Do you know how and why USA started the relationship with Korea? History 101. USA occupied the Southern part of Korea right after Japan's ruling while Russia the Northern part. This was against Korean people's will but according to USA and Russia's.

When USA troop arrived at In-Chun port, they landed killing multiple Korean civilians by misunderstanding. And then, USA ruled Korea and tried to set up a pro-American government in Sough Korea to continuously possess the influence over the future Korean governments.

And it was successful by re-employing the pro-Japan Korean leaders during 36 years of Japan ruling over Korea. North Korea was also under Russia's influence but Russia didn't support the pro-Japan Korean leaders.

The conflict between two governments in Korea was born by the intention of USA to keep influence over Korea. Mainly because of this difference, the Korean War broke out.

During the war, more Korean civilians were killed by UN troops than by North Korean.

Most of American seem to believe that USA saved South Korea from North Korea.

Is it that simple to you after learning the above historic facts? If yes, I have to finish my mail here. To me, the USA initially caused the problem in Korea and then tried to come up with the cure.I don't think I will be able to change your bigotry. So be it.

Eller responds:

The reason why you hate America is because your seniors have taught you lies about America.

First off, Korean War was started by Kim Il-sung of North Korea. He was a ruthless dictator who allows no freedom, no democracy and puts his own people in death camps. According to international reports, North Korea murdered over half a million civillians during the Korean war. Note: because of Kim Il-sung's and Kim Jong-il's disasterous policies, some 2 million North Koreans died of starvation in the 1990s. Are these not your brothers and sisters, too?

You cannot blame the creation of North Korea on foreign powers. North Korea is a Korean regime that banishes all foreign influence and promotes a national policy that is fiercely anti-American and anti-Japanese. North Korea is what South Korea would look like if we Americans didn't help you out and stand up to the communists.

The US did support the dictators in the South, but the South Korean government was never a puppet of the US. The dictators and American presidents were always fighting behind the scenes. Moreover, the US supplied the South with 10 billion dollars in direct aid during the 1960s. Without that aid, many South Koreans, maybe your parents, would have starved.

Note: I do not want Koreans to thank Americans. I just want you to stop burning our flags and calling us evil. As far as I am concerned, South Korea owes us nothing but fair treatment and the truth.

Moreover, the US put constant pressure on Park Chung-hee and Chun Du-whan to respect human rights and to make democratic reforms. In fact the CIA even saved the life of your current president from Park's assassins who planned to drown him in the East Sea after they kidnapped him from Tokyo.

In short, Korea never has had and never will have a better friend than the United States. If you don't believe me, try getting help from China next time your economy collapses or you attacked by your North Korean brothers.

Nice job with the site. Well, with the navigation/design, etc etc.

As far as the information goes¡¦ I¡¯m kind of torn at what to say. While I would refute all of the facts that you claim are universally true for all Koreans (or at least imply), I cannot deny that there are morons among us out there (as there are with any population) that would probably warrant such a site devoted entirely to them. In particular, I¡¯d like to say that those idiot college students that tried to rap (of all things RAP) an anti-us song were freaking retards. And the poking fun at 9/11 is clearly tasteless.

BUT- suggestions like pushing anti-Korean sentiment in Alabama and, frankly, putting up sites like this are just are tasteless.

To be honest, you¡¯ll probably disregard my email simply by virtue of the fact that I am ethnically Korean. But I have to make two important points. First off- Koreans are not universally hostile towards Americans. I¡¯m sincerely sorry for any ¡°hardship¡± or persecution you and your friends feel they might have experienced at the hands of angry Korean subway mobs, but Koreans are simply not universally anti-US.

To get a small taste of that, look into the efforts the Korean government and the Korean-American population in the United States are making for commemorating the Korean War, with celebrations thanking the many US servicemen who fought in the Korean ¡°conflict¡± (a parade in Hartford this weekend, if you¡¯d like to see one yourself).

Secondly¡¦ I really would like for you to resolve this vendetta it seems you have against Koreans. Seriously. Let me know what I can do. I¡¯m serious. If it takes me to take you on a tour of Korea, to prove Koreans are not inherent anti-American, that they are NOT indoctrinated and taught to me racist against Americans, I¡¯ll do it.

