The Korea Observer

Otto Warmbier’s DPRK Travel Company ‘Young Pioneer Tours’ Changes Stance After Coma, Death

Chance Dorland — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 08:36:16 +0000

ConsumerAffairs.com writer Amy Martyn recently wrote a piece titled “Booze, bribes and propaganda: The company that promises ‘safe’ travel in North Korea” regarding the tour company American college student Otto Warmbier took (Young Pioneer Tours) before being detained for allegedly stealing a poster. After being sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, the world didn’t get an update on his case until recently when North Korea allowed Warmbier, by then in a coma, to return to the US where he died several days later. Martyn spoke with Korea FM reporter Chance Dorland to discuss her reporting on how Young Pioneer Tours handled the incident & changes now taking place at the tour company since Warmbier’s death. Find more of Amy Martyn’s reporting at https://www.consumeraffairs.com/about/staff/amy-martyn/

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The post Otto Warmbier’s DPRK Travel Company ‘Young Pioneer Tours’ Changes Stance After Coma, Death appeared first on The Korea Observer.

More North Korean Defectors Supporting Moon Jae-in, Shifting View On Pyongyang

Chance Dorland — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 02:39:17 +0000

The Nikkei Asian Review recently published a piece on rather surprising Moon Jae-in supporters leading up to the special election he won to replace former President Park Geun-hye who current remains jailed following her impeachment. Moon’s support from this group was so surprising, it’s even been dubbed “the great sensation”. Who are they? North Korean defectors.

Melbourne-based reporter John Power has spent several years living in & writing about the Korean Peninsula & continues to cover issues affecting the area. John spoke with Korea FM reporter Chance Dorland about his recent report for the Nikkei Asian Review & the research he conducted into the divide among North Korean defectors’ preference for presidential candidates & plans for future engagement with Pyongyang. Find more of John’s findings in his story, “North Korean defectors divided on Seoul détente”, at http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/North-Korean-defectors-divided-on-Seoul-detente

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Q&A With “The New Koreans” Author Michael Breen At The “Seoul Book & Culture Club”

Chance Dorland — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 09:36:08 +0000

Barry Welsh‘s “Seoul Book and Culture Club” recently played host to author Michael Breen, who discussed his newly released book “The New Koreans“. To better understand the text & the Q&A session contained in this podcast, in our previous episode, Korea FM spoke with Breen about “The New Koreans” & why it was written. Now, in the final chapter of that discussion, we bring you audio of the Q&A with author Michael Breen & those in attendance at Barry Welsh’s public meeting of the Seoul Book & Culture Club.

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Michael Breen On His New Book, “The New Koreans”

Chance Dorland — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 13:39:15 +0000

Michael Breen is a writer & consultant who first came to South Korea as a correspondent in 1982. He’s covered North & South Korea for several newspapers, including the Guardian, The Times & the Washington Times. Few are more knowledgeable about Korea than Michael Breen, a trained journalist who’s lived here for many years & whose connections go right to the very heart of the country. His new book, The New Koreans, explains the history, the business & the culture of South Korea, as well as where its future lies.

Michael Breen recently discussed his new book at a public event hosted by Barry Welsh of the Seoul Book & Culture Club. In this two part episode, Breen first talks with Korea FM reporter Chance Dorland about The New Koreans, followed by a Q&A with those in attendance at the event hosted by Barry Welsh.

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Interview answers, both in written & audio form, have been edited for length & clarity.

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The post Michael Breen On His New Book, “The New Koreans” appeared first on The Korea Observer.

South Korea Stacking Olympic Hockey Team With North American Players

Chance Dorland — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 14:39:30 +0000

To prepare for the upcoming 2018 Pyeongchang winter olympics, South Korea is investing in both infrastructure & athletes, with one sport in particular making headlines for its addition of foreign-born players. Last year, Korea FM reporter Chance Dorland spoke with Korean Ice Hockey Association international coordinator Kwan Choi about the six North American players (five Canadian & one American) added to the team at that time. Dorland also spoke with Colorado native Mike Testwuide about his journey moving to the ROK to play for the Anyang Halla & now for the South Korean Olympic hockey team.

