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8/15/1985 - On Being Corrupted by the Korean Government by Steven B. Butler

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS SBB Boogak Mansion PMungchang Dong Chungno Ku Seoul Korea August On Being Corrupted Korean Government Mr Peter Bird Martin Director Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock St Hanover N H 03755 Dear Peter I prude inveterate blanket The Vice 4inister Culture Information Kim vited dinner I The Vice 4inister staff phone something I written They invite lunch indigestion It enough foreign correspondents lunch every couple weeks chewing valuable hours middle purpose filling I usually making sleepy afternoon fondness Korea tends inversely often I these people They inventors concepts manitarian preventive detention This called police dissident Kim Young under house arrest January prevent attending political meetings They stopped Kim violating provisions political placed against saving formal arrest prosecution Anyway I consulted friend Tom invited Tom heads major international wires Seoul He about twenty years senior experience Asia You Tom If yourself these people nasty especially comes renewal Tom right course So I appointed drove restaurant called A Seung located wealthy neighborhood south business districts A Seung purple outside And purple inside A cream colored tables French classic revival adorned inner hallways I identify myself I walked An attendant immediately ushered upstairs private purple naturally Tom already there sprawled comfortably couch A pretty Korean Choi wearing dress occasionally flapped middle reveal twelve inches inner thigh She filled short Steven B Butler Fellow Institute Current World Affairs studying political economic developments Korea Northeast Asia SBB stout glass water poured straight Scotch glass whenever Tom emptied which turned fairly often Back Director Foreign News Korean Overseas Information Service Tom right discussed excited tones Korea latest political proposed Campus Stabilization Law The government effort clamp campus leftism The would empower judicial panel incarcerate student activists months during which government would force dents lectures evils Karl Kim Ii Back droned about government latest difficulties English language An initial translation English place where students would reeducation That Mr Back completely wrong impression It sounds communist country So instead government settled reorientation program I started comment government would trouble disguising students punished their political ideas But before I could finish swung again girls One pouty dress opposite Mr Back Each leaned forward Mr Baek glass dress failed beneath I better worse probably price I being youngest Ginny ankle white She shamedly snuggled began glass cheap Korean Scotch It blended locally imported malts Next importation malts order foster local whiskey industry That provoke horrific British government which already planning But loudest Korean drinkers We managed conversation minutes until Vice Minister Kim waltzed Mr Yu Director Korean Overseas Information Service Mr Kim former journal Assemblyman received Vice Ministerial appointment February cabinet reshuffle He always wears smirk ponderously defending government policy It malicious expression signal I think having despite power position should serious company His generally The drinking began earnest after Mr Kim Mr Yu arrived escort Korean drinking habits unforgiving A Korean glass empty He liquor expect drink before rinsing glass water returning Another trick empty glass round table person forced before sending This drinking custom works wonders quickly loosening other forms social interaction For everyone I drive When hosts discovered apologized providing driver evening How disappointing foreigner could thoroughly class drive The dismay SBB showed their I downed shots after Ginny silently cooperated regularly emptying glass Ginny Pusan lived neighborhood mother brothers She worked number drinking houses nearby whenever house matrons called She Mr Yu especially Vice Minister Kim regulars A Seung They spend money these people government One these their punish Her cynicism caught surprise The evening would least several hundred dollars guest Vice Minister quent visitations A Seung pocket Dinner arrived predictably steak Waiters plates coffee table between velour covered couches As I leaned forward slice I lower cushion squeezing stomach making difficult anything I tried comfort myself thought I enjoying luxury Korea Tom something frustrated thespian began advantage levity evening Mr Vice Minister started No Vice Minister interrupted having turned slightly brighter shade You Yoon Whan Y H repeated slowly Yoon Hwan Vice Minister given Generally close friends Korea given names Mr Kim making exaggerated Western custom trying gracious Tom struggled pronounce correctly times failed continued This campus stability s_tu_ide_gs_t thing stretching words drawl You It makes government terrible I lieve Roh Tae really believes govern Roh Tae Chairman ruling Democratic Justice Party Although former general tough cagey flexible Many people believe succeed Chun Doo Presidency Vice inister Kim smirk This record You publish We nodded Today I Roh Tae I Kim And agreed We paused moment absorb Roh publicly staunchest supporters although President personal advisors The President already purged number prominent moderate leaders ruling party failing support Apparently government pushing forward overwhelming public opposition recognition major political blunder Y especially Back squirmed their seats Back phone trying explain foreign correspondents Korea needed legislation SBB violate principals democracy Korean constitution opposition claimed Baek turned Vice inister could timidly Some believe right thing The suddenly swung again In walked elegantly beautiful woman wearing clinging mauve dress She sauntered toward Vice Ninister Tom began bulge pointed toward Look approval The Vice inister smiled broadly Do asked This An She former Pusan Well should Niss Korea Tom She competed Korea contest If wouldn working Ginny Miss An Vice inister around beautiful woman relaxed evident content Next The consisted electric guitar player electronic rhythm He began strum microphone Tom first hugging Choi prancing about floor He beckoned after hesitation I relented I assumed tradi tional dancing position Ginny respectable between That lasted minute Her found their around pushed against We comfy except which butting Tom leaned toward If reorientation program I Tom grabbed microphone launched bawdy rendition English songs Next Vice Minister final Yu Once Yu microphone would coaxed His crowning rformance medley Egyptian songs learned while serving Cultural Attach Korean Embassy Cairo Unfortunately could figure dance watched Yu micro phone apparent concentration oblivious Ginny found chopsticks alternately mouth peeled grapes spears asparagus When clock stuck party abrupt Tom Vice Minister agreed would friends We front while Korean hosts treated A Seung As Tom stepped black chauffeur driven sedan turned We their We drink dance XXXX Still quite sober I drove Best Seven B Butler Received Hanover