Kimchi Hostel is the leading backpackers’ hostel in seoul with its second location opening after Hong Guesthouse in Hongdae Area. We provide a truly unique backpacker experience which offers you a safe, comfortable and cheap accommodation with great facilities. We offer free internet access, common areas and of course a great party atmosphere where you can meet other like minded people. With 4 storeys and over 80 beds available, Kimchi Hostel has the capacity to accommodate you and your party.

Great locations!
Located in Seoul’s No. 1 Entertainment and Nightlife District, Kimchi Hostel is within walking distance of restaurants, bars, clubs, and shopping that are open from dusk till dawn EVERY NIGHT!! We are also close to many major tourist attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palce, GSeoul Namsan Towel, Myeong-dong , Dongdaemun Market etc.

Friendly staff!
Our staff are fun, friendly and enthusiastic about making your stay an experience of a lifetime. If you are looking to meet great people and have a blast, then the Kimchi Hostel is the place for you!

Visit our Website
http://www.hostelseoulkorea.com/

Looking for a recreational soccer league in Korea? Want to play for fun and meet new friends through the sport of soccer/football? Then sign on up with one of the teams in Korea’s Saturday Soccer League.

The League features two divisions with a total of 13 teams.

New players can contact the league at soccersaturday@hotmail.com; plenty of teams are looking for players of all levels for sportsmanship, comraderie and after-game social activities!

Welcome to the Gecko’s Terrace Restaurant and Bar in Seoul, Korea.
게코스 테라스에 오신 걸 환영합니다.

We’re located in the Itaewon shopping district of Seoul so we are just minutes away from most of the major hotels.
서울 이태원에 있는 대부분의 호텔들과 가까이 있으며 이태원의 쇼핑 거리 중심부에 위치하고 있습니다.

Gecko’s offers authentic European and Cajun-style cuisine with daily and weekend specials featuring a new menu every month.
게코스는 정통 유러피언, 케이준 스타일의 요리와 위크엔 스페셜이 특징이며 매달 새로운 메뉴를 제공합니다.

We’ve also got a private room for up to 40 people to handle your next group or business function.
40분 이상의 가까운 친지들의 모임이나 비즈니스 행사를 하실 수 있는 당신만의 공간 또한 갖추고 있습니다.

Our drink menu consists of every specialty drink you can think of along with wine and a wide assortment of draft and bottle beers. Cuban cigars are also available.
모든 음료 메뉴는 독특함을 느낄 수 있으며 와인과 다양한 생맥주와 병맥주를 골고루 갖추고 있고 쿠반 시가도 준비되어 있습니다.

For entertainment, Gecko’s features a large screen TV, two pool tables and two dart boards. You can see some great league play in both darts and pool as Gecko’s has teams in each league. To read more about our teams, check out our sports section.

Besides all this, we’ve got a great DJ and sound system which will provide you a wide selection of music from blues to hard rock for your listening pleasure.

So whether you live in Seoul or getting ready to make a trip here, visit us any night of the week and enjoy a nice break from your hectic schedule with great food, drinks and entertainment.

Introduction

Globally-recognized Korean performance, ‘Drum Cat’ whips people into a frenzy of rhythm and fun! Drum Cat, created in 2003, is an all-female percussion group that has moved into its own exclusive theater just 7 years after its first performance. 2008 was landmark year for Drum Cat, as the group received both the ‘2008 Edinburgh Festival Herald Angel’ award and the ‘2008 Scotland Cavalcade Best Unit’ award, the first awards even won by a Korean team at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. At the festival, competing teams were ranked based on their accumulative skill points throughout a number of concerts and other performances. Reporters and audiences members alike were simply stunned by the performance of Drum Cat. The group not only continued to play sold-out concerts, but also consistently received high, 5-star ratings from festival judges and critics.

Drum Cat has also been a sensational hit at home, receiving the Grand Prize in the ‘2009 Korea Entertainment Awards.’ The Drum Cat performance is bursting with unique rhythmical styling and emotional involvement that so often seems to categorize Korea’s most stunning musical performances. The group’s superb skills in high-speed drumming and unique combination of recorded and live sound is a treat for both the eyes and ears.

Drum Cat, a world renowned performance, is sure to continue beating its way into the hearts of audiences for ages to come.

Programs

The performance of Drum Cat comprises of 5 themes: Sexy, Speedy, Funny, Powerful and Wild. A far cry from traditional drumming, the performance focuses on a modernization of rhythm: combining and reinventing rock, jazz, techno and Latin rhythms into a unique blend of sound. Instead of a basic simple beat, audiences will be floored by the complex, powerful rhythms that pound forth along with the accompanying background soundtrack.