Seriously. Let me know. Finally, I¡¯d just like to point out that Americans have not exactly been the friendliest of hosts to Korean immigrants to the melting pot of the world, the land of the free, the home of the brave, where Lady Liberty welcomes the tired, poor, hungry, huddled masses. Research anti-Korean legislation all throughout 19th and 20th centuries, especially in California, research hate crimes against Koreans, research the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.

One last point: Koreans would not move here if they hated Americans. Koreans would not teach American children the ancient art of Tae Kwon Do, train them to be Olympic Champions (look up Steven Lopez, 2000 Gold Medallist in Tae Kwon Do) that DEFEAT South Korea, if they hated the United States.

Eller responds:

Sir, I do not discount what you say because your ancestors are from Korea. I discount what you said because you live in America.

I live in Korea. I grown so use to being handed anti-American fliers in shopping malls and on subways. I have grown use to seeing my country's flag burned each night on the news. When I visit a Korean university I expect to see large murals of Korean tigers shredding American flags.

I would like to offer to take you on a tour of Korea to show you just how out-of-control anti-Americanism has gotten.

I do no deny that Korean Americans have faced hostility and discrimination in America. But what has that got to do with my site? I support your right to speak out against injustices against Koreans in the U.S. or anywhere, for that matter.

But nothing you suffered in America gives Korean NGOs the right to spread blatant lies and promote blind hatred against America in Korea. None of that gives the Korean media the right to smear the reputation of American servicepeople who protect Korea from the psychos in the North.

Let me make one thing clear. I have just one beef with South Korea. Its raging anti-Americanism.

First of all, I really appreciate your defending of your country among 40 million people who are against it. And as a part of the Korean population, I sincerely apologize for any oppressions or hostilities you have faced while living in Korea. I admit there are "loonies" among us who like to entertain themselves by making fun of President Bush or the 9/11 attack, and I agree with your viewpoint that they are totally out of their mind, to put it in a nicer way.

However, I must say that you are leaving out something very important. I didn't have a chance to look through every writings presented in your website, but I get a feeling that your viewpoint is just as bigoted and biased as you claim us Koreans to be.

I agree that my country is full of faults as you pointed out in many ways, but please, do not assume that we are not doing anything about it. You seem to neglect all the efforts put to improve the shortcomings you listed because they are less conspicuous. Every country has its own problems and one shouldn¡¯t criticize the other unless it is perfectly flawless (which I don¡¯t think is the case between US and Korea). Moreover, they have nothing to do with the deaths of the two girls or the national anger caused by it. Being a citizen of a country full of flaws doesn¡¯t make it ¡°okay¡± to kill her, even by an accident.

We are not demanding something very big. Although you may find the methods very violent and aggressive, all we really want is a more sincere and just examination of the case. I can't argue any further if you defend your opinion with American law system because I'm not at all familiar with it, but you see, a crime has been committed involving two people¡¯s death and yet no one is responsible for it. Since there is no specified culprit, and since Koreans need someone to direct their anger to, they are blaming it on the whole country of America. Our anger is neither a blind chauvinism nor an ugly bigotry. I understand the negative feelings you have for this country, but just as you condemn our bigotry, please don¡¯t judge us by your prejudice. Such things only exacerbate the situation; it only brings you down as the same level of people whom you criticize.

Just like what you are doing, I am standing up for my own country. I appreciate your sharp criticism, but I would not tolerate any mis-portrayal of Korea or the Korean people. I do wish I got my points across, and I hope you don¡¯t regard my comments as offensive.

Eller responds:

Thank you for the thoughtful and well-reasoned response to my site. But am afraid that I must respectfully disagree with you. Korean and American relations have been poisoned. Nowhere in the world is our flag burned more often and with such relish as South Korea. Koreans blame it all the Americans, but I place much blame on the Koreans (though I do not claim Americans are blameless).

You misunderstood the basic point of my, "Open letter to South Korea." My point was not that South Korea is a bad place, or that it has more problems than America (I believe both places have troubles), or that South Koreans ignore their problems.

My point was that South Koreans will readily forgive another Korean for an offense, but will never forgive even the slightest wrongdoing of an American. South Koreans will have a riot if an American army base spills a few liters on oil into a river. But a Korean company can dump millions of gallons of toxic waste and the people won't care.

