I object to this statement: “As one defector in New Malden told Jiyoung Song, senior lecturer in Korean studies at the University of Melbourne: “I couldn’t bear the second-class citizen treatment by South Koreans, but here in the UK, it’s OK because there are many second-class, third-class citizens like Indian, Pakistani Muslims or other black people. I’m just one of them.” Nobody is a second- or third-class citizen in the UK if they obey the law and do some work. Koreans in general tend to be very hard working, law abiding people and it’s a shame they don’t play a greater role in public life.
I too am not happy with the statement but it appears to be accurate reportage of a defector’s statement. Why then do you object to it being included in this article as it broadens the background to the article itself?
Nobody is a second- or third-class citizen in the UK if they obey the law and do some work. I’ve known black British of Jamaican family origins who were both hard working and law abiding who nonetheless felt they were second-class citizens.
I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you know what empathy means.
If you can explain why I am a bit of a Pr!ck because I appear to have an empathy bypass, I will explain to you why you are a dishonest grifter at worst and a fool at best. What I said may been expressed flippantly but it contains more than a grain of truth which you presumably recognise even if you cannot admit it, hence the venom of you response.
Oh dear oh dear: you really don’t live in the real UK , do you:” “Nobody is a second- or third-class citizen in the UK if they obey the law and do some work”. Try growing up being the black child of a single mum in Glasgow or Liverpool, living in slum housing conditions, and having to care for your Mum because she is an alcoholic or has a mental health issue… and then tell me that.
“As one defector in New Malden told Jiyoung Song, senior lecturer in Korean studies at the University of Melbourne”
Melbourne Uni is the epicentre of woke socialism in Australia. I wouldn’t trust a lecturer from there to tell the truth without putting some woke spin on it. They wouldn’t say anything else … or they would get cancelled.
Important article in and of itself. And, for me, one more reason to abhor (to put it mildly) Biden’s fraudulent Presidency. Trump was making serious inroads w/NOKO (and more importantly, China, NOKO’s reason for being). All that is going to Hell in a hand basket w/Biden.
Guy Johnson
3 years ago
“Park, who had to escape twice. She first fled aged 29, by crossing the border into China, while under gunfire from North Korean guards. She was sold for marriage to a Chinese farmer but, after being reported to the police, was separated from her six-year-old son and deported back home.
There, Park worked barefoot in a labour camp, before being released to die after seriously injuring her leg. Within six months, however, she had escaped the country again and was reunited with her child. ”
Yes, yes, yes but what is the appropriate pronoun to use.
Frederick B
3 years ago
“..the largest population of North Korean refugees outside Asia”. Who would have thought that England is the nearest safe country to North Korea? One learns something new every day.
We should build our own statue of liberty in the channel
Andrew Crisp
3 years ago
Please note: one is not allowed to leave the UK without permission right now.
ralph bell
3 years ago
Such a powerful article about the amazing experience and escape of Ji from North Career.
It certainly reminds Brits of what we can still be proud of.
Lex Pagani
3 years ago
Thanks for putting the day into perspective. An interesting glance into the lives of a silent minority here.
Dapple Grey
3 years ago
I’d love to know what the North Koreans in UK think of the wonderful Korean drama Crash Landing on You of which half the series takes place in North Korea (though obviously it wasn’t filmed there)
Roger Inkpen
3 years ago
Well, everyday’s a school day, as they say. Who knew New Malden had been taken over by Korean restaurants and shops? I’ve just dropped the yellow man onto Google maps in the high street – look left and right and 2-3 Korean takeaways and restaurants appear! Stoll further down and it seems every other business is Korean.
It’s good to know these people – from North and South – have decided to make a home here. On my travels I’ve only met a few Koreans – but they have all been genuinely nice people. Friendly without being overbearing.
I guess when they moved here we were relatively richer. Today I don’t think that’s the case.
Robert Malcolm
3 years ago
Good article, I learned a lot.
It’s sad that despite our being such a wealthy country, we cannot feed our own people properly, or give them all jobs, safe housing, and a decent income, and that we all in the UK also live under the strange cult of a semi-divine hereditary Monarchy that lives in excessive isolation and extreme wealth in their fabulous palaces, despite doing nothing to deserve it, whilst sheltering under the umbrella of a massive nuclear and conventional ‘defence’ force that we can and will never actually use in real action.
Absurd. I have known thousands of people in my life, and not a single one of them thought themselves second class.
A further point; there are a limited number of countries in the world to which, it seems. vast numbers of people wish to immigrate, and the UK is one of them.
I object to this statement:
“As one defector in New Malden told Jiyoung Song, senior lecturer in Korean studies at the University of Melbourne: “I couldn’t bear the second-class citizen treatment by South Koreans, but here in the UK, it’s OK because there are many second-class, third-class citizens like Indian, Pakistani Muslims or other black people. I’m just one of them.”