The 5 themes of Drum Cat center on the harmonization of femininity, dynamic sound and complementing pre-recorded soundtrack. Even though each part of the show has distinctly different characteristics and emotions, the underlying basis for the entire show is femininity. Throughout the entire show, audiences will find themselves wrapped up in the performance, giving their most to concentrate both visually and auditorily.

Performance Times
Tue – Sat 16:00, 20:00/ Sun & Holidays 16:00 (No performance on Monday)
Admission/Participation Fees
R seat- 50,000 won, S seat-40,000 won
Duration of Performance
1hr 30min
Age Limit
General Audiences
Transportation

* Subway
– Euljiro3-ga Station, Line 2 & 3, Exit #8 >> 1min walk
– Chungmuro Station, Line 3 & 4, Exit #7 >> 5min walk

* Bus
– #604, 7011 >> Get off at Chodong >> 1min walk towards Euljiro3-ga
– #105, 149, 152, 202, 261, 500 >> Get off at Euljiro3-ga Station >> 3min walk towards Chungmuro (Exit #8, 9)
– #104, 105, 140, 263, 507, 604, 0013, 0211, 7011 >> Get off at Toegyero3-ga Hanok Village Korea House >> 5min walk towards Euljiro30ga (Exit #6,7)

Homepage

www.drumcat.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese)
Detailed Info on the Location
www.myungbo.com (Korean only)

Sub Zero is a place to indulge in an icy world regardless of the weather outside. This bar keeps its indoor temperature at a constant 5 degrees Celcius throughout the year, 24 hours a day. Cocktails and vodka are served on ice tables, carved by one of Korea’s top ice sculptors. At Ice Bar Sub-Zero, everything from its walls, sculptures, to even its cups are made entirely of ice. Promotional events include a contest that awards prizes to an “Iceman” who stays in the ice for the longest time.

Admission is 15,000won per person and includes the cost of renting a pair of winter gloves, a coat and a free beverage.

Menu

refill available from 5,000 to 7,000won per glass)

Directions

Getting There: Walk out of exit 5 at Hongik University Station on Line 2. Walk straight to the traffic light and turn left. Walk 100m up to the university’s main gate intersection and cross the street, heading toward Hongdae Children’s Playground. Walk past the playground and make your first left. You will see the J’s Bar sign. Sub-Zero is across the street from J’s, in the second basement floor (3-5 minutes walk from the university main gate).

Introduction

The Club Day was launched to invigorate the club scene and preserve the unique ambience of Hongik University area where various lifestyles and art forms coexist.

About the Show: A Club Day ticket offers access to a number of different clubs. For 20,000 won at any of the 21 participating clubs, you will receive a paper ID bracelet and a beverage coupon that you can use at any club for a beer or soft drink. Clubs usually open between 8pm and 9pm. However, there aren’t many people at this hour. The peak time to go is around 11pm, but you might have to wait in a 30-meter-long line to get in. Clubs like ‘M2’, ‘MI’, ‘TOOL’, ‘CARGO’, and ‘JOKERRED’ offer electronica-style house and break beat genres; ‘DD’, ‘NB’, ‘SAAB’, ‘Hooper’, ‘Q-VO’, and ‘TUNE’ are mainly hip-hop. For those who like rock, try the ‘OLD ROCK’, ‘M2,’ and ‘NB.’ They are the biggest clubs and they have the most colorful lights.

Club Day Highlight: The best time to enjoy Club Day is between 11pm and 2am. Dancers passionately gyrate without concern about the glances of others, and you will definitely forget how fast time flies. This is also the time when you can see the most popular DJs, and enjoy comparing the DJs’ individual musical preferences in different clubs.

Performance Times

The last Friday of every month, 20:00 ~ 06:00

Admission/Participation Fees

1-day ticket 20,000 won (includes 1 free drink)

Age Limit

You must show a valid photo ID (No entry for 18 years or younger)

Transportation

Subway Line 2 to Hongdae station, exit 6→Walk straight for 50 meters and take the street between VIPS and Omuto Tomato. Walk straight for 70 meters up to Hongik University main entrance→The club street is to the right in the direction of Far East Broadcasting Center (or Geukdong Bangsong in Korean)

Asiana Airlines is one of the two major airlines that severs South Korea and is an emerging leader in the airline industry throughout Asia. More and more travelers are coming to the region to do business as Asian economies are showing monumental growth. Asiana Airlines seems poised to meet this demand, and with the awards it’s been winning recently, has been quite successful in satisfying its customers.

