Anti-Park Demonstrations - 18th Week (Wednesday)

Today is a national holiday and hundreds of thousands of protesters in Seoul braved rain to demonstrate against President Park.

In front of Sejong Cultural Center at Gwanghwamun

Crowds From Seoul City Hall To Gwanghwamun

Wearing Raincoats 

Giant Neuron Begins In Region Linked To Consciousness

Scientists have been able to trace and image single neurons in a mouse brain and found three neurons extend throughout the brain from a region linked to consciousness. One of these neurons was found to have wrapped itself around the entire brain. Scientists believe that these neurons may relay information from the entire brain and generate consciousness.

Scientific American: Giant Neuron Found Wrapped around an Entire Mouse Brain

Marijuana Industry To Add More Jobs Than Manufacturing By 2020

According to US Bureau of Statistics, the marijuana industry will add a quarter of a million jobs in 2020, more than manufacturing, utilities or even government jobs. Jobs in manufacturing, utilities and government are projected to decrease markedly.

Forbes: Marijuana Industry Projected To Create More Jobs Than Manufacturing By 2020

South Africa Latest Country To Legalize Medicinal Marijuana

South Africa just legalized the production of cannabis for medical uses. Wonder which country is next? Probably in Europe or South America, who knows maybe Asia. Ever visit India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and other like countries? They drink it as a drink, some eat it as a food. It almost seemed legal.

IOL: Medicinal cannabis gets the go-ahead

Anti-Park Demonstrations - 17th Week

Very large crowds are expected for today's demonstrations in Seoul which start at 6 pm. This is the first official demonstration this year in which many major civil rights, unions, and other groups are also participating. The march towards the Presidential compound and around downtown Seoul starts at 7:30 pm. 

In front of Sejong Cultural Center at 5:10 pm

Main Stage in front of Gwanghwamun at 5:15 pm

In front of Gwanghwamun at 5:20

Updated List Of Arrested In President Park Scandal

Joining those already in jail awaiting trial are Lee Jae-young (Samsung Vice Chairman) and Choi Kyung-hee (former President of Ewha University). Joining those indicted without arrest is Woo Byung-woo (former Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs). The press predict that six more people will be arrested and indicted by next week.

New York Times: Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Heir, Is Arrested on Bribery Charges
Korea Herald: Ex-Ewha Womans University President Choi Kyung-hee arrested
Joongang Daily: Blue House aide Woo Byung-woo avoids detention

Those arrested so far in the scandal are listed below;

Mr. Kim Ki-choon       (former Chief Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Cho Yoon-sun      (Minister of Culture and Sports)
Ms. Kim Kyung-sook   (Ewha U., Dean of Science and Industry Convergence College)
Ms. Lee  In-sung        (Ewha University, Professor)
Ms. Choi Soon-sil       (President Park's confidante)
Mr. Cha Eun-taek       (former Director of Creative Convergence Center)
Mr. An Chong-bum    (former Senior Presidential Secretary)
Mr. Jeong Ho-seong   (former Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Choi Si-ho           (niece of Ms. Choi Soon-sil)
Mr Kim Jong              (former Vice Minister of Culture)
Mr. Moon Hyung-pyo  (former Minister of Health)

Mr. Kim Jin-soo          (former Presidential Secretary for Health)

Mr. Kim Jong-deok     (former Minister of Culture)

Mr. Chung Gwang-ju   (former Vice Minister of Culture)

Mr. Shin Dong-chul     (former Presidential Secretary)

Mr. Song Sung-gak     (former Head of Korea Creative Content Agency)

Mr Ryu Cheol-gyun     (Ewha University Professor)

Mr. Nam Gung-gon     (former Ewha University, Dean of Admissions)

Those indicted with indifference (not arrested yet) are listed below;

Mr. Cho Won-dong     (former Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs)

Mr. Choi Gee-sung      (Samsung, Vice Chairman Future Strategy Office)

Mr. Jang Choong-gi     (Samsung, President Future Strategy Office)

Mr. Park Sang-jin         (Samsung Electronics, President for External Affairs)

Anti-Park Demonstrations - 16th Week

Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched again on Saturday in Seoul and other cities nationwide. The crowds were a little thinner than last week, but Gwanghwamun was stilled packed with families, couples, and other groups.