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Interview answers, both in written & audio form, have been edited for length & clarity.

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The post South Korea Stacking Olympic Hockey Team With North American Players appeared first on The Korea Observer.

Teacher Pay vs Work Hours – Which Is Better For South Korean Teachers?

Chance Dorland — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 09:20:31 +0000

A 2016 education report from The Economist asks if higher wages or less working hours make a better teacher. While South Korea has one of the highest wages for public teachers in the OECD, public teachers in the ROK also spend double the average amount of time on administrative tasks. Korea FM reporter Chance Dorland spoke with Economist data journalist Slavea Chankova & Ellen Sherratt, the co-Deputy Director of the Center on Great Teachers & Leaders & senior researcher at American Institutes for Research, to find out more. Find more info on teacher pay vs work hours at http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2016/04/daily-chart-18

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Interview answers, both in written & audio form, have been edited for length & clarity.

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The post Teacher Pay vs Work Hours – Which Is Better For South Korean Teachers? appeared first on The Korea Observer.

Young South Koreans Turning Away From Religion

Chance Dorland — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:04:08 +0000

Seoul-based reporter Steven Borowiec recently wrote an article for Aljazeera English titled “Why young South Koreans are turning away from religion”. Borowiec spoke with Korea FM reporter Chance Dorland to discuss the personal stories & data from his research, as well as the educational & job pressures that appear to be behind the trend. Read more about the issue in Steven Borowiec’s article at http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/05/young-south-koreans-turning-religion-170524144746222.html

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The post Young South Koreans Turning Away From Religion appeared first on The Korea Observer.

Peace Activist Yoh Kawanaka On Improving South Korea-Japan Relations

Chance Dorland — Tue, 30 May 2017 09:11:21 +0000

Recently, Seoul-based think tank The Asia Institute held a peace march in the capital. The event was open to the public, & peace activist Yoh Kawanaka was invited to travel to Seoul from Japan to participate. Kawanaka spoke with Korea FM reporter Chance Dorland to discuss the peace march, her wish for better relations between South Korea & Japan, & new Japanese laws she says prevent activists’ voices from being heard. Find more info on the Asia Institute’s peace march at http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2017/05/197_229737.html

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The post Peace Activist Yoh Kawanaka On Improving South Korea-Japan Relations appeared first on The Korea Observer.

Asia Institute’s “Korea Peace March” This Sunday, May 14th In Seoul

Chance Dorland — Thu, 11 May 2017 09:45:35 +0000

The Asia Institute is a Seoul-based think tank that addresses global issues with a focus on Asia, committed to presenting a balanced perspective that takes into account the concerns of the entire region for current trends in technology, international relations, the economy & the environment. Korea FM reporter Chance Dorland has covered several of their talks & lectures over the last few years & recently spoke with Asia Institute Director & Kyung Hee University professor Emanuel Pastreich about their upcoming “Korea Peace March” this Sunday, May 14th in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul. Find more info on the march at https://www.facebook.com/events/123090044918802/.

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Interview answers, both in written & audio form, have been edited for length & clarity.

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President Trump “Seriously Undermining” South Korea-U.S. Alliance

Chance Dorland — Mon, 08 May 2017 11:47:06 +0000

A column recently appeared on NKNews.org that directly made light of how US President Donald Trump has influenced what’s going on here on the Korean Peninsula, & it didn’t paint the new president in a very good light. Under the title “How Donald Trump is seriously undermining the South Korea-U.S. alliance”, the article begins with a description of how things generally operate here regarding North Korea, noting that “As long as North Korea is able to make life a living hell for whoever attempts to engage in regime change or regime collapse… it will always have that assurance that they will not be pushed too hard,” & for that reasons, “the United States & South Korea (& Japan to a certain extent) have coordinated closely over the years to deter North Korea as much as possible.” However, the article is quick to note that things have now changed, & that after Donald Trump’s electoral victory, it has been “nothing but one bumbling fiasco after another.”

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Interview answers, both in written & audio form, have been edited for length & clarity.

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The post President Trump “Seriously Undermining” South Korea-U.S. Alliance appeared first on The Korea Observer.