Ridiculous Patriotism

The Wall StreetJournal - China Expresses Regret Over Korean's Death

The incident has inflamed passions among some in the South Korean public. A small group of South Koreans protested outside the Chinese embassy in Seoul on Tuesday. South Korea's government on Monday summoned the Chinese ambassador to express its concern over the matter, though Seoul officials have shied away from making stronger moves.





When it comes to patriotism, Korean people seem to be stretching things a bit. I have seen Korean people set fire to other countries' flags to show their anger so many times.
But it is my first time to see a Korean eating a flag. lol
I've heard that Korean people eat anything. But I'm surprised to see how voracious and gluttonous they are!


They are really radical and overzealous, aren't they?

They may "consume" a lot of flags within a year. So if you open a store which deals in the national flags from all over the world, you can make tons of money（ゝω・）v Korean currency (Won) is weaker than any other currencies at the moment though. lol

And if you invented a more fiercely combustible flag, like their temper, the flag could catch on in Korea.

It's really sad to see such a commotion in this civilized era.

On the other hand, Japanese legal system handles foreign country flags like this.
(excerpt from the penal code of Japan)
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Damage of Foreign National Flag:

Article 92 (1) A person who, for the purpose of insulting a foreign state, damages, removes or defiles the national flag or other national emblem of the state shall be punished by imprisonment with work for not more than 2 years or a fine of not more than 200,000 yen.

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Of course, provisions and contents of the articles are inclined to be obscure when we try to interpret them. Besides that, I'm not a specialist on legal issues. lol

But according to the judicial precedents,

Damage is "to lose or reduce the effectiveness that symbolizes other country's prestige or dignity in a way that destroys or impairs a national emblem itself such as tearing a national flag or slashing it."（Osaka High Court Nov.27.1963）

Remove is "to lose or reduce the effectiveness that symbolizes other country's prestige or dignity by physically moving a national emblem or covering it from the place where the emblem exists at present without damaging the emblem itself." (Judgement of the Supreme Court Apr.16.1965)

Defile is "to lose or reduce the effectiveness as a national emblem by attaching or placing something which would make people disgusted to the emblem itself." (Osaka High Court Nov.27.1963）

To make the story short, we shouldn't do despicable performances such as setting fire to other countries' flags, especially if you live in an advanced country.

Although we need not to be submissive, we should protest as necessary without losing our temper.