Anti-Park Demonstrations - 15th Week

The media has been giving pro-Park demonstrators a lot of airtime for the past few months, and several thousand show up every week. However, several hundred thousand anti-Park demonstrators also show up every week, and discuss things that aren't reported that much in the media. The atmosphere of the people demonstrating is much different than what is conveyed through media coverage. The air is full of of anger, solidarity, determination, and solemness.

Today, over 800,000 anti-Park demonstrators braved freezing temperatures and high winds to demand that Park step down, the Constitutional Court approve the impeachment, that acting President Hwang grant a 30-day extension to the Special Independent Prosecutor's investigation which ends in a few weeks, and other demands.








For some great pictures and details, click below.

The Hankyoreh: Despite frosty weather, 800,000 gather to demand Pres. Park’s impeachment

Anti-Park Demonstrations - 14th Week

Due to the Lunar New Year celebrations last weekend, there were no protests. However, this weekend, demonstrators for both sides were out in full force. 

There were several thousand pro-Park demonstrators in front of City Hall, and throngs of anti-Park demonstrators at Gwanghwamun Plaza. 

Gwanghwamun Plaza at 4 pm

Gwanghwamun Plaza at 5 pm

For more pictures and details, please click below.

Korea Herald: People take to streets demanding president's immediate resignation

Korea Times: People take to streets demanding president's immediate resignation

Yonhap: People take to streets demanding president's immediate resignation 

President Park Cut Off Funding To Opposition Supporters

President Park ordered that leftist elements in Korean society be denied government funding and positions. Her definition of leftist is anyone who opposed her administration, her father's legacy, or supported opposition politicians, groups, or causes. Her father did worse. Framed people as North Korean spies, or communist sympathizers, and put them in prison. Vast improvement, but still a long ways to go.

For more details on how over 8,000 people and 3,000 organizations were identified, and denied funding and jobs, please click below.

The Hankyoreh: Government blacklist stretched beyond culture, across South Korean society 

Park Administration Funded Right Wing Groups

President Park's administration reportedly ordered the Federation of Korean Industries to fund conservative groups for the past three years. Over $6 million were gathered from Samsung, the Hyundai Motor Company, SK and LG.

The Hankyoreh: Nearly $6 million flowed from chaebol to far right groups over three years

President Park is probably going through a mental breakdown., The breaking point will probably be the Constitutional Court decision on her impeachment, Then most normal people would go through a period of regret, guilt, remorse, and consider ways to escape.

Israel To Decriminalize Recreational Marijuana

Israel, a leader in medical marijuana research and marijuana patents, along with Britain, is taking steps to decriminalize recreational marijuana. Those caught will now be fined.

CNN: Israel takes steps to decriminalize marijuana use

All those Koreans spending all that money abroad. A lot of young people going to the US, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Amsterdam, Thailand, Cambodia., Laos, and other countries for ganja. Wonder if Korea has got even one patent for medical marijuana. It seems everyone else has patents.

All these brainwashed people think marijuana users are addicts and criminals. People use it because they have pain, emotional or physical, in most cases both, and most aren't aware they are in pain.

Many people try it and feel nothing special. Some try it and feel good, become more satisfied with life, more self aware, things become more enjoyable. more empathetic and other things.

To borrow from Scientific American -

"The English author Aldous Huxley believed that the brain acts as a “reducing valve” that constrains conscious awareness, with mescaline and other hallucinogens inducing psychedelic effects by inhibiting this filtering mechanism."

Maybe marijuana does the same thing. The brain tries to make sense of the world and is constrained by all the general assumptions that the brain has made about the world. It seems to release some of these "bonds" or "constraints", and give a broader perspective of the world and self.

Scientific American: Do Psychedelics Expand the Mind by Reducing Brain Activity?

Science Daily: Answers to how our brains make meaning, with the help of LSD

Why do people call it being high? Maybe it is because their spirits were lifted up closer to Heaven? :)

Scientists have discovered a new form of matter - Time Crystals!

Science Daily: Scientists unveil new form of matter: Time crystals

Will Canada Legalize Recreation Marijuana In 2017? Experts Say Yes.

Experts think that Canada will legalize recreational marijuana in 2017. It was a campaign promise of Prime Minister Trudeau, and medicinal marijuana is already legal in Canada.

Benzinga: When Will Canada Legalize Weed? Experts Weigh In

Park Administration Ordered Funding Of Right Wing Groups

According to TV news, Lee Seung-chul, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), testified that President Park's administration ordered the funding of ten right wing groups.

