Death In China Of Korean Diplomat Explained. Not!
Beijing Newspeak has an excellent post on the recent death of South Korean diplomat, Whang Joung-il, who died at the Vista Clinic in Beijing after eating a tuna sandwich. The post is entitled, "Mystery over death of Korean diplomat in Beijing continues," and it notes how
speculation on the cause of death ranges from the tuna sandwich to the clinic to overwork (gosh, does that really cause vomiting?) More than a month after the diplomat's death, nothing is official yet and there are rumors that Korea has begun soft-pedaling the death to allow China to save face. In return for this Korean gesture, China is said by some to have given South Korea "something on the six-party talks [over North Korea’s nuclear program or some economic deals."
I do not think this death is going to have any lasting affect on much of anything (other than on this diplomat's family and friends), but reading about it is at least as interesting as watching my usual Law and Order reruns, even those with Fred Thompson.
Comments
Thanks for sharing this with us, Dan. Haven't heard much about this in the media - wait.., I don't listen to the media anymore... :)
Posted by: China Internet Blog | September 12, 2007 4:07 PM
Dan,
Being a SK old hand, I'm sure you still keep a eye on the country. I've only met one Korean here and she was kinda PO'd by the affair. Not because of this one incident but because of this incident plus China's public scolding of Seoul regarding the rejection of contaminated food imports and China's claim of Kogoryo.
Posted by: nanheyangrouchuan | September 13, 2007 12:12 AM
he might be the first diplomate dies of tuna sandwich poisoning.
Posted by: Vincent Cheung | September 13, 2007 12:12 AM
A terrible tragedy. Not to minimize it, however, I find it difficult to imagine top Korean diplomats eating tuna sandwiches, in Beijing of all places.
Posted by: Law Office of Todd L. Platek | September 13, 2007 5:17 AM
China Internet Blog --
Everyone is part of this conspiracy and that as to include the media.
Posted by: China Law Blog | September 13, 2007 6:01 PM
nh --
I will not say I have a good bead on this because I certainly do not, but I will be in Korea this weekend and see if I can get a mood. Generally, it has been my impression that the Koreans with whom I deal in Korea (and mind you this are mostly lawyers) are somewhat wary of China (politically much more than business wise), but want to do business with it nonetheless. Pretty much the same of the Korean businesspeople here in Seattle also.
Posted by: China Law Blog | September 13, 2007 6:04 PM
Vincent Cheung --
First KNOWN.
Posted by: China Law Blog | September 13, 2007 6:05 PM
Todd Platek --
Good point. Nearly all the Koreans I know stick with Korean food wherever they are and when that is not available, they go with Japanese and only when that is not available do they go for Chinese or Thai. Western food seems to be the last choice. This only heightens the conspiracy.
Posted by: China Law Blog | September 13, 2007 6:07 PM
Maybe it was a new twist on an old theme. Tuna, mayo and kimche, on rye?
Mayo in the summer heat can spoil, causing food poisoning. But one would think the kimche would have been the antidote. And a North Korean agent behind the deli counter, wasn't it? Yes, quite the conundrum. Hmmm......
Posted by: Law Office of Todd L. Platek | September 13, 2007 8:35 PM
There is never a bad time or place for a tuna melt, maybe that Korean diplomat picked up a taste for it hanging out with Americans. With that said, Beijing can now blame the US for poisoning the Korean diplomat's pure Asian thought and diet with fattening garbage that led to his death due to "Sudden Adult Death Syndrome" (picked that one up from a story about a Chinese political dissident suddenly dying).
Posted by: nanheyangrouchuan | September 14, 2007 10:59 AM
Chris D-E --
Good question? Cooked or canned. I'm guessing canned.
Posted by: China Law Blog | September 14, 2007 3:49 PM
CLB: Sir, you didn't find this credible?
http://www.beijingnewspeak.com/2007/09/06/mystery-over-death-of-korean-diplomat-in-beijing-continues/
"Two weeks later the same newspaper produced a strangely brief two-part story which said the Chinese health authorities had unofficially confirmed that Whang had died from an injection of the antibiotic Rocephin which can be fatal when mixed with drugs containing calcium. However these results had not been conveyed to the Korean embassy. It also said the Chinese health ministry had promised to punish Vista Clinic, who denied it had done anything wrong and claimed Whang died from a heart attack."
Posted by: Inst | September 15, 2007 2:01 AM