When it was created by a group of investors in 1988, Asiana Airlines became the second South Korean airline. After Seoul, Busan is the second largest city in South Korea – originally, this was the only city serviced by Asiana Airlines. Today, things have changed and service has been expanded to 67 cities in 20 countries throughout Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania. Centered in Seoul, Asiana Airlines is now a mid-sized international carrier with an excellent reputation for service and efficiency. Now, Asiana Airlines offers cargo services in addition to passenger flights. This airline, which is listed on the Korean stock exchange, is doing quite well financially, especially in these difficult times for airlines, and its projected earnings for 2010 are over 0 million.

Although Asiana Airlines is now operating in various countries, its main operations are in Asia. As a South Korean airline, plenty of its regular travels are South Korean or have family members or do business there. However, just like other Asian destinations, South Korea is become a very well like tourist spot. As a lot of people in the United States and other western countries are getting accustomed to Korean food, movies and other parts of that culture, they are also choosing to travel to this country. The recent Olympics in Seoul helped to make the world more aware of the city and country. For anybody who wants to visit South Korea, Asiana Airlines provides you with a convenient way to get there, no matter your present location.

Business Traveler magazine gave three awards in 2010 for their “Best in Business Travel” awards including: Best In-Flight Services in the World, Best Flight Attendants in the World, and Best Overall Customer Service. There was a fantastic awards ceremony on December 10 at the Los Angeles Sofitel Hotel that recognized a wide range of airlines. Business Traveler is a publication that serves international business travelers, informing them about the latest travel news and making recommendations on hotels, airlines and other travel related services. These awards indicate that Asiana Airlines is doing an outstanding job when it comes to providing superior service consistently.

Basically, whether it is for business, vacation or family related, Asiana Airlines can make your Asian flight relaxing and reduce the stress or ordinary travel. When flying, especially on long trips, the attitude and professionalism of the airline can make a big difference in your experience. Asiana Airlines is a very well liked airline that is aware of exactly what its passengers like.

I also have a website that offer help for those looking for Dinero Urgente.

Suddenly, and with little warning, geopolitical risk is back.

Not that it ever really left, of course. Preoccupied with a sea of financial troubles, the world had simply put it out of sight and out of mind for a while.

Now, with all the thundering force of an underground nuclear explosion, our heads are turned to the globe’s unstable flashpoints once again…

North Korea: “Look at Me”

In North Korea, the Kim Jong Il Regime has just conducted a fresh nuclear test (and fired three short-range missiles). “World leaders reacted with outrage,” according to CNN, in response to the unlawful test. The U.N. Security Council held a special emergency session to “condemn” the move.

“North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community,” U.S. President Barack Obama said. The president added that “It [North Korea] will not find international acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.”

Therein lies the rub. In reality, North Korea doesn’t give a damn about international acceptance. What Western leaders do not say, but quietly recognize, is that all their peaceful plans and prescriptions for North Korea are viewed as poison pills by the Kim Jong Il regime.

To understand the situation, put yourself in Kim’s shoes for a moment. Were North Korea to act logically and responsibly in the eyes of the international community, gushers of aid would come flooding in. Treaties would be signed… borders would open… the country would begin to heal… and the totalitarian machine that has crushed North Korea beneath its fist for decades would be swept away in a sea of populist uprising, its leaders thrown in jail to rot for war crimes against humanity.

That is to say, thrown in jail or shot like dogs. Or perhaps hung like common thieves. North Korea’s leaders have CNN too – they saw what happened to Saddam Hussein. Does anyone imagine they really intend to let the same thing happen to them?

The Kim Jong Il regime is crazy, but not suicidal. Their tendency towards self-preservation explains why they hang on to the nuclear option with a death grip. It’s their only form of insurance against getting turfed out like Saddam. That further explains why North Korea is unlikely to actually unleash a nuclear attack on a rival power.

But North Korea is a huge headache for the rest of the world nonetheless. While the regime is unlikely to use weapons of mass destruction, it can certainly sell blueprints and materials to the highest bidder. If some aspiring terrorist leader – a sort of Bin Laden 2.0 – had the cash and contacts to make something happen, Kim Jong Il & Co. would be high on his list of folks to see.

Some hope that if we only wait long enough, North Korea will eventually collapse of its own accord. But that isn’t a very attractive option either. For one thing, a true collapse would again mean the bloody end of the regime – and there’s no telling what a nasty dictator at the end of his rope might do.