There have been very outspoken and aggressive conservative right wing groups at demonstrations, government offices, parliament, and other places. For a long time, it was rumored that the groups were funded by and received orders from the Park administration. The rumors turned out to be true., These right wing groups were fanatical and sometimes violent. They were paid demonstrators.

According to Vice Chairman Lee, FKI did not have enough funds, so he had to ask the federation members for an additional $3 million annually in order to fund these groups.

No articles in the press on this topic yet.

Medical Marijuana Legalized Unanimously By German Parliament

Legislation legalizing the use of medicinal marijuana was just passed unanimously by the German parliament. The bill becomes effective March 1. 2017.

CNN: Germany becomes latest country to OK medical marijuana legalization


Korea locked up 313 drug users and arrested around 1,800 last year, according to TV news. Most other countries are releasing them.

CNN: Obama cuts sentences of hundreds of drug offenders

Korea Demonstrations - 13th Week

Over 350,000 in Seoul and around the country braved freezing snow to participate in the 13th week of demonstrations against President Park's abuses.

There are no demonstrations planned for next weekend, since it is the Lunar New Year Holidays, which is like Christmas for Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese and muc of Southeast Asia, a time for families to gather.

If Lee Jae-young is convicted of bribery, then Samsung would have to pay penalties to many countries that have laws against foreign corruption. Maybe it would be better to lock them up on other charges, overlook bribery. Bribery is so hard to prove, when the main suspect didn't receive any bribes directly, but through companies, or foundations and the assets are in other people's names.

President Park Scandal Arrest List Update

Four more people, listed below just arrested recently;

Mr. Kim Ki-choon        (former Chief Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Cho Yoon-sun       (Minister of Culture and Sports)
Ms. Kim Kyung-sook   (Ewha U., Dean of Science and Industry Convergence College)
Ms. Lee  In-sung        (Ewha University, Professor)

Those arrested so far in the scandal are listed below;

Ms. Choi Soon-sil       (President Park's confidante)
Mr. Cha Eun-taek       (former Director of Creative Convergence Center)
Mr. An Chong-bum    (former Senior Presidential Secretary)
Mr. Jeong Ho-seong   (former Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Choi Si-ho           (niece of Ms. Choi Soon-sil)
Mr Kim Jong              (former Vice Minister of Culture)
Mr. Moon Hyung-pyo  (former Minister of Health)

Mr. Kim Jin-soo          (former Presidential Secretary for Health)

Mr. Kim Jong-deok     (former Minister of Culture)

Mr. Chung Gwang-ju   (former Vice Minister of Culture)

Mr. Shin Dong-chul     (former Presidential Secretary)

Mr. Song Sung-gak     (former Head of Korea Creative Content Agency)

Mr Ryu Cheol-gyun     (Ewha University Professor)

Mr. Nam Gung-gon     (former Ewha University, Dean of Admissions)

Those indicted with indifference (not arrested yet) are listed below;

Mr. Cho Won-dong    (former Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs)

Lee Jae-yong            (Samsung Vice Chairman)

Choi Gee-sung          (Samsung, Vice Chairman Future Strategy Office)

Jang Choong-gi         (Samsung, President Future Strategy Office)

Park Sang-jin             (Samsung Electronics, President for External Affairs)

Mr. Kim Ki-choon and Ms. Cho Yoon-sun were arrested and indicted for blacklisting artists and other people (abuse of power, perjury, etc.).

Korea Herald: Kim Ki-choon, Cho Yoon-sun detained

Korea Times: Culture minister, ex-presidential chief of staff arrested over blacklist of 'left-leaning' artists 

Yonhap News: S. Korea's culture minister arrested over blacklist of cultural figures 

For a long time, many though right wing groups were backed and given directions by the Park Administration. This was just proven true and Minister Cho Yoon-sun was behind it, most likely after receiving directions from President Park. 

The Hankyoreh: Culture Minister orchestrated right-wing demonstrations when serving as Blue House Senior Secretary 

Expect even more arrests and indictments in the coming weeks!

Best Place To Buy In Seoul - Butane Gas

The Cheongnyangri Fruit and Vegetable Market is the cheapest place to buy many things, including butane gas canisters.



The general grocery stores sell a butane gas cans for 3,000 won per four can pack. Most places charge more than 4,000 won for a four can pack. They also sell butter at the cheapest prices. I bought a 450 gram packet of Seoul Milk Butter for 7,000 won. The owner told me that prices were just raised, so it will cost more next time.

