Dear editor,
I was astonished to read in the Nov. 18 edition of The Korea Times that the outgoing Knowledge Economy Minister Choi Joong-kyung is known by the nickname "Hitler Choi."
According to the reporter, Choi "gained" this "moniker" because of "his unique style of doing business without reserve, in an impressive way." I find it in shockingly poor taste that a high-level government official would adopt such an offensive and inappropriate nickname.
Choi must be aware of the fact that Adolf Hitler was responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people in World War II, including at least six million Jews who perished in a brutal, coldly calculated program of genocide without parallel in the history of the world.
For a Cabinet minister to find it witty or humorous to be known as "Hitler" is unpardonable. I suppose one could argue that Hitler invaded other nations "without reserve" and that his highly efficient gas chambers at Auschwitz were "impressive." But to do so reveals an almost astonishing ignorance of just how evil and destructive a man Hitler was.
I suggest Minister Choi adopt a more appropriate and fitting nickname. And while he is at it, perhaps he could read one of the many excellent biographies of Adolf Hitler now available to the general public. This would help him to realize how shockingly inappropriate and thoughtless his choice of a nickname truly is.
Daniel O'Connell
Assistant professor
Dongguk University, Seoul
danielhsgerard@hotmail.com