What’s more, China lives in quiet fear of a mass influx of North Korean refugees (as does South Korea). Such a flood of terrified, impoverished North Koreans could be economically and politically devastating for the border country forced to receive such an influx on short notice.

Iran: “Us Too”

Somewhat overshadowed by the North Korea news, Iran has made moves of its own that would have surely dominated headlines in any other news cycle.

Earlier this month, Iran test-fired a surface-to-surface missile with a 2,000 km (1,200 mile) range, according to Reuters – far enough to reach U.S. and Israeli military bases in the region.

In further escalation, Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced this week that “Iran has dispatched six… warships to international waters and the Gulf of Aden region in an historically unprecedented move by the Iranian Navy.”

As you can see, North Korea isn’t the only country that wants attention…

“Iranian waters stretch along the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman,” Reuters goes on to add. “Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 40 percent of the world’s oil is shipped, if it were attacked over its nuclear program.”

Once again, this isn’t a case where the West can just ask Iran to play nice. It’s a game of high stakes poker in which Iran is determined at all costs to reach its goal – full-scale nuclear capability – and is willing to openly threaten 40% of the world’s oil supply in order to achieve that goal.

Israel: “We’ll Be Ready”

And the country watching Iran with the wariest eye of all? That would be Israel.

Next week Israel will be conducting a five-day drill, dubbed “Turning Point 3” by Home Front Command. The drill is meant to prepare Israel’s rapid-response capability in the event of simultaneous missile strikes and terrorist attacks, the Jerusalem Post reports.

On the third day of “Turning Point 3,” a siren will go off “throughout the entire country,” at which point all citizens of Israel will head to the nearest bomb shelter (or makeshift equivalent). Suggested reaction times vary by region – from less than 30 seconds in the Golan Heights to a full three minutes in Jerusalem

“This isn’t an imaginary situation,” says Israel Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai. “This isn’t detached from reality and if there is a war, it’s very likely that this is what will happen.”

According to a poll released by Tel Aviv University on Sunday, 51% of Israeli citizens back an immediate strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. The other 49% prefer awaiting the outcome of U.S. negotiations. That mix could change quickly, obviously, depending on how future events unfold.

To further ensure readiness, in the past ten days the Israeli air force has held drills simulating “all-out war.” Again according to the Jerusalem Post: “Fighter jets, cargo planes and missile defense systems of the corps took part in the drill where defense from a simultaneous attack against Israel from the south and north was simulated.”

Make no mistake – there are some real storms brewing here. And we haven’t even touched on other flashpoints like Pakistan, Venezuela and Nigeria… tomorrow we’ll take a closer look at what this all means.

http://www.taipanpublishinggroup.com/taipan-daily-052609.html

See Full Film Here vod.journeyman.tv July 2003 North Korea was identified as part of the axis of evil by George Bush. Taking an archive based trip through North Korea’s recent history, we find out it’s probably a fair assessment. Includes great footage of Kim Jong Il, Kim Il Sung, private bodyguards training and Korean nuclear facilities.

Although often to show the hard way to carry out military diplomacy, North Korea’s hard-line diplomatic logic but it is still negative, it can be summarized as “people do not make me, I do not prisoners; if we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack.” North Korea to take tough military source, are based on “the heart of the US-ROK death I die,” the basic judgments are the first South Korean to “aggressive” response.

After the shelling, the two Koreas their hawkish statement condemning the military attacks the other side first. But South Korean Defense Ministry on November 27 has been officially recognized. It is being held a “National Protection Army speech.” The South Korean troops from the control of first floor extension to the disputed areas on the island fired artillery shells. According to information released by North Korea, said the shelling was due to North Korea despite the repeated warnings. In the exercise area to the North Korean artillery fire, Asics Shoes which led to the Korean military to hit back. Then shelling the truth is: South Korean military exercises during the disputed waters of the western inter-Korean the DPRK fired artillery shells triggered strong retaliation, leading to escalation of the conflict for both full artillery.

South Korea “protect the country,” the last day of military exercises, both Korean troops in the disputed waters near the island of Yin Ping sudden outbreak of intense artillery. North-South Korean military more than 280 shells were fired. North Korean army fired artillery shells into the sea, half and half the island a direct hit Yin Ping, particularly the island of South Korean military bases Yin Ping.

