http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=128319&page=3&pp=20 avalon I remember one Korean media have said all asians are the descendant of Korea. I remember one Korean have said English is improved indirectly from Korean language. I remember a professor of a Korean University have said my home country, Taiwan, was the colony of Kogryo in the ancient time. Well, if they think so, why can't they prove it? And I like to ask them that if they hate Japan so much, then why dont they break down the aproximately 3000 schools built by Japanese? Why are they still using the bridges, buildings, and other constructions built by Japanese. In fact, those constructions built from taxes on Japanese people. But I guess koreans never be tought about it. What if Russians occupy the Korean Penisula instead of Japan? Would they have steped the same way as Eastern Europe? Do Koreans know how the Ukiranians treated during WWII? Well, i can easily imagine that Koreans would hate me now.
Would Koreans hate you? Some might, but I'd rather think that you're uninformed. For one thing, Korea's per capita income DECREASED during Japanese colonization. Can you dispute this? This fact, by itself, would prove your assertions wrong, that Japan "helped" Korea.
You forget that Korea and Taiwan had very different experiences under - and after - Japanese colonization. There's a good reason why many old-time Taiwanese look fondly upon the Japanese while the Koreans detested the colonial experience.
Of course the Ukranians got completely screwed by the Nazis in WWII. The Soviets had 18+ million dead. But what does that have to do with the Japanese?
Point of fact: the Japanese "conscripted" young "pleasure women" from Korea and China. If they resisted being raped, they were sent off to Manchuria. There, Japanese "doctors" conducted horrific medical experiments on these persons, slowly dissecting them alive while taking "scientific" measurements. And Japan still has not apologized.
Avalon, do you dispute this? Was this also done for the good of the Korean people? Hey, the Koreans should be thanking the Japanese for making their women Sex Slaves.
Don't apologize for going off topic in a post that has been off topic for a long time. But if you're going to take a stand, back your statements up.
BTW: Russia very nearly DID occupy the Korean Peninsula. Had Russia won the 1905 war, Korea would have become a Russian protectorate, not a Japanese one. But Korea would have kept nominal independence, and continued its path towards indigenous development undistorted by Japanese policies. Korea would have continued borrowing from Japanese organizational forms (albeit with heavy Russian influence) - but on its own terms. It would have achieved full independence again during Red October.
Forgive me for blowing up a bit here, but I think it is warranted. That post by Avalon was similar in tone (but probably not degree) to a Nazi denying that the Holocaust never happened. Or, for that matter, George Bush saying that he invaded Iraq for the good of the Iraqi people.
One more thing - Avalon, did the Nanjing Massacre never happen as well? I notice you say you're Taiwanese...
Apologies for the vast majority fo the posters reading this thread. This is directed towards one or two individuals only. It is certainly NOT meant as a general criticism of all Japanese posters.
And if there have been Korean posters making idiotic statements, that's a bit embarassing as well. I've tried to be as "scientific" as possible - well, as scientific as possible given the emotional charge of the topic. I've tried to present sources, and asked likewise in return. If you think that is inadequate, let me know. If you have materials disproving any of my statements, post them so I can learn a thing or two.
But Mods - if you think this thread's starting to become a distraction - please delete it.