Hyundai, Kia, and the other South Korean automobile manufacturers continually have problems with their workforce. Plus, now the South Korean public and government are seemingly reluctant to stand up with we Americans against the North Korean lunatics, when they are threatening the world with an ICBM and are known to have nuclear weapons? This, after we've spent untold BILLIONS defending South Korea for 53 years, not to mention God only knows how many American and allied lives (not forgetting that the Korean war was a UN sanctioned war, that troops from all over the world participated, that the war has never officially "ended" and there was only a cease-fire).

I say - hey, Hyundai? KIA? Empty your plants of equipment, ship the stuff to the United States, built 3 or 4 new plants here - we need the jobs and won't continually strike and cause problems.

Plus, if you become an American company, once North Korea takes over South Korea, at least those of you who came to the United States will be free.

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Right on.

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Glenn, exactly what does an employee walkout have to do with a country that is not willing to help enforce US policy?

This is a corporate management problem, not a political one.

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The South Korean workforce are so difficult to work with, they walk out almost as much as the British workforce used to in the horrid 1970's. This is not by any means the first time they've just left the line standing there. It happens all the time.

As for politics, well, all of humanity more or less is politics, isn't it? I own a Hyundai, and after the crap I've seen out of South Korean news re: how their government is cowtowing to the North/not supporting the US, and how a lot of South Koreans "hate" Americans, well they can all go to hell. (Maybe it doesn't pay to be well informed and read news from all over the world from off the net - but you certainly get to find out in a hurry who your friends - and enemies - really are).

I'll buy Honda or Toyota next time, since I love my Prius so much, anyway. And Honda is coming out with a fuel cell car in 2009, so I may well end up buying that as my first Honda, whereas the Prius was my first Toyota.

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In reply to Seb, in S. Korea there is no major distinction between the government and the cabals that own and run all businesses. Like China, S. Korean business is owned by the government's ministers, and there is no such thing as a "management problem" there. It is comforting to pay less for a vehicle, but if it's being produced by a political-government entity that is hostile, you need to factor that into your decision to buy.

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If Osama bin Laden starts building cars, I'll make it a point not to buy one. Short of that, I don't really give a crap about politics regarding my vehicle purchases. That's for governments to figure out. If it's a good car, I'll buy it.

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South Korea sent 300,000 of its own troops to Vietnam during the Vietnam war to help the Americans fight the VCs. They lost countless lives as well.

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I am so surprised that there are tons of knuckleheads out there who belive they are smart (e.g. Glenn A. and Bob Cape). You shitheads obviously know nothing about Korea; first off, as #6 cited, numerous Koreans died in Vietnam for America's sake. Moreover, Koreans are still one of the most important allies of the U.S. Secondly, Korean companies are soley run by the private entites not by government or whatsoever. You think Samsung, Hyundai, LG and millions of other S. Korean companies are owned by their government? Who would think so other than the uneducated redneck like Bop Cape? 'S. Korean business is owned by the government's ministers, and there is no such thing as a "management problem" there.'

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'S. Korean business is owned by the government's ministers, and there is no such thing as a "management problem" there.'


WOw. What a complete igonrance. I am sure whoever said this have absoulutely no access to the contemporary media.

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So, I'm a "knucklehead" who "Thinks I'm smart" huh, Agnoticism?

Well, at least I know how to read and think/come up with conclusions for myself. Have a peek at a couple of stories for yourself. There are way more than this out there.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200606/200606200030.html

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200511/200511170026.html

and finally, most importantly, one other example for you all to read (it'll blow your mind)

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0347,hong,48775,1.html

So - "so what" if South Korea sent some troops to Vietnam? Big deal. "So what" if they sent some troops to the middle east to help on the war in Iraq.

It's what's happening now that counts, people.

So, thanks, I'll still claim to be right in my point that the South Koreans are ingrates turning against the people who saved them - America - and while this is their right, as a free people, well - let them have the consequences of their decisions and live with it (or die with it).

Let's bring all out troops home from these countries who are now capable of using their own damn money to defend themselves.

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South Korea actually pays for a lot of the costs for having US troops in Korea. Currently, South Korea and the US are negotiating increasing the amount South Korea pays. Also South Korea also happens to be one of top US arms buyer. They also have the 3rd largest coalition force in Iraq and has been supporting the war against terrorism.

So I guess that since South Korea's efforts to help US in Vietnam should be forgotten. Than South Korea should forget America's effort during the Korean War. If what counts is what is happening right now?

Majority of Koreans are not anti-american. However, there has been growing anti-american sentiment. North and South Korea are basically stuck in time because the Cold War never ended for them. The situation in Korea is very complicated and no one knows exactly how to handle it.

First a history lesson.
It was the Soviet Union and the US who split Korea into 2. Even though Japan was axis power. Also before the Korean War, the US basically left South Korea to fend for themselves. While the Soviet Union supplied and trained the North Koreans. The ROK army had no heavy artillery or tanks. Lets see rifles against a tank who do u think would win? Also most of the UN forces consisted of South Koreans and the highest causalities were South Koreans. The South Koreans weren't just sitting around doing nothing.

Yes, US spent billions in aid to help Korea but the main reason for that aid was for ROK troops in Vietnam and the modernization of the ROK military.
Also Japan gave a huge sum of money to South Korea as compensation for what they had done during the colonization of Korea. The funds from the US and Japan are the reasons why South Korea was able to build its economy.

South Korea's government in the past was a military government. They prosecuted anyone who was communist and anyone who was against the government. South Korea still has a law where you can be prosecuted for Pro-North Korean views. It was during this time a large student movement began the violent protests. They wanted more freedom and it eventually brought about the current South Korean government.

South Korea is a democratic country and it hasn't had the time to mature like the US. Also there are very few countries in Asia that are true democracies. Since, South Korea is a democratic country it will through different stages of political views. Just happens that the ruling party is more liberal and socialistic. They rode on the back of the growing anti-american sentiment. But that’s going to change because they just lost a lot support. The opposition party which has strong ties with the US is growing in support.

I could go on and on about the situation in Korea.

But South Koreans are not anti-american and only a small group is. Most often it is the small groups that are most vocal and wrongfully represent the larger group.

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