For the artillery to pass, according to Japanese media reports, North Korea’s artillery is divided into two rounds, respectively, in 23 November 14:34 PM and 15:11. Korea in 14:47 and 15:25 on Yin Ping Kang Ling Island North Korea across the Korean People’s Army military fortress gun to fight back. Gucci Outlet South Korean military response from the time lag point of view, South Korea Defense Minister Jin Tairong said before his resignation: “In accordance with the principles should guide and returned fire in self-defense.” Alleged compliance with the principle of the ROK is not to cause casualties on the DPRK in order to avoid large the scale of the outbreak of war. However, several levels of the system led to aircraft delays, making South Korea the end severely damaged and caused civilian casualties.

Shelling caused the outbreak of a series of inter-Korean and the reaction of the parties concerned. South Korea, had broken out, President Lee Myung-bak debrief immediately into the underground command post and issued instructions. He directed the whole army into the highest level of alert, trying to prevent events to expand and seek viable operational plans, through the Panmunjom talks.

Kim Jong II, aged 68, due to deteriorating health was mulling passing the baton of power to one of his siblings since a year or two. He, the son of Kim-II-Sung, founder leader of Democratic(?) Peoples’ Republic of Korea, occupied the Supreme commander cum Head in 1973 upon the passing away of his father. After thirty seven years of uninterrupted rule, uninterrupted owing to the sole reason that dissent in any form is suppressed and silenced then and there justification being it is still a ‘so-called Communist nation’. Peoples’ democratic – how it dares to call it a “Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea” please don’t ask, find out the answer for yourselves isolated from the world by four iron-curtains only a window is provided to big brother China to peep into and also to convey important messages if any or to get necessary advice as and when required from big-brother, a cunning brother literally, cunning in the sense that a new kind of communism is practised there evenwhile practising economic freedom and following neo-liberal economic reforms, the dissenting voices are silenced when it feels like enough is enough.

But the younger brother has neither learned any lessons nor is it interested in providing a window of opportunity to any kind of freedom inside the four walls. Rule with an iron-hand, force the subjects obey the diktats of the powerful and practise whatever directions the master orders. Reminding one of medieval times and hence one Indian journalist once sarcastically called it ‘Jurassic Park’. Its co-brother South Korea despite being co-brothers like India and Pakistan – both are at loggerheads – is practising democracy, has thrown the windows and doors wide open invite other nations to invest and simultaneously invests in other nations and has entered into economic and strategic ties with them in the process turning out to be one of the emerging economies of the world, one of the prosperous nations in the world. While South Korea remains on a high growth trajectory, North Korea defying all advices and threats of sanctions by other nations was in pursuit of developing nuclear weapons without caring the basic needs of the poor across the nation. Please don’t be mistaken while extolling the virtues of South Korea, as a humble observer, I am not blind to the negative aspects of that nation but on weighing pros and cons the positive aspects always emerge to be the winner.

Now come back to the impending change of guard in North Korea. It seems as in some nations a dynastic succession is going to be the order of the day there also. In the power hierarchy after the founder leader Kim-Il-Sung his son Kim-Jong-II emerged the successor, the first of its kind in any Communist nation across the world and upon his retirement his youngest sibling Kim-Jong-Un, who is in his twenties is going to be the inheritor. Reports suggest, just before the meeting of the Workers Party – this is the name of the ruling Communist Party there – the election of Kim-Jong-Un was passed on to the media. It is reported that in the run-up to the party meeting the whole country wore a festive look, it should be so, otherwise it would be something shameful to the leaders and subjects. Worth remembering here a few months ago, on the birthday of Kim-Jong-Un a public holiday was declared to all as a mark of rejoicing and celebration. His ascendancy to power was on the anvil, then no doubt. That holiday declaration across the nation was something awful to the entire world.

Kim-Jong-Un was as per custom (?) appointed a Four star General, means he is going to be the ‘sun-gun’ – means the supreme head of Democratic(?) Peoples’ Republic of Korea. Kim-Jong-Il’s four siblings including the Kim-Jong-Un were assigned various important posts, among the four, one being Kim’s one and only daughter. Thus power well within the grip of a family and I fear we as well as the generation X have to witness this kind of iron-rule within the iron-curtains of a ‘so-called’ Communist country. If this could be called Communism how many of us would be there lenient to it?

Even the Latin American hero Fidel Castro’s Cuba after half a century of its Communist rule ponders over loosening control over economy. Such a possibility is not only probable but inevitable in the days to come. Why can’t North Korean rulers think for a while at least to keep up with changing times.

