That's ashame that the soldiers aren't getting better service. If it's any consolation I salute you and all the armed forces for enduring so much, especially with the drawdowns and deployments.
I spent 15 years active, and 11 1/2 were overseas.

I tell you what, If you want any newspapers or magazines from stateside?
let me know soldier, I will ensure you get a care package.

Good luck Gangster

You can leave messages anytime for me, on myspace. here's my URL


http://www.myspace.com/46760932

__________________
Charles Troglen
(Team Draculino)

THe morning Calm is run by Local Army Public Affairs. It is Printed by an outside company. But the paper is Free. All the "News" articals and information is written by the Military. The ads...well, I don't think the army has any say in thouse. But you can pick on up for the information.

I just read in KScean that the are not printing anymore

That is correct. This is their last issue.

Mike

__________________
Visit USFK Classifieds, the FREE classifieds in Korea!

Do you know why? Did they go out of business?

Yes, the magazine is closing for business. That is all I can say right now.

Mike

__________________
Visit USFK Classifieds, the FREE classifieds in Korea!

Here is the official announcement from Mr. Song the owner.

Dear readers:

It is with deep regret I am informing you that this issue will be the last issue of K Scene magazine. It has been 8 years since the first issue came out under the name of Seoul Classified with the main purpose of providing informative and entertaining content.

I wish to thank all the readers in the English speaking community who have been reading the magazine and also wish to especially thank those who have supported the magazine by advertising in the magazine.

Sincerely,

Song Yong Eui

__________________
Visit USFK Classifieds, the FREE classifieds in Korea!

I'm glad I ran across this thread because I have a unique perspective on it with 15 years of background knowledge regarding the parties mentioned, with the exception of Charles Troglen who is the ONLY one of the persons involved in this matter that I do not know and have never met.

I have known Chas. Chong of Oriental Press for 15 years, and YE. Song of K-Scene Magazine nee Seoul Classified and several other publications no longer in existence for nearly that long as well.

And I have personal knowledge of a whole bunch of other details about Chong and Oriental Press, MUCH deeper than those "exposed" by Mr. Charles Troglen of "Team Draculino," and I'm here to say that the allegations are false and that Troglen is nothing more than an extortionist.

But from his wild comments it is clear that he is a malcontent who has been trying to malign Oriental Press with twisted information based on sketchy details for his own purposes. But for why - I do not really know.

What I do know is that he has harassed Oriental Press since January '06 with false allegations and threats, haranguing everyone from CID, to the IRS and FBI (or so he has threatened), yet since that time, NOT a SINGLE one of his allegations have been proven to contain a shred of merit.

The CID has investigated this issue at length, and found NOTHING wrong or improper with Oriental Press, Chas. Chong, or ANY of the employees there or with any part of the operation, and at this point, Troglen's allegations have proven to be groundless.

But is it over? no, not so long as the warped mind of an extortionist does not stop or rest his smear campaign as he sets out to "prove" his allegations at any cost, despite their lack of validity. And I for one am sick and tired of it.

Despite the fact that NO EVIDENCE has been found to support the scurrilous accusations, he does not stop. One would wonder why?

Well, simply put, Troglen was fired from his job for poor performance and questionable activities. He did not do his job because he was so deeply engaged in a host of outside activities that were believed to be of a questionable nature. It is known among the employees of Oriental Press who worked with Troglen that he failed to perform his job, and he was neither liked nor admired. He is often described by the KN employees as a “Gongpae” or gangster.

In short, he is nothing more than a "disgruntled employee," bound and determined to invalidate his termination with a never ceasing assault of harassments consisting of false accusations, lies, and threats. He would be dispicable if he weren't so pathetic. The real question is, how is it that an umbalanced individual, with an obvious but unjustified axe to grind, can maliciously slander a contractor with nearly 20 years of valued service to the USFK community?

Oriental Press has quietly performed community support services to the USFK & EUSA community for 2 decades – with a value totaling HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of $$$$ in community benefits. Oriental Press and Charles Chong in particular, has been recognized for his community service with dozens of commendations from nearly every command in Korea!

I'd like to see a single shred of visible proof of ANYTHING Mr. Troglen has provided at any time ever, to aid, assist, or support ANYTHING or ANYONE in the US military community in Korea - besides himself.

While a forum like this exists to allow all of us to express our views, and share our thoughts with others, there is an inherent flaw, or defect in a venue like this where anyone can make an unsubstantiated claim against anyone, with impunity. And somehow it’s just not right. It’s NOT the American way, but what it is, IS libel.

Troglen can slander Oriental Press and Chong, but to put it in print is libel. And THAT's something this forum should be concerned about.

Anyway...