Everyday in Korea five foreign workers die in industrial accidents. Do these men and women get justice? Do the owners of the factories go to jail for their deaths? The answer is no.

When North Korea killed five South Korean sailors during the World Cup, South Koreans quickly forgave them even though North Korea did not really apologize. Were the pictures of those young boys in every newspaper and website for months? No. During the Asian Games, South Koreans cheered for North Koreans. During the World Cup, they held signs that said "death to America" and cheered when our players were injured. (I was at the games.)

Most Koreans tell me that the two Americans who accidentally killed those girls should be executed or put in jail for twenty years. Yet, Chun Do-whan, the butcher of Kwangju spent just three years in jail for his crimes.

Now do you see why I am very angry to be an American in Korea?

Ben you are the man. I am a U.S. Army Officer who has been stationed in Korea for 4 years (not continuously). I must say that everything on your page is absolutely true. Koreans are very self-centered and only think of their own needs. The few who do like the U.S. only like us because we are helping them out and they realize we are spending billions of dollars each year to make South Korea better.

Koreans are quick to protest when we want to sell them cars, rice, or anything because as they "it will put their people out of work." Well what about the Americans that are out of work because of all the crap we import from Korea.

We should trash the Korean Chamber of Commerce and protest them in the U.S. The average American as well as the media in the U.S. has no clue what happens over here. I've othen wondered why CNN doesn't cover some of these events like they do in other countries. Americans need to wake up before it's too late.

Eller responds:

I am just as frustrated as you are. But violence is not the answer. It is not even very effective, I believe. Remember the spy plane incident with China. The thing was settled 48 hours after AP ran a story that Wall Mart customers were shunning Chinese products. That is all it would take for the majority of sensible Koreans to wake up from their anti-American spell.

Make no mistake. There are a hardcore group of crazies who will always hate us. The goal must be to shock the majority of South Koreans back to their senses.

I think you are providing a good service. The media in the US is not interested in this issue, which is one that I think most Americans would want to know about.

On a CNN interactive link about the opinion of war around the world: on the Asia clickable map, Japan, China, and Indonesia, among others, were given, but there was nothing on Korea.

We 37,000 troops facing a dangerous and unpredictable enemy, despite what many Koreans so badly want to believe, and I think the level of anti-Americanism and especially hate for US soldiers in Korea is something Americans would want to know and should be told.

From my point of view, it isn't Korea bashing to find one aspect of the country that needs to be known. Unlike much of what is said in Korea about US soldiers or America or the SOFA, you aren't making stuff up. You didn't pay the people to put Bin Laden's face on the Statue of Liberty. Nobody paid the Korea Herald to run a "it was your fault" editorial from the staff to mark the anniversary of 9/11.

I hope you get a lot of traffic from people in the US. I'll try to help, especially by trying to get the US press to pay attention.

Eller responds:

You really have described the precise aim of my sight: to let Americans know how Koreans really feel. The only antidote for the poisonous atmosphere here is an angry and pointed response from Americans. We need to remind Koreans that their anti-Americanism will have consequences.

The other aim of my sight is to point out the hidden agendas and outright racism and xenophobia fueling anti-Americanism here. Sure the U.S. has made mistakes in Korea, but the current attitudes in Korea cannot be in any way, shape or form classified as fair.

I was wondering if you could write the Montomery Advertiser. I don't know if you know this, but Hyundai is planning to build its largest car plant just outside Montgomery.

It would be a triumph if you could turn public opinion in Montgomery against Korea by writing a letter to the editor or asking a reporter to do a story. At first I thought it might a low blow because Alabama is so looking forward to the plant, and there are some good Koreans. However, after that editorial by Lee Kyoung-hee and Korea's nasty attitude towards America, I think it is only fair that Alabamians know the real Korea.

You know the Korean government would wake up if its exports began to be threatened because of a change in public opinion in the U.S. Right now, Americans are woefully ignorant about the anti-Americanism in Korea. Like you, I really like Koreans on an individual level. However, the problem is their society and the fact that they are so easily manipulated by those in power. Unfortunately, those in power are now the anti-America "blame America first" crowd of leftists, and they are truly ruining the culture.