Click to Tweet This Vid-ee-oh! clicktotweet.com Download Song: bit.ly Share on Facebook: on.fb.me Hi. My name is Nice Peter, and this is an Epic Rap Battle of History. We make a new one of these every month, and I make a new picture song every Monday. Thanks to all the rap-battle fans who helped get this video on the front page of youtube, we pulled it off and the free download of this song will be coming soon. BRAND NEW TSHIRTS: “My Name is Kim Jong, I Got a License to Il” www.districtlines.com We really, actually, honestly do get these battle ideas from your suggestions, so please keep them coming. The beat was created by the very talented producers at: www.20dollarbeats.com They have great music, check them out. Credits created by Nice Peter and Lloyd Ahlquist written by Nice Peter, Lloyd Ahlquist, and Timothy DelaGhetto directed and edited by Dave McCary of Good Neighbor www.youtube.com Beat Production by: 20DollarBeats.com Song Title: Born to be a Ball Playa available at www.20DollarBeats.com starring: Timothy Delaghetto as Kim Jong-il www.youtube.com Nice Peter as Hulk Hogan www.youtube.com Lloyd Ahlquist as Macho Man www.youtube.com director of photography: Jon Na director of epicness: Mike Schroeder assistant editor: Brandon Perna produced by: Nikki Fancy Maker Studios subscribe to youtube.com/nicepeter for more epic raps and picture songs. see you soon -np www.facebook.com www.twitter.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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In many ways the movie Red Dawn, released in 1984, was a tribute to America’s deep mistrust of the ‘commies’ or ‘reds.’ In those days, that meant fear of the Soviet Union. For those of you who haven’t seen the movie the plot goes something like this:

Russian commies invade the US–>They transform part of the US into a Communist prison–>Young American patriots fight back for control of their small town.

It is the quint-essential American film and was very popular during its day. The timing of the film could not have been better. It was released during the Reagan years amidst the rise neo-Conservative faction and billowing anti-Communist sentiment. For Americans, the film was an ego-boost for patriots.

Now, fast forward 25 years…..

MGM, seeking an easy buck, hoped to produce a re-make of Red Dawn. Naturally, the remake would involve youths rebelling against Communist oppressors as the first film had. But then came the question; who would be the Communist invaders? The U.S.S.R has faded into history books, and the successor state (Russia) simply does not strike fear in the hearts of Americans anymore (sorry comrades).

Just then, someone at MGM had a eureka moment. China! Of course, they’re commies too right? Every American fears China these days, we can simply remake the movie with a Chinese invasion instead!

The producers signed their names, and the film reels began rolling (not literally of course). It was finished, but then, word got to China about this new movie, a movie that depicted them as ruthless aggressors. The Chinese government condemned the film as proof that the United States sought to label them as an enemy; that the US was still holding a paranoid Cold-War mentality.

Here’s the kicker, Red Dawn was suddenly and mysteriously delayed. MGM claims that their current financial difficulties made it impossible for them to promote the film, thus they are waiting until their finances are in order before releasing it. However, new details have emerged that suggest this may not be the whole story.

It appears the folks at MGM have decided that the North Koreans make a better enemy than the Chinese. Now…how exactly do you change the very plot of a film after it had already been filmed? Well, reports indicate that they are re-shooting a few scenes while simultaneously going through and digitally changing every flag, every symbol, and every translation from Chinese to N. Korean.

Now, I admit that the original plot of the film would have been ludicrous to begin with. The idea of a Chinese invasion is laughable, not to mention the fact that China is not truly Communist. But now you have the makings of a terrible film, likely filled with numerous plot holes. An invasion by North Koreans?! You mean the country that cannot successfully launch a missile further than Japan? Let alone orchestrate a high-tech invasion of the world’s only true superpower on the other side of the planet?

Why the change in the first place? Why jeopardize a major film while MGM is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy? The answer is simple: Chinese pressure. The Chinese government and people do not want to be demonized (and should not). The outrage this film created in China was enough to place MGM on notice. Their executives asked: Do we release the film and risk the Chinese government banning all future MGM films in the world’s fastest-growing market? Or do we edit the film to placate them? Obviously they chose to go with the latter.

Now, I will pose a suggestion. Though largely overlooked in the media, this event is rather significant. Think about it, China’s economic and political influence is now large enough to force MGM to backtrack on a major film. This is something that the Soviet Union, the other great ‘superpower’ could never do. Does this mean that China has become more powerful and influential than the Soviet Union ever was?

From: http://politikalmatters.blogspot.com/

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