To begin with, Korea has traditionally been a sexual slave nation, and it is important to develop a "correct historical understanding" of its own country.
October 25, 2016
The following is also an excerpt from "The Differences Between Japan, China, and Korea That Surprised Foreigners Over the Past 2,000 Years," "Why the World Ended Up Dismayed by China and Korea and Admired by Japan" (Kō Bun'yū).
Emphasis in the text other than the title is mine.
Preface omitted
The Signs of Death in the "Land of the Dead" as Seen by Bird
Isabella Bird, introduced in Chapter 1, traveled to Korea, a time of political and social turmoil, four times in January 1894, January and December 1895, and 1897, for a total of 11 months, even though she was over 60 years old.
"Journeys in the Interior of Korea" is a complete translation of "Korea and Neighboring Countries," published in London in 1896.
Her other works include Korea Thirty Years Ago (translated by Kudo Shigeo, published by Toa Keizai Jihosha) in 1925 and A Journey to Korea: An Englishwoman's View of the Late Yi Dynasty (translated by Tokioka Keiko, published by Kodansha Academic Library) in 1998.
A fellow of the British Geographer's Society, Bird not only possessed a knowledge of geography and history, but also a mature observational eye for nature and society, thanks to her extensive travel experience, making this one of the most impressive travelogues of her time.
Travelers of the time unanimously agreed that Korea, having just emerged from a long period of isolation, was a "dull country" with little to see.
In its stagnant state, Korea, described as a "withered country," a "land of hermits," and a "country ruled by the dead (tombs)," likely appeared uninteresting to everyone.
In her preface, Bird writes, "On my first trip, Korea struck me as the most uninteresting country I had ever traveled through."
At the same time, however, he said, "I was deeply interested in Korea's political unrest, rapid changes, and future destiny" around the time of the First Sino-Japanese War.
At that time, Korea "was completely devoid of art," and "the women's unattractive looks, exaggerated by the ugliest clothing in the world, were stocky, broad, and vulgar."
"Koreans are known for their Eastern vices, such as suspicion, cunning, and a tendency to lie, and trust between people is low. Women are isolated and placed in a very inferior position."
Even in Korea today, many women fall victim to sexual crimes, and the situation is hopeless.
So much so that the National Assembly has proposed "legislating physical treatment," meaning castration surgery.
Western governments have also warned solo female travelers about the region's danger zones, but a Korean government-run organization has protested the move, calling it "defamatory."
There are countless stories like this.
In the first place, Korea has traditionally been a nation of sexual slaves, and it should acquire a "correct historical understanding" of its own country.