jay
Showing respect to the very end. Good luck in Future, Jay Park.

Watching the past few days unfold, it’s hard to not be effected. Watching people hound and attack someone for a reason, that now, doesn’t seem so significant, is heartbreaking.

Its ironic how people will fight for something under the label of “National pride”, and in return shames their Nation.

Reading comments, looking at articles, statements regarding the issue, it made me bow my head in shame.

We are, in this 21st Century, with all the knowledge of centuries at our fingertips, practicing the same methods of those conducted in the Salem witch trials.

I guess it’s not hard to imagine people acting like uncivilized barbarians. But to do it all, thinking that they are in the right and left to do it publicly without remorse scares you.

“Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.”

Who would have thought that comments made 4 years ago would determine whether a person has the right to live or not? Not an action, some words, written privately to a close friend. Written in a time of desperation, isolation and homesickness.

I feel so much shame, it’s overwhelming. This hasn’t been the first time we’ve seen a modern day witch-hunt develop in front of our very eyes. This hasn’t been the first time we’ve said that it must stop. Yet, over the course of 4 days it’s made a large impact on a person’s life and those around him.

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”

Watching this evolve, it looked like one of the suicide tragedies we’ve had in the past. Attacking someone, blowing things out of proportion, seeing them as a figure, but not as a human being.

What hurts the most is that lingering thought in the back of your head… The thought that what if this went like some people seemed to have wanted it to? With a loss of life?

No one can say that we wouldn’t have seen it coming if it had, because as it seems, some people were signing petitions to have the boy distinguish his own life. Is it only a problem when the worst case scenario pops up? Because the man had his Faith in check, does not mean that those responsible should not be punished for their words as well.

I have never been too immersed in reading comments or discussions, I prefer to stay outside and not get too involved. Frankly, those that do get involved are mostly teenagers and young adults and to know that they were responsible for suicide petitions with such comments that I don’t dare to speak out loud makes me fear my fellow man. And makes me fear for our own future. These are the parents of tomorrow.

“Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”

Respect plays both ways in this fiasco. The question of JaeBoms respect for his country and then the respect (or lack thereof) of those involved in his attack.

Do we have a right to determine ones punishment if they do wrong? Do we, as the viewing public have a right to attack someone as we please, because we do not deem them worthy? Do we have the right to drive someone out of a country because of words said in the past?

Things that are done, it is needless to speak about…things that are past, it is needless to blame.

Is it so difficult to look at the past as something to learn from? If one acknowledges their mistakes and claims to never repeat it, can we fault them more? Some seemed to have learned of wise sayings and used them with bad intentions. “The pen is mightier than the sword”, but it is not there to stake people in the heart with. Using knowledge and wisdom is what distinguishes us from animals, why not use that blessing?

The boy made a mistake, before even demanding an apology he and his company issued apologies. In the past it seemed to have been enough to douse the flames with water and let things settle, but that only made things worse. Why? I am ashamed to even think this way, but it seems that just because he wasn’t “Korean enough”.

jaebom
Would things be different if he held a different passport? Perhaps dark green?

And that has been proved since, after JaeBoms departure some were looking to bring down fellow members NichKhun and TaecYeon by trying to find offensive comments about Korea in their personal accounts, and have failed.

JaeBom made a mistake, no one is saying he didn’t, but he owned up to it, showed the public the courtesy they deserved, and yet was still attacked mercilessly. Stripping this human being bare from any official documentation, he is a Korean. A century ago his ancestors were the same as any other Koreans’ ancestors.

This is no longer about “Park JaeBom” the individual, but the figure. Who next? Who will be the next person up for slaughter by these children without morals? Even the media and Broadcasting companies give them more credit by “erasing his existence” out of shows, for fear of upsetting these irate individuals.

Right now it feels like, we, be we Korean ethnically, be we foreigners who dream of going to Korea and becoming celebrities or making an honest living, we put ourselves up for the possibility of having past comments, (be the person exposing them be authorised to even see them), to end our lives in the Country. To be shamed and have to flee the country, just like a criminal. Who knew comments, no matter what the intention can make us out to be equal to murderers and thieves? International ones though, because it seems that criminals that are National can redeem themselves through jail time and community service, or even a simple apology. How quaint.

One only needs to put themselves in the position of being the “outsider”, the “foreigner”, in order to respect and understand difficulties one would endure in a foreign country. It is difficult to adjust, difficult to be accepted, difficult to simply live. Double standards plays a part in this, the world is full of Koreans, how outraged would we be if the roles were reversed and a Korean citizen was the victim?

“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”

Last time I checked, Korea was a democracy and not the same as sister north, that a word that isn’t in the countries favour lines you up for torture, jail and or death. No matter the intention.

If this was a court of law, those comments would not even be susceptible as “evidence”. An anomaly is disregarded, if the whole sees the opposite. He was not the most eloquent individual, but he was no criminal, that’s for sure.

Statements and reviews of the individual himself state that he was a humble, kind and respectable person… What history is he hiding that makes him seem like he deserves to be ousted? Even other comments have surfaced, showing that he had a high regard for his native country.

In an attempt to preserve national pride, we instead, have turned ourselves around and showed ourselves to be merciless to those that are not “one of us”. Must we depict the country to be full of xenophobes? By giving in to the so called “pressure” of these individuals we make the country out to be unforgiving, overly proud and callous. Never an image you want to portray. Especially when the country makes a lot of effort and puts a lot of money in spreading the Hallyu wave and makes comments like… “Korea for the World, the World for Korea.” It seems that only half of that statement is correct.

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”

It will take a long time to start projects, try to help the youth in regaining some ounce of compassion, or respect even, for human life. Yet that path can be trodden, even if slowly, as long as we get there. The Internet has become a weapon and not a privilege.

For petitions on Agora, the Ministry of Information and Communication has the right to read and use that information for whatever purpose. Isn’t it time to use that and suspend accounts for those that seem to think that life is not worth living if you do not think the way they do, or be “one of them”? If that isn’t grounds for at least suspending accounts, goodness knows what is. What’s the point of verifying your identity on Korean portal sites if it isn’t used to maintain a better community?

That petition could have ended his life and will actions only be taken if it had gotten to that stage? What makes them any different from actually committing the crime themselves? Pushing someone over the edge makes you guilty as you had the choice to say and do what you have said and done.

The people, who spread the rumors of the late Choi JinShil (RIP), were responsible for her death. Must that happen again and again for us to finally seek justice and a better community for our children and theirs?

I apologise for the length of the article and the serious nature of it. Right now I don’t feel like being light-hearted because of this post and my feelings regarding this awful tradition of breaking human beings, stripping of their livelihood and their spirit. There will be no update for a few days, I as well as other writers do not have the heart to be light-hearted for a while.

“When anger rises, think of the consequences”

All highlighted quotes by Confucius.