[RACETRAITOR]

This weekend at DGBD, Kingston Rudieska is putting out their first full-length album. They are Korea's only real ska band, inspired by Jamaican bluebeat ska of the '60s, with their own unique Korean touch.

http://www.myspace.com/theattackingforces


Next Saturday, the skinhead band Attacking Forces is putting out their first real CD. Attacking Forces is on MF Crew, out of Cheongju, the only city outside of Seoul with any sizeable underground scene. The CD release is at Skunk Hell, and the next week they'll have another show in their hometown.

http://www.myspace.com/theattackingforces

[sianface]

Whoot. It's always nice to see some new punk releases.

PS you're the same Racetraitor from the broke forums right? I'm just sure I've seen the name before :x

[RACETRAITOR]

Yeah, I use this username on almost every board I register on.

I've been behind on punk releases lately. Couch and Spiky Brats released a split CD but they ran out of copies before I could get one.

[robot_victim]

This weekend at DGBD, Kingston Rudieska is putting out their first full-length album. They are Korea's only real ska band, inspired by Jamaican bluebeat ska of the '60s, with their own unique Korean touch.

http://www.myspace.com/theattackingforces


Next Saturday, the skinhead band Attacking Forces is putting out their first real CD. Attacking Forces is on MF Crew, out of Cheongju, the only city outside of Seoul with any sizeable underground scene. The CD release is at Skunk Hell, and the next week they'll have another show in their hometown.

http://www.myspace.com/theattackingforces

Attacking Forces isn't bad. But I thought Kingston Rudieska was just so so. (I didn't really think you would go for that kind of a ska band, but thanks for sharing.) What is the 'broke forum'?

[sianface]

Attacking Forces isn't bad. But I thought Kingston Rudieska was just so so. (I didn't really think you would go for that kind of a ska band, but thanks for sharing.) What is the 'broke forum'?

http://brokeinkorea.proboards46.com/

[RACETRAITOR]

Attacking Forces isn't bad. But I thought Kingston Rudieska was just so so. (I didn't really think you would go for that kind of a ska band, but thanks for sharing.) What is the 'broke forum'?

Kingston Rudieska have put on some great shows in the past. However, I agree that the CD was a bit of a letdown. Their performance at the CD release show was disappointing. It seems more like they're a restaurant band than an underground band now, playing love songs for their fan club rather than dance songs for the punks and skinheads.

Yes, I go for ska very much. I'm more into ska and reggae than any other type of music. I ignore ska-punk because usually it's an insult to the underground bands that struggled for the music they love, although there are one or two ska-punk bands I tolerate. It's thanks to me the Slackers toured Korea last year, and Chris Murray later this year.

Attacking Forces' CD release show on the other hand was much more exciting. They were playing with the lead guitarist of Couch which really goes well with their sound.

[robot_victim]

Racetraitor, I visited the broke forum as well as your website. I also downloaded your broke 'zine (#5), and had a good read. There was some intelligent and articulate prose in there (under the guise of journalism). I had a good laugh at the Snitch Board in particular - I mean, that stuff is so ridiculous it has to be real. Tell me, what is the local response to broke? Or is it catered more to the foreign masses living abroad?

[RACETRAITOR]

Racetraitor, I visited the broke forum as well as your website. I also downloaded your broke 'zine (#5), and had a good read. There was some intelligent and articulate prose in there (under the guise of journalism). I had a good laugh at the Snitch Board in particular - I mean, that stuff is so ridiculous it has to be real. Tell me, what is the local response to broke? Or is it catered more to the foreign masses living abroad?

Thanks for having a look.

Broke was originally intended to be written by a small group of foreigners and translated into Korean for the Koreans to read, but it was impossible to find enough loyal translators. I also wanted to do an issue where Koreans would write and it would be translated into English, and that too was impossible. So now I just do 90% of the work myself and print whatever my friends submit, along with filler material from my friend Verv. I'm planning to make future issues more visual-based with shorter articles so that the Koreans get more out of it.

I just released issue 6 (the pdf will be online soon in the same place), and handed out 60 copies at the Attacking Forces show. I'd say it went 50% to Korean punks and 50% to foreigners at the show. Then afterwards I'll post the stories online on the Skunk Label website so that people have a reason to visit there.

It's usually well-received but there is always a bit of flak from it. One time an American anti-racist skinhead attacked me for something off-handed I wrote. Another time I was criticised by Korean punks for saying something negative about Korea's mandatory military service (citing trumped-up sexual assault rates). For this issue I pissed off Skasucks when I interviewed them.

By the way, the Snitch Board can be found here:
http://www.smpa.go.kr/smpa2007/bbs/board/l...p;sort=&sk=
It really is pathetic, and I want it shut down.

