|
Worrying
About Two Wars
From JoongAng
February 4, 2003
By Ahn, JoonYong
Kim, from Astoria, Queens, called his relatives
and friends in South Korea, worried about their security, when the
U.S. Defense Department announced on February 3 that it is considering
sending an aircraft carrier and adding more air force presence around
the Korean peninsula. "I can't sleep well these days from fear
of another Korean war." And his anxiety grew as the U.S. attack
on Iraq becomes evident.
In addition, on February 5, Colin Powell stated
at the United Nations Security Council that there is "irrefutable
and undeniable"evidence that Saddam is concealing weapons of
mass destruction and thus implied that the United States can use
whatever means it deems necessary to disarm Iraq. As war with Iraq
becomes expected, Korean Americans have to confront the impact that
this war will bring as well.
Korean-Americans have to survive with the possibility
of a double crisis: that is, the war with Iraq, which will jeopardize
their businesses in New York City, and the nuclear crisis of North
Korea, causing a lot of concern about security in South Korea. Many
are already suffering from a bad economy in the United States. Nightly
international calls to South Korea have increased dramatically.
Recently, some people have begun psychological therapy to recover
from the stress and anxiety they feel from these threats.
Shin, who invested in high technology industries,
complained, "The stock market is already in bad shape. If the
war with Iraq starts, I will be broke soon." He added, "I
can't concentrate on any work right now. I've lost my appetite and
health."
SukJoo Kim, the president of the Korean Association
of New York pointed out, "This is the worst situation for Korean-American
businesses, we are worrying about attack on Iraq and the North Korean
nuclear crisis. In this hard time, it is necessary for us to take
responsibility for our community and overcome these challenges wisely."
Kim added, "I am meeting with the U.S. policy
makers to ask them to seek peaceful resolution with North Korea
for relieving Korean Americans'concerns."
Translated from Korean by JooYeon Lee
Back to The Citizen Page
|