Published: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 07:06:43 +0900

I can only wish this Phillippina woman good luck because justice for rape in Korea is hard to find:

The Negrense woman who was allegedly raped in South Korea had suffered from such a brutal beating that her jaw was fractured and she survived only when she played dead and was stuffed in a large culvert pipe by her attacker.

This was disclosed yesterday by the parents of the 30-year-old Hinigaranon, whose name is being withheld by the DAILY STAR, who said she was attacked and raped at about 9:30 p.m. on July 2 and remains in a hospital in South Korea.

She also sustained wounds in her ears, lost three teeth, was boxed in the stomach that caused swelling, while her arms bore rope marks and her legs had injuries, her father said. Even my daughter could not believe that she would survive what happened to her, which lasted from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., the father said.

She told her parents she does not want to return home because she wants to ensure that she gets justice for what happened to her.

Why do I say justice in Korea for rape victims is hard to find?* I say this because even if the rapist is found that doesn't mean justice will actually be served.* Does anyone remember this case?:

The Seoul High Court yesterday overturned the conviction by a lower court of a 49-year old taxi driver who had been charged with the rape of a 19-year old U.S. female soldier.
The man had received a 10-month prison term in the original trial after being convicted of luring the newly-arrived servicewoman from Incheon International Airport to a hotel near there where the woman said he raped her.

The woman reported the incident to U.S. military authorities, who asked for assistance from Korean prosecutors.* The appeals court ruled that the woman had shown no evidence of having refused the man's advances, and that he used "not enough violence to constitute rape."

This case is a perfect example of the absurdity of rape convictions in Korea.* First of all the criminal gets a 10 month sentence which is outrageous to begin with, but is then let go because the soldier showed no signs of refusing the man's advances.* Think about this, what are the odds that a 19 year old US soldier who just arrived to Korea would suddenly get the urge to go have sex with the 49 year old taxi driver she just met?*

Actually you are lucky to catch the rapist at all such as with the rape of a US Army officer in Taegu?* The fact that the Korean police are mostly incompetent in dealing with cases doesn't help either.* The best example of this was from this rape of a US English teacher in Seoul.

Rape remains a taboo subject in Korea especially when foreigners involved, which is only going to make the Phillippina woman's quest for justice that much harder.

Tags: rape, korea

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This is a case in point as to how Koreans and other, mostly mono-race societies view everyone else, in general. While I have always had a special place in my heart for the country and its people, if you are a foreigner in the ROK and find yourself in some kind of trouble or in need of help, you will often find little or no help. You may be placed on the farthest back burner you could imagine. While things are changing somewhat with newer generations and with the relatively new economic open-ness of the country, there is still a deep and basic dis-trust of all foreigners, and foreigners are essentially perceived as non-persons. There are exceptions to the rule, if there is, for example a well known or well connected foreigner, they may get a lot of help. This goes deeper than the term xenophobia can adequately define. It is racism at its most basic. Most mono-racial/ethinic regions of the world have the same kind of underpinnings in their society. Much of the drive with todays Islamic fundamentalists is actually racism, wrapped in religion. You would be surprised at that Korean best friend you thought you had and how they suddenly ignore you when you need their help. You may disappear from their radar entirely.

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