I’ve known Chong and Oriental Press since I began working there in 1992, when the Seoul Word newspaper was only months old and had no presence or voice in the community. And I’m proud to say that as its 1st marketing and operations manager, a job I held for 5 years, that I was the one who spoke its voice in those days, and that I was the one who created its presence – but if Chong hadn’t believed in it and supported it from those early days, it may never have come to be as important a community resource as it did.

A few short years later, we had the idea to create the Southern Star for Korea-wide distribution and we went to Daegu to convince the command there to let us do it. It was hard and cost a lot, but we did it and made it happen! At least until the command changed and the Southern Star no longer had a mission. It was around that time that I parted company with Oriental Press, and moved on to other things becoming a long-term member of the community in the process.

When IMA-KORO was initiated, Oriental Press was ASKED to bid again because of its known commitment to the community, and it was awarded the contract, which it still performs and which it has NEVER had a single negative performance report EVER.

Of course Chong is no more of a saint than any other one of us, and he and I argued often about how things should be done, but I had NEVER known him to be dishonorable. I’m not sure the same could be honestly said about Mr. Troglen.

In the final analysis, things go on and Oriental Press continues to do what it has for so many years. K-Scene magazine has ceased publication after perhaps 8 years of struggle – they gave it a good try but the magazine business is murder and it takes an awful lot of right things to make it successful for any period of time.

Anyway, it looks like they printed their final issue a few months ago. Too bad, they did a pretty good job. (I was associated with them about 4-5 years ago for a few months, and have continued my personal association with them, so I also know a lot about them from the inside there too.) They will be missed, however it is likely that someone else will have a go at making it, or something like it work. Good luck to whoever that will be!

By the way, if anyone cares to know any more about this, I’ll be happy to answer any questions or provide any information I can. These days I frequently consult to businessmen based on my long-time involvement in marketing with local media. I welcome any inquiries, and will be happy to help anyone I can, if I can.

In closing, I’d like it known that my purpose in writing such a lengthy discourse is to show that anyone can use a forum like this to say anything they want about anyone at all, but that every now and then, someone should take the time to set things straight. Simply because it’s the right thing to do.

I made many allegations sir, you are correct. In order to have Mr. Chong charged, the CID has to finish their investigation? It's not over yet.
If all that I have said is false then nothing will become of this. If they substantiate my claims, then you can read about it.

malcontent-extortionist-disgruntled employee these are strong words from someone who doesn't even know me. I do believe you also called me a gangster? Wow, I don't believe we have met on a personal level.

If you did know me? My history as a Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Fire Department volunteer, you would probably change your opinion about me. I currently work in a non-proft Christian Hospital for the county here in Texas, and it's not for the money because the pay is terrible (hee hee). It's my nature. I don't have as much as a speeding ticket, knock on wood, and I'm 38.

The fact of the matter is, I did my job, I made money for Mr. Chong, I increased his profit margin by 300 %, and when it came time to pay my commisions (in excess of $20,000) he couldn't pay me. Excuse was, I don't have money now but he is quick to offer payment to government officials for certain favorable actions to win him contracts.

I don't know who you are? but I see that you are very intelligent man. You may contact me via email anytime if you have personal issues with me.

If not, let this investigation proceed and we'll discuss the outcome.

Ganster? you crack me up.......

__________________
Charles Troglen
(Team Draculino)

I'm pleased that you've replied, it's good for people to have an opportunity to defend themselves – but I’d like to point out that the person you are maligning does not have that same opportunity. It seems that fairness is not in your lexicon or part of your character.

All in all, you should know that I have no vested interest in the outcome of this matter, and whatever the result will be is of no personal consequence to me. However, I think that using a forum like this to air your personal private issues is cowardly, and I think it is equally cowardly to make accusations about someone, behind their back, where they will never have an opportunity to address them.

While I do not know you, I am sure I would not care to, as your manner illustrates underhandedness and subterfuge, as evidenced by your demeaning behavior. What kind of man launches a personal attack of this nature? If you had a legitimate claim, why did you not pursue normal legal channels, instead of launching a childish, immature, personal campaign of unbridled vengeance?

Why would any honest, decent, moral, and well-adjusted person engage in character assassination instead of using normal legal channels? And frankly sir, squealing to the authorities in the hopes of causing harm or misery to another is not legal action, it is not even whistle blowing, but yes, it is cowardly.

I wonder, how on earth does doing that provide you any relief on your claim?

It doesn't - it is pure vengeance and cowardly at that, like a rampaging terrorist on a jihad.

I expect that eventually you will be consumed by your rage like most other emotional terrorists, but in the end, I doubt it will serve you. I cannot see how, by your actions, are you any different than an Islamic fundamentalist, hell-bent on destroying your “enemy,” no matter the cost?