Eller responds:

I agree with anyone who feels the time has come to target Korean exports to the U.S. for boycotts. There are several reasons that go beyond Korea's shameful response to 9/11 and its shabby treatment of our soccer team during the World Cup. The first and foremost justification is the Korean media's constant drumbeat of support for those boycotting our products. The Korean media's latest kick is to urge consumers not to buy items with foreign "characters" such as Snoopy and the Teletubbies on them and instead to buy stuff with local characters. The second reason are all the unfair trade barriers against U.S. goods. A third could be the refusal of Korea to honor its mutual defense treaty with the U.S. after 9/11 and the labeling of America as "embodiment of evil" by one of the top deputies of Kim Dae-jung.

That said, I see no specific reason for targeting the Hyundai plant in Alabama. We need to instead inform the consumers of America who are planning on buying new cars.

I was never treated perfectly in Korean society myself, but I must say that I enjoyed Korea a lot. I liked the way of life there, and the people were very nice to me. I don¡¯t know what you have been through to take your stance against Korea with your website, but your reporting holds just about as much water at the KCNA¡¯s. It is dangerous to breed so much hate about people. If you hate Korea so much, why in the hell don¡¯t you just leave? What do you do for work in Korea?

I love America, but if you continue, I might just get my wife to translate NSC-68 into Korean for the media there. NSC-68 was a top secret document created by our National Security Council in 1950 but has within the last several years been declassified. It speaks of how the US needed to have a limited war with Russia on the Korean Penninsula to stop the spread of communism. It also created the nuclear stockpiling in the US. The US started the cold war and used Korea as a pawn in their game.

Then too, of course, once the Cup was over it took the leaders a few days to get their teeth into the POLITICAL opportunity their Red Devil fervor had nearly cost them. But, lock-step, just like the rent-a-crowds and political hacks they really are, the protestors and reporters came flooding to the issue like a horde of Mongol warriors (or brainwashed communists; or Nazi party faithful) when finally told what to do by their masters.

Until you have a degree in Korean history or something, you really need to tone it down. You have some legitimit complaints, but your cause and effects for these are perposterous.

Eller responds:

Mohammed Atta, who flew a plane with American women and children abod into our World Trade Center, reportedly was a big fan of Las Vegas, Hollywood action movies and American beer. Who knows? If you sat next to him at a bar while he was alive, he may have bought you a drink.

I am not saying that Koreans are going to be flying planes into our buildings. Not yet. But I am very concerned about where they are going.

Why do I need a degree in history to comment on Korea? This site is obviously based on my own opinions. I am not writing for the N.Y. Times. (Thank goodness.)

Doesn¡¯t it strike you as disingenuous that the accident was ignored by Koreans from June 13th when it occurred until the World cup was finished, some three weeks later? There were no big protests, no damning (and misleading) newspaper accounts or editorials, no demands for USFK withdrawal from Korea.

I suppose everyone was too damned busy with the Red Devils to be bothered by the unfortunate deaths of two mere girls.

Then too, of course, once the Cup was over it took the leaders a few days to get their teeth into the POLITICAL opportunity their Red Devil fervor had nearly cost them. But, lock-step, just like the rent-a-crowds and political hacks they really are, the protestors and reporters came flooding to the issue like a horde of Mongol warriors (or brainwashed communists; or Nazi party faithful) when finally told what to do by their masters.

Bottom line: USFK took correct and sincere action immediately, while the politically motivated and insincere Korean people, media, and protestors were ignoring the issue, the girls, and their families in favor of selfishly enjoying the pleasure and euphoria of Korea¡¯s unprecedented World Cup success.

I have been wrong for decades: Korea is not a Confucian society - Koreans lack the sincerity and noble character required to qualify for that questionable honor. Instead, they¡¯re mere political opportunists - shallow, predictable, and short-sighted - who have in the past sacrificed their very nationhood on the alter of factionalism, self-interest and personal ego. As demonstrated by the long, unforgivable delay in the response of the "national consciousness" to these tragic deaths, given the proper circumstances and opportunity, they would no doubt do it again

I've been serving in Korea for nearly 3 years now. I've gotten to the point where I am sick to my stomach over the lies perpetrated by some of these xenophobes. It is shameful and disgusting. I could relate countless stories on how I've been mistreated here because of stereotypes about myself, and my fellow soldiers.

