if there was an attack on the country. I was actually in shock. I think this is the first time in Korea I haven't seen a car or city bus run a red light. :)

Our co-worker Sean told us he didn't even think they were doing them anymore until we told him about our experience today. He blamed it on the uber conservative new President Lee. (who, by the way, I have yet to meet a person in Gwangju who likes him) His harsher stance towards the North really angers some Southern Koreans who still view the north as disconnected family. Regardless, the drills are back in place in Gwangju. We should expect to travel to both lunch and work on these days from here on out by foot.

It makes me feel safe to know they are super prepared if anything were to happen. Fifty or so years of running drills keeps you ready in case of emergency. :) While I know we are war ready if anything were to happen, I was still late to work. :( I wonder if there is a drill for that?


Here is a video of a typical civil defense drill. This was shot in Chongju, bu tit is very similar to what we saw today except we saw many more police cars, ambulances, and as we live near an air force base we heard the jets flying overhead. They also participate in the drills.

Lets just say if you didn't know what it was, it would scare the crap out of you. haha

Foreign Propaganda or Truth?

Recently we have received an overwhelming amount of warnings and cautions from our friends and family back home. Through emails, phone calls, and facebook, we have learned that we should be terrified of the escalation between the North and South as of late. With a more conservative president in Seoul who takes a harder stance against the north and the recent developments regarding the sinking of of the Cheonan warship in March we should be shaking in our boots right? While talks seem to be heated in American circles, you should know that the many attacks of the past have not caused the country to go back to outright war. It almost seems as though the international media is trying to escalate the situation into something more than the South Korean people want.

Jan 1967 - attacks South Korean warship near border, killing 39 sailors
Jan 1968 - commandos storm presidential palace in Seoul in a failed attempt to kill President Park Chung-hee
Jan 1968 - captures USS Pueblo - one crew member dies and 82 held hostages for 11 months
Dec 1969 - hijacks South Korean airliner taking dozens of passengers hostage
Oct 1983 - bombs hotel in Rangoon, Burma in failed attempt to kill South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan - 21 people die
Nov 1987 - bombs South Korean airliner, killing 115
Sept 1996 - sub carrying 26 troops disabled off South - some land in South sparking deadly manhunt
Mar 2010 - torpedoes Cheonan warship, 46 sailors killed

It would be a better assumption that the South will simply gain international support from the UN, US, and others because of the incident. With the opinions of the Korean president and the trigger happy american allies (led most recently by Hillary Clinton and her exploits to rile up everyone with her recent trip to Beijing) all under consideration, we are still relatively unconcerned. The Korean people have illustrated for us that there are still some governments who care about what their people think. We know that most off all in our city. Gwangju is known for its active role in politics. This was best of all illustrated in the famous Gwangju protests in 1980. Gwangju was at the forefront of the democratic movement within the country and still is known for its involvement in any major political upheavals within the country.

Though the world is buzzing with news of the ship being sunk I assure you that as for now it is not as high of a concern as it seems. Of course any loss of life is a big deal, but to expect the south to go to war tomorrow is highly unlikely. A response of some sort is warranted, but the South Koreans do not want to go back to war. We assure you that if anything does conspire between the two countries there is a swift and well organized plan to send all the foreign expats home. Also, we are located near several US Army bases, so we are covered. :) For more details check out the BBC website (it seems to be a little less involved in the scare tactics of FOX news... hahaha)

*Edit* UPDATE:
There has been press released that quotes the Korean president as saying:
"We have always tolerated North Korea's brutality, time and again. We did so because we have always had a genuine longing for peace on the Korean peninsula," Lee said.

"But now things are different. North Korea will pay a price corresponding to its provocative acts," he said. "I will continue to take stern measures to hold the North accountable."

He has vowed to take the situation to the UN security council so that the north will be held responsible. As Lee spoke Monday, North Korea's main government run, fear based newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, called the investigation results an "intolerable, grave provocation" tantamout to a declaration of war.

Even with all of this, South Korea wants peace. They want justice, but they are going through the proper channels with the UN instead of rushing to arms. We are confident things will settle down.