How are your tactics of character assassination, vicious personal attacks, wild rhetorical accusations, and imagined victimization any different than those used by Al Qaeda against the USA? You attempt to poison the minds of the readers of this forum against someone who is likely a total stranger to virtually all of them.

You sic agencies of authority on your sworn enemy to disrupt his business and destroy his ability to work. You do it relentlessly, going from agency to agency in the hopes that one of them will turn up a shred of something you can use to assure his downfall. In nearly a year, nothing has emerged except your appetite for vengeance, and your underhanded tactics.

You’ve stolen company files and commandeered business documents that do not belong to you – to extort money from your enemy. You interfere in any way possible to force your own will over the outcome of this with deceit and subterfuge. You use this forum like it was your own Al Jazeera, to blast your propaganda to anyone who will read it. Are you so blind that you fail to see it anymore?

What kind of man are you? Are you so distorted and consumed by your own hatred that you do not see how despicable that is? How badly you’re behaving.

Wake up! You might as well be a Muslim on a mission to destroy the infidel – Chas. Chong and the United States of Oriental Press.

What disturbs me though is how you play fast and loose with the facts, for while bits of detail may be contained in your allegations, the majority of the allegations are fabricated with falsehoods in your litany of hatred.

I think it is pitiful. But I do not scorn you as you obviously scorn Chong. In fact, even he doesn’t scorn you. He pities you. What saddens him most is that you are responsible for destroying the friendship between him and your father, a friendship that endured for more than 25 years!

If Chong was such a dastardly curmudgeon, how on earth could your own father have been so close to him for so long? I know for a fact that they worked together mutually in a number of business activities over many, many years. Just what do you think that would suggest to an outsider? Does that cast any aspersions on their business dealings? Hmmm.

If what you say is true, and it is true that he and your father conducted business together for many years, does that suggest perhaps that your father was a party in some way, shape or form to Chong’s alleged dirty deeds? One does not become as evil as you claim Chong to be – overnight. So just what was it that he and your dad were cooking up for all those years?

What IS clear is that Chong gave you a job as a favor to your father based on their two and a half decades of friendship, and somehow you bungled it – probably through greed and avarice, wrecking a long, strong friendship in the process, and forcing your father to choose sides – and support his errant son out of steadfast loyalty, while abandoning a friendship in the process.

You forced your dad into a terrible position and should be ashamed of yourself. What you did was immoral. And THAT’s the reason why I am here to tell the other side of the story.

It is clear that you misunderstand me, and it's probably because you don't like to be challenged in this matter. But frankly I am not here to debate your issue - I have no dog in this fight.

As I'd said earlier, I have no vested interest in this matter. But knowing ALL of the parties EXCEPT you, in my 15 years in Korea, and specifically knowing for a fact that the majority of your accusations and the aspersions you cast are patently untrue, a decent man has a moral obligation to speak up. And so I did.

By your response, it appears that the degree of your misunderstanding remains largely unchanged, as evidenced by your comment; "Ganster? you crack me up......."

Overlooking the typo, you've seriously misunderstood my comment – but why should that surprise me. So you might want to return to the text and read it again a bit more slowly this time because what I said was; "He is often described by the KN employees as a “Gongpae” or gangster."

And indeed, that is EXACTLY how 4 of the employees that worked with you described you to me when I asked them about this matter. In fact, ALL of them described you like that, but I discounted the ones with possible prejudice or bias against you in their effort to defend or support Chong against your allegations for reasons of blind loyalty.

These 4 were the very people who worked with you. The Korean employees who saw you in a variety of circumstances under a variety of conditions. And frankly, they do not have very nice things to say about you.

You know who I’m referring to, so there’s no need to cause them embarrassment by revealing their identities. But as I think quite well of them, I am inclined to accept their opinions about you as fact.

What puzzles me is wondering how a person grows up to be as underhanded and full of contempt as you apparently are. You seem to lack basic qualities of human decency. I do not sense it in you, despite citing all your alleged social activities. I wonder where did the boy scouts, the US Army and the volunteer firemen fail you?

I wonder how you became so full of rage and indignation? What happened to you?

The characteristics you express are ugly, and do not illustrate a man in control. I think you have serious issues and need sound counseling. I’m sure that this hate campaign is an attempt to cover-up and conceal some other inadequacies. I hope you will seek real help - and get it.

And so, for the sake of any further discussion, I invite you to feel free to rant on. I’d said my piece completely and have nothing more to add. I am not here to defend anyone, but just to set the record straight, and I’ve done that.

I sincerely hope that you are man enough to not hold my comments against anyone else. And will not ply further vengeance against anyone.

The opinions I have expressed are my own, based on my own personal research of the pertinent details, as explained to me by those who were there.

I hope you will find a way to come to peace with yourself, and abandon your hatreds and animosities. It will be much