Butane Gas Canister 4-Pack

Butter (middle shelf)

The market is also the best place to buy fruits and vegetables, but you should shop around for the best buys and stores. Most places do not accept credit cards. Some do and charge 10% extra. Some of the larger stores accept credit cards without extra charges. The stores wholesale, and also retail on the side. If they do not accept credit cards, they can cut out the VAT, credit card processing fee, and reduce margins.

I bought a box of 16 apples (medium size, much bigger than at Home Plus, Emart and other stores) for 15,000 won from this store.

At the west end of the market, there are stores that sell meat, mushrooms, ginseng, nuts, seeds, grains and other foodstuffs at prices much cheaper than discount stores.

I also bought a 10 kilogram box of sweet potatoes nearby for 20,000 won. Really good quality.

Some stores are great, some are rip offs. So, shop around.

Samsung Vice-Chairman Lee Jae-young Indicted

The Special Independent Prosecutor's spokesman just announced that an arrest warrant and indictment were submitted to the courts for Lee Jae-young on bribery, embezzlement, and perjury charges. Three other Samsung presidents Choi Ji-sung, Jang Chung-gi, and Park Sang-jin were also indicted. The indictment hearings will be held on January 18, 2017.

New York Times:  South Korea Prosecutor Seeks Arrest of Samsung Group Leader in Bribery Case

Korea Demonstrations - 12th Week

This week's demonstrations were in remembrance of Jung Won, the Buddhist monk who immolated himself last week in protest and died a few days later, and Park Jong-cheol, a student who died while being water boarded to give up the whereabouts of a student protest leader 30 years ago on January 14, 1987. His death started nationwide protests which ended the reign of military generals posing as Korean Presidents.

TV news and other media are only giving airtime to pro-Park protests. There were almost no coverage of the anti-Park demonstrators, but there were a lot of coverage of the pro-Park protesters. Due to minus 10 degrees Celsius temperatures, both groups had much smaller numbers of protesters.

CBS News: Monk burns to death protesting deal on WWII sex slaves

New York Times: SEOUL STUDENT'S TORTURE DEATH CHANGES POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Joongang Daily News: Eye witness speaks on Park Jong-cheol case

Korea Times: Protesters demand President's ouster in 12th weekly anti-president rally 

Updated - List Of Arrested In President Park Scandal

Those arrested so far in the scandal are listed below;

Ms. Choi Soon-sil       (President Park's confidante)
Mr. Cha Eun-taek       (former Director of Creative Convergence Center)
Mr. An Chong-bum    (former Senior Presidential Secretary)
Mr. Jeong Ho-seong   (former Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Choi Si-ho           (niece of Ms. Choi Soon-sil)
Mr Kim Jong             (former Vice Minister of Culture)
Mr. Cho Won-dong    (former Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs)

Mr. Moon Hyung-pyo (former Minister of Health)
Mr. Kim Jin-soo         (former Presidential Secretary for Health)
Mr. Kim Jong-deok    (former Minister of Culture)
Mr. Chung Gwang-ju  (former Vice Minister of Culture)
Mr. Shin Dong-chul    (former Presidential Secretary)
Mr. Song Sung-gak    (former Head of Korea Creative Content Agency)
Mr Ryu Cheol-gyun    (Ewha University Professor)
Mr. Nam Gung-gon    (former Ewha University Admissions Dept. Head))

For details on some of their crimes, please read the following articles. 

Joongang Daily News: Kim blacklisted liberal artists

The Hankyoreh: Prosecutors say there are “reams of evidence” 

Many more arrests are expected in the coming weeks!

Dissonance Therapy For Eating Disorders

Stress and pain can cause eating disorders. So can cognitive dissonance about beauty and health. Now, they are successfully treating people with dissonance therapy!

Science Daily: Research reveals help for eating disorder patients

Korea Protests - Week 11

The slogan for this week's demonstrations is "Come down Park. Come up Sewol Ferry".
January 10 will mark the 1,000th day of the Sewol Ferry sinking and the ship has yet to be salvaged from the bottom of the ocean.

Gwanghwamun Plaza at 6:00 pm

The weather is very mild. There should be a big crowd tonight.

Gwanghwamun Plaza at 7:00 pm

Protest organizers say around 500,000 have participated in Seoul. There should be a few hundred thousand more people before it ends.