Error in Intercultural Night article disrespectful

submitted by Dong Won Kwak

April 16, 2007 —

My name is Dong Won Kwak, and I am the president of the South Korean Student Club. On Thursday, March 29, we performed Samulnori, which uses traditional Korean instruments for Intercultural Night.

Intercultural Night, which lets people know about other countries' culture and customs was successful, and it seemed everything was okay. However, a few days ago, I read the Valley Vanguard and I found something seriously wrong in the article on Intercultural Night.

The incorrect thing which I mentioned is that we performed for South Korea, not North Korea. I got a call from a Korean professor who is teaching at SVSU. He asked "What did the South Korean student club perform?"

We are very angry with this situation. Seriously, it is a very critical problem in South Korean society because other people, especially Americans, don't know the big differences between South Korea and North Korea. North Korea is the only country which has communism in the world.

Have you ever seen a North Korean? Do you know how much time we spent practicing this performance? Isn't the Valley Vanguard read by the whole SVSU community?

When some people who read this article asked me if we are from North Korea, even my professor, what should I answer?

This is not only mistyping, it damages our mind and effort for the whole thing. I hope we are returned our effort and honor.

Dong Won Kwak President South Korean Student Club