[sianface]

I didn't realise you were the guy who wrote broke ^^" I think I emailed you about something a while ago but didn't get a reply.

I kept meaning to send my application for the awards thing but never got round to it. Ah well.

[RACETRAITOR]

I didn't realise you were the guy who wrote broke ^^" I think I emailed you about something a while ago but didn't get a reply.

I kept meaning to send my application for the awards thing but never got round to it. Ah well.

Really? I usually answer e-mails pretty quickly. I wonder what happened.

[robot_victim]

It's usually well-received but there is always a bit of flak from it. One time an American anti-racist skinhead attacked me for something off-handed I wrote. Another time I was criticised by Korean punks for saying something negative about Korea's mandatory military service (citing trumped-up sexual assault rates). For this issue I pissed off Skasucks when I interviewed them.

By the way, the Snitch Board can be found here:
http://www.smpa.go.kr/smpa2007/bbs/board/l...p;sort=&sk=
It really is pathetic, and I want it shut down.

The problem is they set up a system they think is benefitting the foreigners (pushing aside the obvious language and cultural differences), so it's kind of hard. I don't think the department means anything bad by it; it's like you said, it's the people using the system that's abusing it. I think it should just be more carefully monitored, that's all, as well as better translated.

As for those people who put you down, well, everyone's going to agree to disagree. Personally, I'd be more open-minded. I do appreciate the humor, haha! Wow I finally reached 100.

[RACETRAITOR]

The problem is they set up a system they think is benefitting the foreigners (pushing aside the obvious language and cultural differences), so it's kind of hard. I don't think the department means anything bad by it; it's like you said, it's the people using the system that's abusing it. I think it should just be more carefully monitored, that's all, as well as better translated.

You're talking about the Snitch Board, right? My main problem with it is how easy it is for an anonymous person to post a totally nonsensical complaint. Assuming you're living in Korea, I could find out your name or where you live or work, then I could go to a PC방 and create a fake name and e-mail to be totally anonymous and untraceable, and then I could post that you're a drug dealer. The police do check these complaints out, although I get the impression they're getting more cynical. Generally if I see a complaint naming a real person, I track them down and warn them first.

There was actually one person who was targetting Dave's ESL Cafe and posting details about members there, quoting anything they said that seemed even remotely incriminating. Most of those posts have been erased due to harassment, but one or two might still be there.

As for those people who put you down, well, everyone's going to agree to disagree. Personally, I'd be more open-minded. I do appreciate the humor, haha! Wow I finally reached 100.

Yep, a little controversy is a good thing, something that most punks in Korea too often forget.

[robot_victim]

You're talking about the Snitch Board, right? My main problem with it is how easy it is for an anonymous person to post a totally nonsensical complaint. Assuming you're living in Korea, I could find out your name or where you live or work, then I could go to a PC방 and create a fake name and e-mail to be totally anonymous and untraceable, and then I could post that you're a drug dealer. The police do check these complaints out, although I get the impression they're getting more cynical. Generally if I see a complaint naming a real person, I track them down and warn them first.

Yes, I was referring to that link. Those who tip the police tend to prefer staying anonymous, unfortunately, so there's nothing wrong with that (as they often don't want to get into trouble). And even if they do post a nonsensical complaint, as long as it's false, then the targeted person need not worry about it (if he is truly not doing anything wrong). Since the tipper himself might be lying about the issue, he will eventually be caught and his argument discredited.

What's dangerous are those people who discriminate against foreigners out of jealousy or hate. (Discrimination exists everywhere, though.) This should not be the reason to get them into trouble, so it's good that you warn them whenever you can.

I have a question for you though: Have you ever considered teaching in the US, like New York City?

[RACETRAITOR]

Yes, I was referring to that link. Those who tip the police tend to prefer staying anonymous, unfortunately, so there's nothing wrong with that (as they often don't want to get into trouble). And even if they do post a nonsensical complaint, as long as it's false, then the targeted person need not worry about it (if he is truly not doing anything wrong). Since the tipper himself might be lying about the issue, he will eventually be caught and his argument discredited.

What's dangerous are those people who discriminate against foreigners out of jealousy or hate. (Discrimination exists everywhere, though.) This should not be the reason to get them into trouble, so it's good that you warn them whenever you can.

I strongly disagree with the whole "If you're not doing anything wrong, what have you got to fear?" excuse. There are a LOT of things I do that I don't want the cops to know about--anything from bringing foreign bands into the country for a show or hanging out with GIs in off-limits areas, to exploring abandoned buildings or driving a scooter without a proper licence.