It is true that many of the Koreans I've run into have been kind, decent people. I would also venture to say that most Koreans understand / tolerate / or appriecate US presence in Korea. However, I do believe many more would if the Korean media was not so biased and twisted.

The only thing accurate that you have shown me in your web site is that Koreans have fallen out of love for the US - and rightly so.

Really.. your skies are falling rhetorics only exasperate the situation. You think some punk surfing from a PC-bang would care that much about your apoclyptic "warnings"? Did your web server guys beef up their firewall yet? It was just too easy last time."<

Anti-Americanism is now fashionable in Korea, and as any experienced Korea watcher can tell you, Koreans are very fashion conscious.

The lies, half-truths, and baseless conspiracy theories that are being spread by many irresponsible, fashion-conscious people in Korea¡¯s media, academia, and government have become so pervasive that there is now a real danger that Koreans, especially younger Koreans, will be caught up in a rush of anti-Americanism that will push them down a path they did not intend to go.

South Koreans would not want to live under the kind of oppression that North Koreans must live under, yet many romanticize the North Korean regime as a means of showing opposition to the United States. North Koreans are dying and North Korean defectors are being turned away at South Korean embassies in the vain hope that it will somehow push the North Korean government to reconcile with the South.

South Koreans have suffered from and are appalled by terrorism, yet many sympathize with and romanticize the murderous bin Laden as an anti-American crusader. Many Koreans are so blinded by anti-Americanism that they cannot see that terrorism threatens not only Americans but all peoples of the world.

Koreans and Americans share many of the same values, yet anti-Americanism is pushing Koreans to side with people and governments who do not really share their values. It is the classic case of cutting off one¡¯s nose to spite one¡¯s face.

Koreans have an intense desire to be "number 1," which causes them to criticize the actions and downplay the achievements of those they feel inferior to. That is one of the main reasons there is so much criticism of Japan and the United States in Korea.

Koreans are trying very hard to convince themselves and others that they are superior to the United States and Japan. However, in the process they are distorting reality and creating a situation that will slow, not advance, their efforts to develop their thinking and social structures.

Korean anti-Americanism is not based on hatred, but on envy. The danger is that all the anti-American rhetoric in Korea will change that envy to hatred."

I like America and I respect her achievements. However, Bush's policy on the Korean peninsula is getting us nowhere. He is killing us with his policy. He provokes war in the name of his War Against Terror. He tries to sell us outdated F-15 fighters in the name of peace. We have imported billon's worth of your weapons annually. We don't need any weapons.

Former president Clinton tried to give peace in our home. But Mr. Bush is not a peacemaker. He is provoking war

Someone on the Usenet newsgroup soc.culture.korean brought up just that point after the first article about the video: If the roles were reversed, would they still think it harmless?

Koreans wouldn't be so charitable. Just remember the flap here about the movie "Falling Down" or the outcry over Leonardo Dicaprio's alleged comments just before the movie Titanic.

Have not seen the Video, but after 50 years or so of having to be subjected to nasty stereotypes from we Americans, and others (Japanese....1910-1945), maybe just maybe a bit of satire even be it cruel and/or stupid, is something we should not get all too excited about.

Koreans today in general are still very much 'simpatico' with Americanskis, but maybe want to deal on a more equal basis. When was the last time you blew smoke over a nasty Korean put-down on TV?

Just want to say a quick "Thank you" for your efforts to provide some of the bitter realities about Korean attitudes, etc. I have been here for eight years and believe things are regressing. Perhaps it's time to leave. Not sure about that.

But I have forwarded your site to everyone on my list and I know that it has already been sent to others who were shocked to see what you have included about the Korea/USA relationship.

Keep up the good work and thanks again for posting the site in the Korea Times readers section. I read your letter to the editor some time ago where you stated you would establish such a site, but I didn't know the site name.......now I do and so do many others in the State.

Be well and keep your eye on what NK does in the VERY near future. Things are about to change ........and not for the good.....so I'm told.

I was pleased that you took it upon yourself to create such a web site highlighting the trivial anti-American sentiment here in Korea. As a foreign businessman, I must say that the level of nonsense that has gone on as of late has appalled me.