Nobody is a second- or third-class citizen in the UK if they obey the law and do some work. Koreans in general tend to be very hard working, law abiding people and it’s a shame they don’t play a greater role in public life.
I too am not happy with the statement but it appears to be accurate reportage of a defector’s statement. Why then do you object to it being included in this article as it broadens the background to the article itself?
I object to the statement, not its inclusion in the article.
Would ‘disagree’ be a better word then, rather than object?
Nobody is a second- or third-class citizen in the UK if they obey the law and do some work.
I’ve known black British of Jamaican family origins who were both hard working and law abiding who nonetheless felt they were second-class citizens.
I am white and male so I am by definition a second class citizen
No, by definition you are a bit of a Pr!ck because you appear to have an empathy bypass.
I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you know what empathy means.
If you can explain why I am a bit of a Pr!ck because I appear to have an empathy bypass, I will explain to you why you are a dishonest grifter at worst and a fool at best.
What I said may been expressed flippantly but it contains more than a grain of truth which you presumably recognise even if you cannot admit it, hence the venom of you response.
Oh dear oh dear: you really don’t live in the real UK , do you:”
“Nobody is a second- or third-class citizen in the UK if they obey the law and do some work”. Try growing up being the black child of a single mum in Glasgow or Liverpool, living in slum housing conditions, and having to care for your Mum because she is an alcoholic or has a mental health issue… and then tell me that.
“As one defector in New Malden told Jiyoung Song, senior lecturer in Korean studies at the University of Melbourne”
Melbourne Uni is the epicentre of woke socialism in Australia. I wouldn’t trust a lecturer from there to tell the truth without putting some woke spin on it. They wouldn’t say anything else … or they would get cancelled.
There was no context. How long had the person been here? Did he or she speak English? Etc..
As usual when I read this sort of article, I think to myself that every wannabe socialist should read it.
Ego quoque.
Important article in and of itself. And, for me, one more reason to abhor (to put it mildly) Biden’s fraudulent Presidency. Trump was making serious inroads w/NOKO (and more importantly, China, NOKO’s reason for being). All that is going to Hell in a hand basket w/Biden.
“Park, who had to escape twice. She first fled aged 29, by crossing the border into China, while under gunfire from North Korean guards. She was sold for marriage to a Chinese farmer but, after being reported to the police, was separated from her six-year-old son and deported back home.
There, Park worked barefoot in a labour camp, before being released to die after seriously injuring her leg. Within six months, however, she had escaped the country again and was reunited with her child. ”
Yes, yes, yes but what is the appropriate pronoun to use.
“..the largest population of North Korean refugees outside Asia”. Who would have thought that England is the nearest safe country to North Korea? One learns something new every day.
We should build our own statue of liberty in the channel
Please note: one is not allowed to leave the UK without permission right now.
Such a powerful article about the amazing experience and escape of Ji from North Career.
It certainly reminds Brits of what we can still be proud of.
Thanks for putting the day into perspective. An interesting glance into the lives of a silent minority here.
I’d love to know what the North Koreans in UK think of the wonderful Korean drama Crash Landing on You of which half the series takes place in North Korea (though obviously it wasn’t filmed there)
Well, everyday’s a school day, as they say. Who knew New Malden had been taken over by Korean restaurants and shops? I’ve just dropped the yellow man onto Google maps in the high street – look left and right and 2-3 Korean takeaways and restaurants appear! Stoll further down and it seems every other business is Korean.
It’s good to know these people – from North and South – have decided to make a home here. On my travels I’ve only met a few Koreans – but they have all been genuinely nice people. Friendly without being overbearing.
I guess when they moved here we were relatively richer. Today I don’t think that’s the case.
Good article, I learned a lot.
It’s sad that despite our being such a wealthy country, we cannot feed our own people properly, or give them all jobs, safe housing, and a decent income, and that we all in the UK also live under the strange cult of a semi-divine hereditary Monarchy that lives in excessive isolation and extreme wealth in their fabulous palaces, despite doing nothing to deserve it, whilst sheltering under the umbrella of a massive nuclear and conventional ‘defence’ force that we can and will never actually use in real action.
Not doing too well on the old upticks today are we Robert?
Well Robert,
I advise a six month holiday in North Korea for you. Starting today. Please report when you are back
That Korean lady is right – almost everyone in Britain is a second-class citizen.
But I guess that the overwhelming majority of Brits would not agree with you! What evidence do you have to support your assertion?
Is this a reference to lockdown?
Absurd. I have known thousands of people in my life, and not a single one of them thought themselves second class.
A further point; there are a limited number of countries in the world to which, it seems. vast numbers of people wish to immigrate, and the UK is one of them.