More Growing Pains for Korean Diplomacy
Apparently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been renamed Ministry of Love Affairs in Korea. Now that is pretty funny, albeit pathetic and embarrassing. However, all of those things are after the fact. First, there was the Shanghai sex scandal. Second, another one in Mongolia. They have occurred. However, how the government handles these issues is now the more important matter. Citizens lose faith in their government not only as a result of the initial fact, but also by the government’s reaction to a set of facts.

Koreans, in general, subscribe to the notion of conspiracy and cover-up. There is a long, long, long list of examples which would justify this. From the government (Presidents Noh Tae-Woo and Kim Young-Sam) to corporations (Samsung and SK Corporation), Koreans have been aware of wrong-doing and the concealment of important facts from public view.

Apparently, there are government officials that are going to the scene to participate investigate.  Already, the clouds of diversion and obfuscation have begun to form. Perhaps the only respite that the Ministry of Love Foreign Affairs will receive is the diversion presented by the Japanese tragedy.