Kim Ha-joong and The Soaring Dragon

South Korean ambassador to China Kim Ha-joong (pictured) once wrote a book titled 腾飞的龙 (The Soaring Dragon, World Knowledge Publishing Press, 2002).

Much of it were descriptions about China, and anyone who has some basic knowledge of China will find nothing new or insightful in those descriptions. The more interesting aspects, rather, were Kim's personal experiences and diplomatic dealings with China.

For instance, Kim wrote that when he was young, he had three wishes. First, to be a diplomat. Second, to participate in the building of official diplomatic ties with China. And third, to become his country's ambassador to China.

Kim said he first thought of working in China after he read in October 1964 that China had successfully tested a nuclear weapon. The following year, he enrolled in Seoul National University's Chinese Literature Department - a choice which was little understood at that time.

When queried by friends, Kim said that "in three decades, we will establish diplomatic ties with China, and my China knowledge will be useful then." Incredulous friends laughed and mocked at his choice, as they felt that official ties were impossible.

Anyway, the long and short of it all was that South Korea did establish diplomatic ties with China, three years ahead of Kim's estimate - in 1992.

And besides, all Kim's three wishes in life came true. What more can anyone ask for?

On the changing roles of the sexes in China, Kim noted a new catchy (at least in Chinese!) version of 三从四德 (or "Three Adherences and Four Virtues" - used in the old days to stipulate the adherences women must observe and virtues that they must possess).

三从：
女人的话，男人要听从；
女人逛街，男人要跟从；
女人说谎话，男人要盲从。

Three Adherences:
What women say, men must listen and obey,
When women go shopping, men must accompany,
When women lie, men must blindly follow.

四德：
女朋友化妆要等得，
女朋友生气要忍得，
女朋友花钱要舍得，
女朋友生日要记得。

Four Virtues (1)
When your girlfriend puts on make-up, you must be willing to wait,
When your girlfriend is angry, you must be willing to tolerate,
When you girlfriend goes on a spending spree, you must be willing to part with your money,
And you must always remember your girlfriend's birthday.

四德：
女人的教诲，男人要记得，
女人购物，男人要舍得，
女人撒野，男人要忍得，
女人胖了，男人此话说不得。

Four Virtues: (2)
Women's teachings, men must remember,
Women's shopping, men must foot the bill,
Women's tantrums, men must tolerate,
And if women put on weight, men must never ever mention, or else!

三全丈夫：
有活全干，
挣钱全交，
剩饭全吃。

The Three "All" Husband
When there is work to be done, he should do it all,
When he brings home the pay packet, all the money should be surrendered,
When there are leftovers, he should finish all up.