American Bullying: South Korea Furious at US Investigation of Asiana Crash

An increasing number of signs reveal that the American and South Korean investigators into the Asiana crash operate in different realities, with both sides treading their own paths and even straying from each other on the most basic premises. South Korea hopes to investigate the reason for the crash in a holistic, comprehensive and fair manner. Meanwhile, U.S. investigators ignore any input by their South Korean counterparts; they follow their own blueprint and eagerly look into pilot error, while taking pains to whitewash the event by redirecting blame away from airplane malfunction. The investigation, which is based on protecting Boeing’s interests and which betrays a condescending attitude [toward the South Koreans], has already attracted great dissatisfaction in all spectra of South Korean society. All sides are now predicting that the final investigative report may point the finger at Asiana Airlines. South Korean officials such as President Park Geun-hye have voiced their opinion in hopes that the Americans will conduct the probe in a transparent and objective manner, so the general public will not question the final outcome.

The reason why America is particularly interested in probing pilot error and focusing less on the malfunctioning Boeing aircraft is to ultimately protect the country’s own interests. If the investigation concludes that the accident happened as a result of a maneuvering error on the part of the pilot, the South Koreans will shoulder most of the liability and responsibility. Conversely, if it is concluded that the aircraft’s structure was inadequate or that the airport gave erroneous instructions, then San Francisco’s airport will have some explaining to do, and the quality of Boeing’s aircraft will be called into question. In that case, Boeing and the U.S. stand to lose. Asiana Airlines is currently expanding its operations, but the so-called disaster and its investigation’s final report may deter passengers [from flying with it] for safety reasons and have them choose other airlines. All of this deals a fatal blow to Asiana Airlines and the South Korean economy. No matter how one sees it, the investigation is a case of bullying; the U.S. is preoccupied with safeguarding its interests.

Seoul Unhappy with America’s Self-Interested Policy

In recent times, the South Korean public has been living under more dread than ever, afraid that peninsular-wide war will break out once more. Though most observers doubt if North Korea could effectively launch an attack on America, it is an undeniable fact that the north has the capability to upgrade its regular artillery attacks to nuclear strikes in an extremely short period of time. If conflict flares up in the peninsula, the South Koreans and their economy will stand to lose the most, not the U.S. The South Koreans sense how invaluable peace is in the midst of tension, longing for stability. They are unhappy that America, in pursuing its self-interest in the region, feels only too afraid that the Korean Peninsula will ever become peaceful. They are especially nostalgic of Kim Dae-jung, who signed the June 15 North–South Joint Declaration with the North Koreans and led to more harmonious relations throughout the Korean Peninsula. But one important thing of note is that peaceful coexistence between North and South Korea does not necessarily fit America’s self-interests.

As tensions continue between the two Koreas, America’s military thus can justify its increased activity across the peninsula for more military exercises. These exercises between U.S. and Korean troops, though, are unappetizing to Seoul as it is responsible for all of the U.S. military’s incurred expenses. What it gets in return, however, is a tragic situation of further confrontation with fellow Koreans in the north and economic damage. The recent tension in the Korean Peninsula stems from the sinking of ROKS Cheonan, in which the South Korean warship was sunk by an unidentified torpedo killing 46 sailors on board. Then-President Lee Myung-bak faulted North Korea, backed by the fact that the torpedo had Korean written on it. The result was that trust between the two Koreas deteriorated until both countries were at loggerheads. Diversion is a much-used military strategy; if perpetrators of the Cheonan incident had written “certain” words on the torpedo beforehand, it might have led to innocent parties being blamed.

Seoul’s Economy May Face Ruin

Hong Kong occupies 1,104 square kilometers with 7 million residents and has been generally thought as a very crowded place. Contrast this with South Korea’s capital, Seoul, which is only 605 square kilometers but with 10.5 million residents and whose density is hard to fathom. Over 4,000 top enterprises that make up the country’s economic lifeline are concentrated in the city, which can be described as the South Korean economy’s choke point. Yet the distance between Seoul and the 38th parallel is only 40 kilometers. Forget about the missiles; a minute of bombardment from North Korea’s 6,500-strong artillery pieces would be enough to paralyze the capital. If war broke out, Washington will be safe and sound; even Tokyo may escape harm’s way. However, Seoul would be turned to rubble and South Korea’s economy could potentially be crippled in moments.