However, you struck a chord with me in one of your essays (Urban legends as official history) with respect to your notion that Canadians sympathize and in fact promote anti-American sentiment in their home country. I do realize that I ma referencing a small citation, but I felt hurt that was nevertheless expressed.

The truth is, your belief that Canadians are anti-American could not be farther from the truth. When 9/11 happened, Canadians gave massive amounts of blood, dollars and labor (firefighters and police) to the U.S. to help with the aftermath of that horrible tragedy. Moreover, we grieved like 'family' given our 'shared' history and so forth. And on a personal note, our firm gave a sizeable donation to the September 11 Fund to show our 'solidarity' with our American cousins. And rightly so¡¦our tears were true.

We did this not because we are lapdogs, and not to win favor. We knew that our efforts would be overlooked and that was fine (it is something we have come to expect, and we accept it). In our minds, what was central was that 3000 people died, and like so many times when America has gone to the rescue for others, we wanted to tell, show, and stand beside you as family does during times of tragedy. And we did this not for recognition, but love.

Funny, if you had read any North American periodicals at all with respect to 9/11, no other country gave and did as much as Canada.

So, aside from the fact that there is a small number of morons in Canada (like in the U.S.) who spout anti-American, anti-Western propaganda, I can tell you that the vast majority of Canadians respect and support your country. Sure, as two separate, yet closely connected countries, we often disagree on a certain subjects, but we have a right to when we feel we are at odds with on another.

Let it be known to you, if you don¡¯t know already that the U.S. and Canada are each other¡¯s largest trading partners (70-80% both ways), strongest allies (NORAD) and closest friends (culture and roots). And though we may trade the odd snide remark and get a tad red in the face at each other the odd time (which a majority of the countries around the world would not tolerate for an instance), I take heart with the knowledge that our relationship is unique, one where the only the odd potshot is thrown and not missiles.

Lastly, it is easy to lambaste the Korean media for distorting the facts, but I suggest you take a closer look at your own work to see if you are not doing the same thing.

I end this letter as a blood ally, a peeved cousin, and a friend for life to the United States.

I pity you.

I've been here long enough to get to know the Korean people their language and customs. I will refrain from even starting to contradict or tell the real truth about Korea. Your 10 points are not worth commenting on.

You have to live with your own goodself and your conscience. I hope you can sleep at night. There are non so blind as those that don't want to see.

As far as the US troops are concerned, I think most agree that its time for the US to withdraw from Korea. Aftering six years of living working, and studying in this country, it seems obvious that Korea will not take the next step in the discovery/developent process until it is left to sort things out for itself. In many ways Korea has been a vassal for more than a thousand years, first to the Chinese, then to Japan, and now the perception is that America is the new 'parent', and the US just doesn't play the role well.

The downside, of course, will be the mass exodus of capital, both human and material, that will follow any US withdrawl. As is known in diplomatic circles (A major foreign embassy was my former employer) while Korea's elite my expouse the virtues of a truly independant Korea, they will be the first one's out if the US leaves.

This loss of capital would no doubt devastate and destabalize the pennisula, but is still probably necessary for Korea to cast off its insecurities and move toward its destiny, whatever that may be.

i'm sorry but your little website does not give evidence of Koreans' anti-Americanism but is more a testament to your neuropsychosis with a heaping dose of loathing for Koreans running through your character.

You have given wrong interpretations of captions and have added to make sure you present a juicy case for anti-Americanism. Oh well you tried, and you really have convinced your readers that every Korean is pro-bin Laden and that ALL of Korea cheered on the streets at WTC was attacked. In fact why don't you upload pics and articles from newspapers around the world regarding this (purported) strange bin Laden worship phenomenon amongst Koreans?

Ohhh, poor Ben. What happened? Is your nose a tad too big and you've been rejected by your own mommy? Admission is the first step to recovery from your deep-seated insecurity which manifests itself in hatred of others, esp those you envy.

The name "Laden Tea Shop" which you say is a business in honor of bin Laden first of all does not say "bin Laden" but just Laden, which could be from any language besides English and maybe an attempt to spell something like Radin, Ladin, Raden and even Laden. But if they meant to use bin Laden, why didthey not use bin before Laden?