South Korean Reaction to Virginia Tech Shooting
A posting I did for the CNN.com blog:
South Korean: 'I am ashamed'
Here in Seoul, the reaction among South Koreans is shock and shame that the Virginia Tech killer came from this country. Local news programs and papers are filled with news on the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.
One shipping company worker told us, "It's a tragic incident. But to find out that he is a Korean, I am ashamed and confused."
This South Korean added, "I keep asking myself what would have made him do such a thing. It's a very bad day."
A bank employee said she was surprised by the news and said it is the only thing people at her bank are talking about.
The story of the shootings is of great interest to South Koreans not just because of Cho's connection to the country, but also because of the number of Koreans that have ties to the United States, including a large number that are studying in the United States.
The U.S. embassy in Seoul told me that more than 90,000 student visas were issued for South Koreans to go study in the United States, more than any other country in the world.
There's concern among some here that there could be a backlash against Koreans in the United States. We took a call at the bureau here from a parent with a child studying in New York who was very concerned that all the coverage would affect things.
She told us she was home with her friends, who like her have kids studying in the United States, and they are watching the TV coverage. Their children are worried that American students are looking at them differently now and "seems like they are avoiding them." She said she and her friends are also worried the news makes all Koreans look bad.
A newspaper here also reflected that concern.
"Now we find out that the criminal behind the massacre is Korean. It is shocking," said an editorial in Seoul's Hankyoreh newspaper. "But we are also hoping that this incident does not create a reason to discriminate against Koreans or Asians."
South Korean: 'I am ashamed'
Here in Seoul, the reaction among South Koreans is shock and shame that the Virginia Tech killer came from this country. Local news programs and papers are filled with news on the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.
One shipping company worker told us, "It's a tragic incident. But to find out that he is a Korean, I am ashamed and confused."
This South Korean added, "I keep asking myself what would have made him do such a thing. It's a very bad day."
A bank employee said she was surprised by the news and said it is the only thing people at her bank are talking about.
The story of the shootings is of great interest to South Koreans not just because of Cho's connection to the country, but also because of the number of Koreans that have ties to the United States, including a large number that are studying in the United States.
The U.S. embassy in Seoul told me that more than 90,000 student visas were issued for South Koreans to go study in the United States, more than any other country in the world.
There's concern among some here that there could be a backlash against Koreans in the United States. We took a call at the bureau here from a parent with a child studying in New York who was very concerned that all the coverage would affect things.
She told us she was home with her friends, who like her have kids studying in the United States, and they are watching the TV coverage. Their children are worried that American students are looking at them differently now and "seems like they are avoiding them." She said she and her friends are also worried the news makes all Koreans look bad.
A newspaper here also reflected that concern.
"Now we find out that the criminal behind the massacre is Korean. It is shocking," said an editorial in Seoul's Hankyoreh newspaper. "But we are also hoping that this incident does not create a reason to discriminate against Koreans or Asians."
posted by ThatsAllFolks at 6:45 PM
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