Even More Troubling

[Update:] Korea Media Watch now has an audio interview with some of the foreigners involved. Download it here. (mp3 31:32) Of particular interest comments regarding what seems to be Police grandstanding and attempting to parade suspects in front of the media.

Related to the story directly below Korea Media Watch has more details on what the police are now calling a "Foreigner Gambling and Drug Ring"

Nice.

a group of Americans/Canadians were having a poker game that was raided. Apparently, someone called in a tip. There were 8 members at the raid, one of whom was female but was not asked to come down to the station to pose for the cameras today. 6 others NOT present at the poker game but had been players before were “asked to come down and make a statement” at which time they were told to take urine drug tests. The original 8 had already done so. Apparently, two of the original 8 tested positive, although no drugs were apparently found. This morning at the station, it was a press field day, with cameras called in and set up around a makeshift poker table IN the station. They were even asked by the Korean press to re-enact the game around the table for the cameras, which they refused to do. They also refused to grant any interviews

Smart move not to do the interviews methinks.

Talk about making the proverbial mountain! Since when does a private poker game turn into a gambling "ring"? Plus isn't there some sort of money limit that you're required to go over - a limit that would be far beyond the salaries of a few English teachers.

Disappointingly, upon being booked 2 failed the drug test (which under Korean law the police can compel you to take, so quite your whining) meaning that 2 people have fucked it up for the rest of us. And why didn't the woman that was present get brought along to the cop shop as well? 

Sexist.

(OK I'm kidding).

Of course the media is all over it. I can't wait to see what The Chosun Bimbo Ilbo comes up with this time.

As I said previously it looks like knowledge of the game did the rounds before it got to The Fuzz, but interestingly Korea Media Watch adds credence to the original claims that The Man is now interested in your Facebook - especially event invitations and status messages.

As someone who ardently defends the right to be totally open and transparent on the internet (look hard enough you'll find my bank account number) this is a bit of a shocker.

I'm gonna have to keep the old tweets a little less incriminating, and people, keep those party invites private - use the privacy settings. That's what they're there for.

Comments

[Robin]

This is one reason why my updates are protected and I've clamped down the privacy on FB.