Stories about East Asia from January, 2012
South Korea: Kids Become Outcasts for Not Having Branded Bags
Blogger Hangukdrama wrote on South Korean elementary children's craze over expensive and branded school bags and how this behavior has been encouraged by parents, who concerned that their kids would become outcasts if they are seen with ‘cheaper bags’, kept buying the bags.
Why do I wish to see Hong Kong's independence
Amid a series of social and cultural clashes between Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong netizen Marie Meow has written an open letter (English translation here) on Facebook exploring the reasons, possibilities and limitations for a Hong Kong independent from China. The letter has gone viral on the Hong...
Hong Kong Rethinks its Relationship with Mainland China
15 years after Hong Kong's return to mainland China, Hong Kongers have little mood for celebration. Tensions run deep between Hong Kongers and mainlanders. Bloggers and social critics explore recent conflicts from the social, cultural and economic perspectives.
China: Tibet Burns, But Where Are the Chinese Public Intellectuals?
Since 2009, there have been at least 17 Tibetan self-immolation incidents in China. The public discussion about Tibetan protests is dominated by state controlled media, while those who usually speak out against injustice online often remain silent.
South Korea : Pizza Appears in Lunar New Year's Ancestral Worship
Sharing food with relatives that had been offered in the ancestral worship is regarded as the essence of the traditional Lunar New Year holiday in Korea and there are strict and complicated rules to follow in offering food. However, some young Koreans have started offering unconventional food, such as pizza,...
North Korea: Kim Jong-Un Looking at Things.
There was once the internet meme named “Kim Jong-il Looking at Things“, a collection of photographs of Kim visiting government facilities the net users have gathered together to mock his authoritative posture. After Kim died last year, net users have launched a new version, “Kim Jong-un Looking at Things” as...
Fourth Friendship Lao-Thai Bridge
This youtube video gives an overview of the fourth Friendship Bridge which was designed to link Laos and Thailand across the Mekong River
East Timor: Monitoring the 2012 Elections
There are 10 candidates so far in the coming elections in East Timor. Centru Jornalista Investigativu Timor-Leste is one of the media networks monitoring the polls
Brunei: Support Group for Individuals with Autism
The Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources – Brunei Darussalam or Smarter Brunei is a family support group and association which was established to protect every individual member with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their family members.
Cambodia: Video of Military Assault Against Land Protesters
Licadho, a Cambodian human rights organization, uploads a video of an alleged military assault against rural villagers who were being evicted from their land in Kratie's Snuol district.
Myanmar: Interview with Former Prime Minister
The Myanmar Times publishes its exclusive interview with U Khin Nyunt, Myanmar's former military Intelligence chief and former prime minister, who was freed together with hundreds of political prisoners last week.
Indonesia’s Teenage Thief and ‘Sandal Scandal’
Thousands of Indonesian citizens deposited old sandals in front of police stations across the country to protest the beating of a 15-year old boy accused of stealing a pair of flip-flops owned by a policeman. Netizens react to the 'sandal scandal'
South Korea: ‘Torture Expert’-Turned-Pastor Loses Pastorship Amid Criticism
Lee Geun-an is a former ‘torture expert’, notorious for his brutal ways of torture on numerous democratic activists under authoritarian rules in 1970s and 80s. After serving 7 years in prison, he became a Protestant pastor, but was kicked out of his job as his shameless and unrepenting comments prompt public criticism [ko].
China and Hong Kong: Train Scuffle Ignites Cross-Border Fury
A passenger scuffle over mainland Chinese tourists eating food on a train in Hong Kong, is the latest of a series of cross-border controversies between China and Hong Kong, amidst mounting resent over Beijing's influence in Hong Kong.
Myanmar's Nuclear Program
The Democratic Voice of Burma has uploaded a video documentary about its discovery of the secret program of Myanmar’s ruling generals to build nuclear weapons.
Review of Indonesian Laws in 2011
Hukumonline reviews the laws passed by the Indonesian Parliament in 2011
Understanding Singapore Floods
C L Cheong writes a comprehensive article about the causes and possible solutions to the persistent flooding in many parts of Singapore
Unhappy Hong Kong Envious of Taiwan's Democracy
Having witnessed Taiwan's 2012 presidential election, Derrick Tao, a Hong Kong photographer, made a video (with English subtitles) to contrast democratic development of the two societies. As a prosperous but undemocratic city state, “Hong Kong could either join Taiwan as pioneers of freedom and democracy in the Chinese societies”, or...
Myanmar: Freed Blogger's First Post
Myanmar Blogger Nay Phone Latt, who was released on January 13th along with other prominent political prisoners after being imprisoned for 4 years, wrote his first blog post about his experience in prison.
Philippines: Historical Site Restoration
Mark Segador documents the efforts to restore the now decaying historical sites in Iloilo City, Philippines.
Philippines: Mass Movement and Pop Songs
Vencer Crisostomo looks at last year's mass movement high points in the Philippines through the lens of western pop songs.
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