My Nguyen - Week 5

In the book Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War, Viet Thanh Nguyen compares the Vietnam War and the Korean War and retells the story that not many people know about the military involvement of South Korean troops in the Vietnam. Both of these wars were ignited from the same reason, the willing to control the world between the communists and the capitalists during the Cold War. In this book, the author points out a bitter fact that “America wanted to save both countries but only convinced itself of success in the case of one”. During the Vietnam War, Korean troops were paid by the US to fight against communists in Vietnam. However, instead of being known for combatting, they are more infamously known for killing civilians in many massacres, including Binh Hoa, Binh Tai, Ha My, Phong Nhi and Phong Nhat massacres. In fact, in 2016, a Korean movie named “Descendants of the Sun” was successfully broadcasted in many Asian countries. In Vietnam, however, while it was well received by many viewers, especially the young, the movie sparked debate over Korean atrocities in Vietnam. This debate mainly came from the use of South Korean military uniforms in the movie, which stirs angry memories about the behavior of Korean troops during the Vietnam War.

"Pemirsa Kecewa, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ RCTI Tak Di-dubbing." Kabarmayacoid. N.p., 31 July 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.