45% of Korean Kids: “Japan is Our Biggest Enemy!”

• Author: Artefact
• Categories: International, News
• Date: Jun 27, 2011 20:39 JST


• Tags: China, Comparison, Korea, North Korea, Schoolboys, Schoolgirls, Statistics, USA
  

The news that 45% of Korean children apparenently consider their nation’s principle enemy to be Japan, with less than half as many considering North Korea as grave a threat and a further 20% actually believing the USA is a worse enemy than either of them has lately been stoking much comment.

The survey reportedly questioned students in over 400 South Korean middle and high schools in an effort to establish the views of South Korean youth on their nation and its security situation.

44.5% of those questioned reported that “our nation’s number one enemy is Japan,” compared to only 22.1% who thought the same of North Korea (with whom the South is technically still at war) and 19.9% who believed South Korea’s greatest enemy was in fact their major ally, the USA.

12.8% meanwhile felt the biggest threat was actually the friendly dragon of China, and a tiny 0.6% worried about the pernicious influence of Russia.

Korean media interprets all this as “the result of Japanese perversion of history and territorial demands worsening the image of Japan amongst the Korean youth,” although it seems they are silent as to why their supposed allies America and Japan are considered greater threats to South Korea than the neighbouring totalitarian dictatorships currently allied against them.

Regarding the apparently minor problem of a third of the Korean nation still being enslaved by a ruthless dictator, 59.6% did at least believe that “further Northern provocations should be met by counter-attacks and firm measures,” compared to 27.7% who would rather pursue the so-called “sunshine policy” of appeasement.

However, nervous allies fearing betrayal may not have too much to worry about (except for what happens if this generation is attacked) – 58.8% of those asked responded that if war came, they would abandon their country and flee overseas, versus 21.6% who would be prepared to stay put and do nothing and a mere 19.8% who would be willing to fight to defend their homeland.

2ch is known to froth at the mouth at the mere mention of their peninsular neighbour, and as ever does not disappoint:

“First free your countrymen.”

“They have no connection to reality. Japan, at peace, is their worst enemy? They may have a ceasefire but South Korea is still at war with the North, you know?”

“They are really engaged in educational propaganda on a massive scale over there.”

“Who cares if the people you hate hate you.”

“The Net-uyo are going to go crazy.”

“Anyone who says Net-uyo is bound to be a Korean. Watch out.”

“The statistics must be faked.”

“To be liked by a country like that is a terrible thing.”

“Probably get the same results if you asked Japanese, as long as they weren’t the ones on TV.”

“Takeshima.”

“That last bit about them wanting to flee their own country kind of sums it up.”

“The only ones warping history are the Koreans.”

“Who cares.”

“If the results are really like that, shouldn’t South Korea ally with China and the North?”

“Korea is really indoctrinating its people to think Japan is its major enemy. For Japan to be so incautious is really dangerous.”

“The anti-Japanese education Korean children receive:”

“Which country do Koreans actually like? If you did a survey on it you’d probably find Japan near the top.”

“Korean history – ideal:

“Actuality:”

“Please hurry up and rescue your poor countrymen from the enemy nation of Japan.”

“They’ve always been like this. It’s nothing new.”

“If half their population is nuts its probably better to have nothing to do with them.”

“Japan is more threatening to them than the country they are still at war with… nice one Japan.”

“It’s a good result. Despite it being totally ridiculous, they’re pointlessly increasing their air and naval forces to counter their fears of Japanese attacks. The North is massing troops and artillery, all aimed at the south. When China dumps them and they get desperate, they’ll only have one place to attack.”

“Why would you even take a survey like this?”

“I just hope the ones who flee when war comes don’t come to the coutnries they say they view as enemies.”

“There was that famous street interview with Koreans in Seoul where they said if America attacked the North, they’d attack Japan…”