I post nonsensical complaints in which there is no possible victim. I've seen a lot of posts on there, XXXX McXXXX is a drug dealer working at Asan Playland School. Arrest him." Then what? Should the cops really pick up XXXX McXXXX and put his life through hell, just based on that? The people making these tips will never be found and never held accountable.

One time, some random Internet person started posting complaints about individual posters from ESL Cafe. Most of them were silly, like "This person said something negative about Korea. Arrest him." But often he did say things like "This person teaches private lessons" or "This person is a drug dealer."

I was a little jealous I hadn't been named, so I made a complaint about myself, in which I said that "Racetraitor is married to a Korean, and if I remember correctly, miscegenation is illegal in this country. Also, he listens to punk music, which I think is illegal in this country." The police actually did track me down, finding me registered on the Broke in Korea board, and they sent the administrator a message asking about me. For what? Sleeping outside my race? Listening to music?

I have a question for you though: Have you ever considered teaching in the US, like New York City?

No, I couldn't imagine living in the US. I'm not really much of a teacher anyway.

[robot_victim]

I knew this issue was going to come up, regarding the "what if I am doing illegal things, like..." In an ideal world, the only thing people should be held accountable for is if they are purposely committing a crime with criminal intent to harm another person. Unfortunately, other laws exist that people have to abide by, and which exist for certain reasons, regardless of what culture it's set up in. So if people catch you, they can choose to report you or not. That's their country, that's their law. What's wrong with the cases you mentioned is that, apparently, some people can post the most ridiculous, unfounded allegations, and sometimes do it for selfish or discriminatory reasons.

What I mean by the tipster getting "caught", is not necessarily that they're physically arrested, but by being caught in a lie. If you told a fib, and it wasn't true, you will be found out in the end, and no one will believe you. It's easy to tell lies, but harder to prove it, and I'm not sure what the system is like in Korea, but over here you're innocent until proven guilty. Someone could post anonymously that I'm a drug dealer, but if the police couldn't find any proof of this, they can't hold me accountable. That's common sense. And then the liar will end up looking bad, right?

I read your entire article and know full well which posts you made about yourself, believe me. I sympathize with your case and I hear your argument loud and clear. I myself am no saint, so I don't expect you to follow all the rules of a country (who really does? people break laws all over the world, everyday...), it's just an issue of learning to discern what really serious crimes should be reported or not, and for the right reasons, (not the wrong ones - like selfish aims). Believe me, those people could post the stupidest things about you, but not everyone will believe you're really everything they say. You have to give some people the benefit of a doubt - not everyone is out there to get you, and also, not everyone will report you for each and every little misdemeanor you do. You yourself made an example of one such case in your article.

About this board, and the Korean police system, well, apparently it's part of the way they work in keeping track of what's going on. I understand the reasons you don't like it, but you are living in their country. Since they maintain this board, I honestly believe they should just set up a more secure system: like monitoring posts more carefully, discerning the ridiculous from the credible accusations, and finally only revealing information that's appropriate or accurate about a case (if at all - even that I'm iffy about). It's obviously wrong to keep a post public that's wrongfully incriminating an innocent person, with or without the ridiculous allegations. That kind of a board requires greater responsibility and really should be handled more carefully; otherwise, it shouldn't be kept at all.

We are completely off-topic.

[RACETRAITOR]

Yeah, we're off-topic, but it's a good topic.

What I mean by the tipster getting "caught", is not necessarily that they're physically arrested, but by being caught in a lie. If you told a fib, and it wasn't true, you will be found out in the end, and no one will believe you. It's easy to tell lies, but harder to prove it, and I'm not sure what the system is like in Korea, but over here you're innocent until proven guilty. Someone could post anonymously that I'm a drug dealer, but if the police couldn't find any proof of this, they can't hold me accountable. That's common sense. And then the liar will end up looking bad, right?

This is the problem. They do not get caught. I don't know if the police can trace IP, but if a prankster gets caught out with one fake ID, they just use another one. I myself use a new name every time. Every time a mean-spirited fake complaint gets posted, I spam the board until the cops erase all new entries, including the mean-spirited ones.

As for law, it doesn't work that well in Korea. The cops really don't do that much policing. I think they learnt after the '80s that an efficient, thorough police force is a bad thing. You would be surprised what's illegal here. Technically, it's illegal for a foreigner to join a Korean band. It's certainly illegal for a foreigner to promote a show, and it's illegal for a foreign band to play in this country without entertainment visas. However, "illegal" shouldn't be confused with "immoral." A lot of immoral things are legal in this country, and a lot of good things are illegal. I have no problem with breaking laws that are detrimental to the nation.